Page 45 of To Have and to Scold

She looks into my eyes and her gaze darts along my face, questioning me. An ache starts in my chest. I want to press my lips against hers more than anything. But when her gaze falters and lands on the water behind me, I take a step away.

“We’d better head back,” she says.

I nod, my heartbeat roaring in my ears along with the crash of waves against the sand. We make our way back to the mansion without speaking.

*****

Rosie drops Leo off for our Wednesday night practice on the beach in the sand pits up the road from the boardwalk. It’s near where I shared that first hug with Dallas.

I have a hard time getting my head in the game when Leo and his teammates show up.

Me? Having a hard time getting into volleyball? How does that sentence even exist in the world?

We warm up, run drills, and do strength and agility exercises. I have the guys run before we divide into teams and hold a scrimmage amongst ourselves.

When the hour is up, I head immediately for my truck, anxious to get over to the mansion to do more painting, while at the same time, feeling butterflies in my stomach.

Leo lingers after the other guys get picked up or drive away.

“Where’s your head at, Beck?” Leo asks. “If I’d been as distracted as you are, you would have yelled at me.”

I snort. “You’re not wrong, I would have yelled. Sorry. I’m probably just tired from a long day.” Even as I’m saying it, the truth blares in my ears. I’m not tired. I am distracted.

Leo peers at me with a gleam in his eye. “Tell me about the new wedding planner. Is her name Dallas or is she from Dallas?”

How does he know I was thinking about her? The way he says it sounds like he could be my brother or friend, not a kid who is more than twelve years younger than me and the number of dates he’s been on can be counted on one hand.

“She’s Dallas Cardon from Atlanta. Where did you hear about her?”

“My mom was asking me if I knew anything.” Leo smiles expectantly, like he’s baiting me to confirm whatever rumors his mom was attempting to share.

“Did she put you up to this?”

Leo shakes his head. “No. She was asking me what I knew or if Dallas had been at the practices and whatnot.”

“Why would Dallas be at the practices?”

I should have known it would be like this. I get offhand comments around town about my love life or lack thereof, and they ramped up when Chloe broke our engagement. But it’s taken on a new color of its own—the idea that Beck Billingsley needs to get married—ever since people decided I’d been single long enough.

“My mom was wondering if you’re dating or just friends.” He pulls out his phone from his duffel bag. “I’m going to send you one of my playlists, though. It helps me feel bold when it comes to the ladies.”

I shake my head, ready to talk about his ladies instead of my own—not that Dallas is “mine.”

“I am not going to listen to your terrible music. I bet you have some Charlie Puth on it, too.”

“Hey! Charlie Puth is the G.O.A.T. when it comes to winning over the ladies.” He pauses. “So…Dallas Cardon?

“She works for Martha Dobbs. That’s it. End of story.”

“I hear she’s attractive,” Leo says, the tone of his voice leading me on.

“Sure. She’s pretty. We’re colleagues, though. There’s no need to concern yourself with her or the situation.”

“It’s been months since Chloe.”

Where’s my rubber mallet? I could use it to hit myself in the head and get knocked out, putting me out of my misery. “I think you don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Dude.” Leo slugs my shoulder. “It’s okay. My mom told me. And I’m sorry Chloe did that.”

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