Page 54 of Breakout
“Why is it so hard?”
“What’s hard? Us?”
She shakes her head yes. “Us. Life. Everything.”
“I know you’ve had a tough life, Pey. You’ve gone through unimaginable things. I will never be able to relate to it, but I do know one thing. Nothing in life worth having comes easy.”
“I know. You’re right. It’s why I work so hard. I want to earn everything I have.”
“You do amazing at it too. You’re so independent, and I love that about you. You don’t have to do everything alone anymore, though. You have Grace and Cora. They are fiercely loyal and would do anything for you. Trust me, they scare me sometimes. Not to mention the guys. Any one of them would kill for you if you needed them to, and that has nothing to do with me or who you are to the girls. They only get that way when they truly care for someone. It wouldn’t matter if you and Grace had a falling out, or they found out about us, and we broke up. They would still show up every single time you called. You aren’t some outsider in this group. You are a core member. We wouldn’t run the same without you, Pey.”
“I want to believe that. So bad, but I’m not wired that way,” she admits softly.
“Then I’ll keep telling you and showing you until we rewire that brain of yours.” I press my finger into her head, making her laugh.
After a moment, she looks down. “We are supposed to be fake. A temporary thing.”
“Peyton, we can be whatever you need us to be.”
She looks up, sadness in her eyes. “That’s not fair to you.”
“It’s not your choice. I’m willing to be in this with you at whatever capacity you will allow. Remember when I said the guys would kill for you?” At her nod, I continue. “I would do that and more. So stop worrying so much and let me.”
She sighs. “Okay.”
I press a kiss to her forehead.
“Clay, I’m going to throw up if you try to feed me,” Grace moans as I hear heavy steps heading our way.
I close my eyes wishing for one more moment with Peyton before reality sets in.
The feel of her lips on mine has me opening my eyes, pressing into her harder. We only have seconds before being discovered, but I take every precious moment.
I pull back just as Clay rounds the corner, Grace not far behind.
Clay startles to a stop, looking at us. “Everything okay?” he asks.
Peyton turns to him, folding her arms over her chest. “Beckett is trying to force me to eat something, but I swear there’s still alcohol in my stomach. I can’t even think about food.”
Grace pushes by Clay, grabbing Peyton in a hug. “Me either. Let the boys eat. Let’s go nurse our hangovers on the couch.”
As she pulls Peyton away, Peyton looks back, giving me a small smile. “Hey, Beck?”
I swear it’s like a tug at my heart every time she says my name.
“Yeah, Pey?”
“I could use one of those electrolyte packets you use for hockey.”
“As you wish, your highness.” I try to put snark in my tone, but I must fall flat because Clay turns to me.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks.
“Nothing. Are you going to make the eggs, or am I?”
Just like that, he’s on the move, and I’m left feeling like something major just happened with Peyton and me. I only hope whatever I did to make her smile at me like that sticks because I am willing to wait on her forever, but it might kill me.
twelve
