Page 39 of Fore-Ever Yours

“Yeah, I remember,” I admit softly, remembering those very words. I can hear his voice saying them as if he’s right here with us.

“We lost Dad suddenly. But Mom and Dad loved each other so much,” she continues. “Even though he’s gone now, she still has all those beautiful memories with him. She has you, and she has me. She wouldn’t trade anything in the world for any of it.”

The pain in my chest intensifies, my breath hitching as I swallow hard. “But Ali, you have to understand—”

“I understand you’re scared,” she cuts me off. “But what you feel for Beth…it’s not something you can hide from.”

Maybe she’s right. But the fear of loss still tugs at my heartstrings.

“She’s not going anywhere, Matty.”

“How do you know that?”

“Call it a woman’s intuition.” She smirks.

What is it with women saying this? Do they really have this sixth sense about love? A mystery that may never be solved.

She presses a kiss on my cheek and walks back into the house. In a lot of ways, Alison reminds me of our father—optimistic even in the face of adversity. Always ready with wisdom that sounds like it should be printed on a shirt or a bumper sticker.

First, Owen told me that I’ll never regret trying. Then Mom tells me she sees how much I care for her in my eyes. And now Alison is telling me that love is worth the risk. Mom and Alison don’t know what’s really going on with Beth and I, but they think I’m serious about her. And somehow Ali’s advice still applies.

Their words replay in my head. What if they’re all right?

If Beth feels the same way, and I let her walk away, would that be worse than trying to make this real? Would telling her and trying, and potentially losing her, be worth the risk?

I’m not sure how long I stood there, staring blankly into the darkening sky, but eventually, I feel a soft hand on my shoulder. I turn around to find Beth standing there, her eyes shining in the moonlight.

Chapter 15

Beth

“Hotchocolate?”Iask,holding a mug out to him.

He smiles. “Thanks.”

“Is everything okay?”

“That seems to be the question of the week.”

“Sorry, I have been asking that a lot lately, huh?” I slightly chuckle. “I guess you’re hard to read sometimes.”

“I’m not the only one,” he says and turns his head to look straight at me. His green eyes are steady on mine, warm yet searching.

“Well, aren’t we just the pair then?” I retort, taking a sip of my hot cocoa and nearly scalding my tongue in the process. I glance up to see Matthew holding back a laugh.

“I suppose we are.” Matthew’s phone starts ringing. “It’s Travis. I gotta take this.”

“I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight, Matthew.”

“Night.”

He answers the phone as I slip inside and softly close the door. I walk upstairs to the guest room I’m staying in.

Tomorrow will be a long day with another tournament followed by a post-tournament dinner. I’m already exhausted from traveling, and sleep hasn’t been easy to come by recently. I can’t even blame it on late-night editing or content planning.

It’s all because of one person—Matthew.

The thought of him, our pretend dating scheme, the almost kiss, all of it…it’s keeping me up at night. As I slip under the covers, I replay the conversation I had with Desi when she video called me the day after the gala.

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