Page 53 of Busted Dreams

“I know that, Beck. I really do. It must be all those years with Mother Dearest that has me a little twitchy.” I tried to laugh it off, but he didn’t join me.

“I wish I could have gotten you out of that situation sooner.” Turning over his hand, he laced his fingers through mine, making an imperfect heart with hands.

“How could you have? You didn’t know me until the start of this school year. Anyway, it all worked out for the best.” My voice turned just as soft as his.

He watched me for a beat, then said, “So, you were intimate with Rhys?”

I scanned his eyes, the way he held his mouth and his eyebrows, searching for any spasm that indicated his feelings. But he was a blank slate.

“Yes. I didn’t think I’d be havingthisconversation with you guys so soon, but it’s only fair. I won’t tell you anything past this, I just wanted you to know in case it was important to you to know.” He nodded, remaining quiet as he watched me in return. “What are you thinking?”

“That I’m sad it was him first, but I’m also glad you told me.”

Blowing out a hard breath as I truly started to relax, I leaned against the door. “Why wouldn’t I have told you?”

“I don’t know. I’m just glad you did.”

“And you aren’t mad?” I didn’t want him to be, but I’d understand if he was.

He let a small grin slide over his face. “At first, sure. But after thinking about it, it’s normal. If you want to keep us in your life as boyfriends, we’ll all eventually be your lovers. I’m okay with that.”

Wow. He was taking this so well, I didn’t quite know how to react. I had this urge to talk about it, and why I chose Rhys, but the feeling was just as strong to keep those moments just between me and Rhys. The latter won out.

“Okay.” I smiled, aware the relief was stark on my face.

“Okay.”

I leaned over to steal a kiss before I left him. His lips were soft against mine, and the familiar butterflies I often had around Beck fired up, but something still kept nagging me.

He’d asked too many questions. Made such subtle hints that it could all be in my head. Still…

“Beck,” I hedged, backing away a few inches.

“Pretty girl?”

I started to melt at his pet name for me, but stopped. I had to focus. “Did you suspect something happened?” This was all probably in my head, but I had to ask.

He grimaced, and my heart sank.

“Astrid,” he tried to placate me, but I didn’t want that. I didn’t even know what he was trying to placate me for.

“Did you know?” Sitting back in my seat, I almost pulled my hand out of his, but I didn’t want to break the connection without knowing more.

“Yes,” he wheezed like I’d forced the answer from his aching throat.

“What?” I yelled. “How did you know? That makes no sense. None. I know I didn’t accidentally text you or call you. I’d have noticed it in my logs and history today.” For good or bad, I was the one who watched people when they didn’t realize it. Not him.

“There is another possibility you aren’t thinking about.” He straightened back up in his seat, most of the color leaching from his face.

“And that would b—” I cut myself off. Rhys. Rhys was the other possibility. “Why? I don’t understand why he’d want to share that with you.”

“With us, actually.” He turned his head to the side, unable to meet my gaze. “And I fucked it all up by giving myself away, didn’t I?”

“Us? YouandThatcher?” My voice rose to an octave I didn’t know I could reach. Covering my face with my hands, I slumped down, my backpack almost falling to the floorboard, but I caught it at the last second. No matter what emotional shock I was experiencing, I wasn’t about to let my camera fall to the ground.

“Well,” he drew it out, clearly not wanting to answer.

“Start from the beginning. Please. Just tell me what happened.” And that Rhys wasn’t blurting our business all over the town. He wouldn’t do that. I knew he wouldn’t. I would have spotted it a mile away if he bragged about things like this.

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