Page 8 of Flick

She was a sucker for a show where the bad guy got his and the hero got the girl. Beth loved romance and adored a happily ever after. There was too much negativity and evil in the world. When she read a book or watched a show, she wanted the happy ending.

She said all the right things, but she didn’t really watch the rest of the movie because she was considering what she wanted next. She was hoping the cameras she’d set up in Texas wouldgive them some information soon. She wanted to tie up any loose ends from when Rose was taken. She could see how Rose having her ex-partner still out there and doing who knows what wore on her. Rose presented a happy face, but underneath, Beth could sense the unease that never left her.

“Alright, restroom break for us and the dogs, then we can start the next one,” Flick said, getting up with the dogs following. Lilly paused at the end of the couch with a look ofare you coming with us? Beth chuckled and stood up.

“Let’s go, girl,” Beth said.

Anyone who said animals couldn’t show emotion on their faces was stupid, in Beth’s opinion. Her animals could convey so much with just a look.

Beth stood at the door waiting for the dogs to come back. Flick had let them out, then headed to the bathroom. She stared out into the night. The dogs didn’t need to be watched, but she’d seen a skunk out in the area behind her house. She didn’t need to be washing three dogs with a de-skunking shampoo tonight. The dogs did their business and ran back up to the door.

Beth let them in, then went to her machine that made hot milk for cocoa and poured some milk in, pushing the button to get it started before heading to the bathroom. She passed Flick in the hallway.

“Did you start the machine?” he asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Of course,” she said.

“I know you’ve always got us covered, but it was darn cold when I let the dogs out. I need some hot cocoa to warm up,” he said, sticking his tongue out at her.

She chuckled and walked into the bathroom. She wasn’t sure how she’d survive when she finally went down to Texas without her best friend. She’d missed him a lot when she was setting up the surveillance. Her day didn’t feel complete if they didn’t either talk or text each other.

Chapter Six

Flick stirred the hot chocolate mix into the steaming milk. His was a less chocolatey version than Beth’s because she loved her sweets. He’d been thinking during the movie about how best he could help his friend.

He’d come up with a solution, but he wasn’t sure she’d go along with it. Maybe he could broach it after they finished the movie. Her defenses would be down, and didn’t he feel a little guilty about thinking that, but—he knew his best friend as well as he knew himself.

She wouldn’t want to open herself up to anyone right now, but if she didn’t do it soon, he was concerned she would close herself off from everything. He’d never forgive himself if that happened. She was funny, gorgeous, and intelligent. She deserved someone who saw all that and not have her last experience with a man be that asshat Kerwin.

He carried in their hot chocolate and got settled on the couch with the dogs. Well, with Moss and Dolly. Lilly had either gonein the bathroom with Beth or was sitting outside the door waiting on her. Those two were bonded at a deep level.

Beth came in and settled on the couch, picking up her mug. At her first sip, she smiled at him.

“Perfect!”

“Of course. You doubted me?” he asked.

“No, I was just making sure you knew I appreciated you making mine. Now on to my movie,” she quipped, leaning against the couch back and straightening her legs so Lilly could crawl up and lay on them.

Flick watched the movie and pondered the message he’d always gotten from it. Everyone mattered, and sometimes we missed how much our small things did for people. Flick’s life had been changed dramatically by coming to Bluff Creek. War’s invitation had changed his life.

His MC brothers and the extended family that called the MC home had given Flick the first real home he’d had since his mom passed. He’d had an apartment after he left the Army and started his job as an EMT, but it had been a place to sleep and exist. It had never felt like a home.

The first night he’d stayed in his room at the MC and woken up to Regina making cinnamon rolls in the kitchen—he’d realized he was finallyhome. As brothers became couples, the family grew. Flick didn’t want to seem like a sentimental sap, but he looked forward to Sunday lunch with everyone. He so wanted his brothers to experience it. He had a pipedream that his brothers would fall in love with Bluff Creek, the town and the MC, and decide to stay.

He tuned back in as George Bailey realized how much he was loved and needed by the people of Bedford Falls. Beth handed him a tissue box since they both always cried at this part. The feeling of knowing you mattered to people always gave him all the feels.

It’s also why he couldn’t help himself. He had a burning need to make her feel better about herself and about men. Yep, his buddy needed him to help her see there were still good men out there.

Beth turned the TV off and started to get up.

“Wait, I wanted to talk with you about something,” he said.

She smirked and waggled her eyebrows, “Is it about a good story from work? Did somebody get their private parts stuck together like that episode of Grey’s we saw?”

“No, it’s serious,” he said.

She wiped the smile from her face and leaned toward him. “How can I help?”

---