Page 25 of Dibs
“If you’re sure, I would prefer that over my parents’ house. It’s just so big and empty. Cavernous, really. I know it’s supposed to be for me, but I can’t see myself living there before I have kids to fill the bedrooms.”
I nod with sympathy. “I get it. My house is much too big to be alone in, too, and you’ll have your choice of rooms. You bringing the bed with you?”
“Hell yes. It’s expensive, with an adjustable base. Heavy as shit, but if there’s room on the trailer, then yes.” Beck opens the window, letting the breeze dry her tears, and turns her face up to the sunshine.
“Then we should put you in the upstairs primary. I haven’t gotten around to getting a bedroom set, but your things should fit nicely in there.” I pull up to the marina and park the truck. Thinking about being under the same roof as Beck makes my spine stiffen and my hands tremble slightly.How the hell am I going to exercise restraint with her in such close proximity?Just our nearness in this truck is driving me crazy.
I come around to her side of the truck and open the door, offering her my hand to help her down. It’s not that she needs it; she’s five-eight and doesn’t struggle with the height of my truck,but I’m overwhelmed by the need to touch her, even in a small way. She takes my hand, and she doesn’t drop it right away.
Beck has a thoughtful look on her face. She avoids eye contact with me and shuffles her feet against the loose gravel. “Deac—” she starts but hesitates. Her tongue peeks out to wet her bottom lip as she tilts her head slightly from side to side, as if she’s weighing her options, perhaps rehearsing her next words.
“Just say yes, Beck. Say yes.” I interrupt with one last attempt to convince her.
“Yes, I’m going to say yes.” Beck lets out a long sigh of what sounds like relief, and as we load our arms up with our fishing poles, tackle box, and cooler, she bumps into me accidentally and then presses the sweetest kiss to my cheek. I almost turn my head, but she pulls away and adds, “Thank you doesn’t cut it. I’ll always owe you for this.”
You don’t owe me anything.
“You can repay me by helping clean out my mother’s closet,” I smile, though my stomach turns. I’ve stood in it several times now, feeling sad and overwhelmed, and I wish Beck would come and take everything she wants so I can put the rest on consignment. Or maybe I’ll invite Marissa, Wendy, and Tara over to scrounge through it before I do that.
“Of course I will,” Beck says breezily with a big smile. “Especially if she has more incredible jewelry like this piece.” She holds up her free hand and admires the first ring I’d placed on her finger. If I have it my way, it won’t be the last. I shudder at the strength of my feelings for this woman; my mind filled with curiosity about what kind of diamond ring she would want. If she even wants a diamond. Maybe she’s a ruby kind of girl or sapphire.
“Did you hear what I said?” Beck asks.
“Nope. Repeat?” I follow her to our usual dock, passing up some expensive boats that I envy. A boat is the goal I’ve beensaving for a long time, but diamond rings don’t come cheap either, so I may have to make a choice.
Okay, I’m being ridiculous. I should probably date Beck before I worry about a ring and a proposal.
“Bro!” Beck yells. “Pay attention! I’m here chatting away while you are on a different planet. Has your consciousness been abducted by aliens?”
I laugh while Beck sets her things down and sighs. “It’s hot today. Shit.”
“Hot. Yes.” Why am I speaking in monosyllabic words?
I pull my shirt over my head and deposit it on the back of the camp chair Beck has set up for me. I don’t miss the sharp inhale when Beck turns her eyes to my chest. If nothing else, she admires my body, and the feeling is decidedly mutual.
“Are you trying to distract me from the fish? You want to get the bigger catch today, huh?” Beck flirts. She flirts! Dear baby Jesus.
A slow smile spreads to my face. “How many times do I have to tell you it’s not a competition, you little flirt?”
“If I have to keep looking at those divots between your six-pack abs, I’m in trouble.” Beck winks at me, and I want to hoist her up out of her camp chair and put her hand on my abs to discover what she’s been staring at.
“So, you want me to put the shirt back on?” I act confused as she laughs and balls up my shirt before throwing it at me. She misses, and it falls off the other side of the dock into the water. I reach down to rescue it and pull it out, dripping wet.
I cluck my tongue at her. “Guess the bare chest stays.”
“I’ll pretend that bothers me.” Beck grins as I settle in the chair beside her and bait my hook. She’s already got her pole in the water, and she pops the cooler and pulls out two cold beers, setting one in my mesh cupholder.
“Thanks, doll face.” I cast my fishing pole, rest it between my knees, twist open the beer, and get comfortable. “It’s good to hear you laugh. You seem lighter than you did this morning.”
“Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and the rain didn’t help. It’s always good to get out in the sun and near a body of water. I’m so tempted to jump in.”
“The water’s chilly,” I warn her, having just wrangled my shirt out of it.
“I know. But it’s hot today, and I’m not a wuss.”
“Well, do what you want. I’ll watch.”
“I bet you’ll watch,” Beck snorts. “You’re such a dude.”
