Page 101 of When We Break

“Ew. Okay then. How long are you here, Benji?”

“As long as he is,” he replies, kissing Mik’s forehead. “I’ll work from here. Are you sure you want us living in your house?”

“I’m at the ranch with Beckett, so yes, please live in my house. Make yourself at home there, and let us know if you need anything.”

“We’re leaving,” Mik announces, pulling on his shoes. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“You’re welcome,” I call out to Mik, who just sends me a wave, not even looking back at me. “Love you, too!”

I’m laughing as the door closes behind them, then I spin around and hug Beck.

“That went well.”

“Benji seems like a nice guy,” Beck says, trailing his fingertips down my cheek.

“Oh, he’s way nicer than Mik.” Pulling back with a laugh, I sit on the floor so I can unlace my toe shoes, wincing with every movement. “Benji is the sunshine to Mik’s grumpy. They’re good together.”

“How long have they been married?” Beck shoves his hands in his pockets, but his jaw clenches when he sees the state of my foot. “Fucking hell, Irish.”

“I know, they’re bad.” I sigh and cringe as I wiggle my poor toes. “They’ve been married for about five years, give or take, but together for almost ten. Benji’s a total nerd. He’s a book editor, which means he and I have a ton in common since I’m also a book lover. Mik hates to read. They met through mutual friends. Mik finally got up the courage to ask Benji out on a date, and they’ve been pretty much attached at the hip ever since. This is probably the longest they’ve been separated, so it’s glad I am that Benji can work here.”

I peel the other shoe off and moan at the blood seeping out of my middle toes.

“You’re not putting shoes on those feet, Skyla.”

“I can’t walk around barefoot.”

“That’s exactly what you’re going to do.” The look in his eyes says that there’s no room for argument. “I’m taking you home, and we’re going to put your feet in to soak.”

Okay, that’s exactly what I was hoping to do, so I won’t argue with him.

“I still have to get home,” I remind him. “But I do have flip-flops with me. I invested in some, but I refuse to wear them in public because only you’re allowed to see me like this.”

“I’ll carry you.”

I smirk up at him.

“Hold on, I need five seconds to turn off lights and lock up. And I really do need to stretch.”

“Stay.” He points at me and walks to the back. I can hear him rustling around, and then the overhead lights go out. I quickly go through some stretches as Beck moves about the area.

Even Riley watches intently as Beck comes back to me and passes me my handbag.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

He offers me his hand, but instead of just pulling me to my feet, he lifts me onto his shoulder and gives Riley the command to follow us.

When the door is locked, he carries me to his truck, opens the back for Riley, then sets me in the passenger seat.

“Well, that was … nauseating.” I let out a laugh. “I don’t think I enjoy the shoulder carry. Hello, motion sickness.”

“So noted.” He buckles me in, kisses my cheek, then walks around to climb into the driver’s side.

He holds my hand all the way out to the ranch, and once he’s parked in front of the house, he lets Riley out, who quickly relieves himself in the grass. Beck carries me inside and up the stairs to the bedroom.

“I’ll get the Epsom salts,” he says as he sets me on the vanity. “I want you to soak those feet.”

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