Page 65 of Beckett
“Okay, that’s okay,” I said slowly. “Let me drive you. Or we can walk. Enjoy the evening air.”
“No.” The word came out fierce, desperate. “I’m fine. I just need… I need to be alone right now.”
Every instinct I had screamed to stop her. To demand answers. To fix whatever was broken. But I knew I couldn’t pushher to share what was troubling her; that would only make the situation worse.
“Okay.” I stepped aside, though it killed me to do it. “But if you need anything?—”
“I’ll let you know.” She managed another smile, this one so fragile it looked like it might shatter. “Happy birthday, Beckett. I hope all your birthdays are wonderful.”
She reached up and kissed me softly. Tenderly.
Then she was gone, Jet slipping out the door with her. The door closed with a soft click that felt too final.
I moved to the window, watching her walk toward her car with Jet pressed against her leg. Her movements were too quick, too rigid.
The candle on the table still flickered, casting shadows across the remains of dinner. She’d been so wound up all evening, barely touching her food, hands trembling as she’d served the cake. Even Jet had been whining, pressing against her like he could absorb whatever was frightening her.
And that weird tension when she’d mentioned seeing Coop at the grocery store—something had happened there. I’d ask him about it tomorrow.
I blew out the candle and put the leftover cake in the refrigerator. The dishes could wait.
Standing at the window again, I watched the soft light from her cabin, barely visible from across the property. My gut screamed for me to go to her, get her to tell me what happened so I could help. But I forced myself to stay. She needed space tonight, even if I hated giving it to her.
“Happy birthday to me,” I muttered, settling onto the couch that felt too empty without Audra curled up beside me.
The cabin light stayed on late into the night. I knew because I couldn’t stop checking, that crawling sense of wrongness keeping me awake long after I should have been asleep.
Something was definitely wrong. I just didn’t know what.
Chapter 21
Audra
By ten o’clock, I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to go. After how bad the last couple of nights had been for Beckett, he was probably already asleep. My hands shook as I grabbed the backpack from under the bed and just stared at it. The irony was that I’d kept it packed for weeks, ready to go at a moment’s notice for situations exactly like this one.
But I’d finally unpacked it. Finally let myself think I was staying here, at least for a little while.
“I know, boy. I know.” Jet pressed against my leg, whining low in his throat as I shoved clothes into the bag. The few things I’d let myself accumulate. A sweater Beckett had bought me because he said the nights were getting colder. The worn paperback I’d been reading on the porch while I sat with him in the evenings. Small pieces of a life I’d foolishly let myself imagine could be mine.
Jet’s wet nose bumped my hand, and I dropped to my knees, wrapping my arms around his neck. His fur smelled like a mix of hay and that particular dog scent that had become such comfort.
“I have to leave.” The words came out broken, muffled against his neck. “You understand that, right? I have to go. It’s not safe anymore. You can’t come with me. It’s not safe for you either.”
He pulled back to look at me, those brown eyes so trusting. My vision blurred with tears I couldn’t stop.
“I wish I could stay.” I stood, continuing to pack while tears tracked down my cheeks. “God, Jet, I wish I could stay here with you. But the stalker found me. He knows where I am.”
I grabbed my toothbrush from the bathroom, staring at the ceramic mug Beckett had designated as mine for morning coffee after I’d broken the one on my first day in here. Such small things that had made me feel like I belonged somewhere.
“Coming back here tonight was dangerous. So dangerous. But I needed to see you one more time.” I zipped the backpack with trembling fingers. “Couldn’t just disappear without saying goodbye to you.”
He tilted his head, tail giving a tentative wag like he was trying to understand why I was crying while talking to him.
“You’ve been the best dog, Jet. The absolute best.” I hauled the bag to my car, Jet right beside me. “Remember when you finally learned to heel? And that perfect stay you did yesterday? You’re getting so good at everything.”
Jet would be okay, right? Beckett and Lark would take care of him. Wouldn’t try to force him to be something he wasn’t. Still, I couldn’t quite bite back my sob.
The darkness pressed in from all sides, every shadow potentially hiding eyes that had tracked me for over a year. My skin crawled with that familiar sensation of being watched, eventhough I’d driven around for hours earlier, making sure I hadn’t been followed back from town.
