Page 23 of Scooter's Endgame
I’m about to turn my attention to groceries when the ringing of Beckett’s cellphone shatters the quiet. It’s impressive watching how he goes from dead asleep to wide awake in the blink of an eye.
“Archer,” he answers without looking at the display.
I go back to my online grocery shopping, trying to decide what to make for dinner. Something quick and easy, then an early night, appeals to me. So I place a quick order for the bare minimum of groceries and, by the time I’m done, Beckett’s done with his call.
“Hey.” He smiles over at me. “How’d you sleep?”
“Hi. Like the dead. That bed is incredibly comfy. You?” I give him a grin of my own, dipping my head in Luke’s direction.
“Like the dead,” he parrots with a wink. “Seriously though, I did sleep well. Young Master Luke did too – well, is still. It appears not even a ringing phone seems to bother him.”
“That’s unusual. God, I hope he’s okay—” My heart races at the idea that he’s relapsed or worse, taken a bad turn.
“He’s fine, Kay. Just sleeping deep. I promise. I checked before I came over here. It’s been a stressful couple days and a long ass night. He’s probably just tuckered out.”
I exhale sharply as the air trapped in my lungs makes its escape. I nod my thanks, then change topics as I catch sight of the clean cereal bowls. “So where did you get the cereal?”
For a second Beckett looks confused. Then he laughs as he obviously catches on to what I’m referring to. “We were watching a movie when Luke announced he was hungry, and I realized I was too. So, the two of us snuck over to my place to grab something to eat in front of the TV. When he spotted the cereal, he decided that’s what he wanted, so that’s what we had. We ate, we watched, and then we crashed. And that’s how you found us. And I’d probably still be sleeping if it wasn’t for my damn phone ringing.”
“Nothing serious, I hope?”
“No, nothing like that. Actually, it was Sage – you know, Dutch’s girl – inviting me to a surprise birthday party for Indigo, day after tomorrow. Would you and Luke like to go?”
“Er, was that invitation not for you only?”
“Nah, we can bring someone, so I was wondering if you’d be my plus one? Well, plus one and a half in this case.” He laughs as I pull a face at him.
“Funny guy. Won’t it raise a few eyebrows to see us together as if we were a couple?”
“We’re friends, aren’t we? And that’s how we’d go – as friends. But frankly, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks. Who I take with me is my business. It’s got fuck-all to do with anyone else, who they are and why I asked them.”
“Fair enough. Let me think about it. By when do you need an answer?”
“It’s day after next, so I RSVP’d for the three of us already.”
“Without asking me first? Beckett, I –”
He holds both hands up. “Hold on, before you get your dander up –”
“Too late ...”
“It was not my intention to upset you. And I didn’t mention any names. I just said I’d like to bring a friend and their child – I didn’t even mention whether they were a boy or a girl. Could be anyone. But if you’d rather not go, that’s cool. No harm, no foul. I’ll ask someone else and just say the child couldn’t come – make some excuse up.” He studies me for a moment. “But honestly? I’d really like it ifyouwould come.”
I can’t deny, I would love to go with Beckett, but I worry about what people would think. It’s one of my toxic habits – caring too much about what others think of me. “Can I think about it a bit and give you my answer later?”
I’m sure it’s purely wishful thinking that he seems disappointed with my answer, but his reply has me doubting myself. “Sure. Absolutely. Well, I guess I best get on home and leave you to it.”
Rattled by his abrupt decision to leave, I blurt, “But I ordered food for us.”
This time, there’s no mistaking his surprise. “You did?”
“Yeah. I figured we could all do with something to eat, since dinner last night was our last proper meal. Luke didn’t even have that. So, I decided to splurge and order us some take out. I figured pizza was a safe bet.”
“Sounds great. How long before the food’s due to arrive?”
“Fifteen, twenty minutes,” I say, checking the time on my phone.
“Okay, good, enough time for me to jump in the shower. I won’t be long.”
