Page 34 of Forever to Fall
Beckett didn’t overthink, leaning down to kiss her temple. The flyaway hairs from her braid tickled his nose, but he didn’t care. “Good morning.” He breathed the words into her skin, loving the warmth seeping into his body.
“How are you feeling?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she flexed his hand.
It was impossible to hide the grimace as his muscles flexed and his injury woke up. “Fine,” he said through clenched teeth.
Mallory made to get up, trying to push off the couch despite his arm being wrapped firmly around her shoulder. “Let me get you some pain meds and ice for your ankle.”
“In a minute,” he held tight and she soon gave up the fight, falling back against the couch cushions.
“You’re a horrible patient,” she teased, her words holding no heat.
“I’m enjoying the moment,” he admitted, blinking awake and truly taking in the scene before them.
The house was half full, a mix of Gram’s antique furniture and Beckett’s odds and ends. He knew he needed to do more to get the house ready to sell, but that felt like a Herculean task. What wasn’t a stretch was spending a few quiet moments with Mallory.
Picking up on his mood, Mallory sighed. “It’s so nice being back here, but it does feel different.”
Mallory was like a truth serum. Her proximity pulled honesty from deep down, regardless of if Beckett wanted to utter the words. Despite the dry eyes, Beckett couldn’t keep his thoughts from pouring out. “I’m alone, Mal. They’re gone, my parents aren’t coming back, and I’m truly alone.”
There, that wasn’t so hard. He’d shared his painful truth, and now Mallory could laugh in his face and leave him to pick up the pieces. It was what he deserved, and Beckett wouldn’t blame her a moment or two of schadenfreude.
Mallory took his hand and squeezed it so hard he felt her rings dig into his skin. Her fierce response was surprising but not unwelcome. “You’re not alone, Beckett. You have friends, people who care.”
“Pfft,” Beckett snorted. “I’m hardly a social butterfly.”
“That doesn’t mean you don’t have people in your corner.” Mallory insisted.
Beckett blinked, trying to picture this spectacular social circle. His coworkers in finance mustered up enough effort to send a sympathy card when Gramps passed. Although, thinking back, one of his workers called himBernard.
Granted, he had his gamer friends, virtual friendships that were hardly deep or taxing. Some of those guys had been in his internet circle since the first time he logged into World of Warcraft in high school. He enjoyed his time with that crew, but they weren’t here picking apples or holding the ladder so he didn’t shoot himself in the hand.
“I don’t know,” he grumbled.
Mallory wasn’t having it. “You have Evan and most importantly, you have me.”
“Do I?” He turned to face her, hoping the morning light would hide the fear in his own gaze. “Because we’re friends?”
He couldn’t be sure, but Mallory’s expression flashed to a look of fear before she blinked and squeezed his hand again. “Yes, because we’re friends, but Beckett...”
Mallory’s words faltered, her eyes falling closed. She tensed beside him, and he pulled her flush against his frame. A hint of her tart perfume hit his nostrils, and Beckett had to focus on breathing. Being this close to Mallory was a new form of torture. He wanted to pull her closer and kiss her senseless. He wanted to put into action how he felt about her. He wanted everything from Mallory, and it scared the hell out of him.
“But what?”
“But...” Her explanation died on her lips when he turned her to face him. Staring at her through his smudged glasses, he was gob smacked by how beautiful she was. Even in her rumpled scrubs and limp ponytail, she was a sight to behold. Her eyes shone with concern and something else. The apples of her cheeks were pink, and her lips were plump and so kissable Beckett wanted to scream.
Why was he such a coward? Why couldn’t he tell her the truth? That he was in love with her and had been for as long as he could remember. He’d been in love with her that day on the hill out back, holding her hand and seeing the future in her cornflower eyes. He’d been in love with her at the middle school dances, when they’d swayed to horrible pop music in the gymnasium. He’d been in love with her in high school, when they’d sneak out of study hall to practice kissing under the bleachers. He’d been in love with her after college, when he’d lied to his best friend and broke all their hearts. God, if only he could turn back time...
Mallory blinked and leaned forward to grab the stack of sheets at her feet. “Well, I think we should find your meds and...”
Beckett watched helplessly as Mallory went back into nurse mode and pushed to her feet.
“Let me help,” he offered, but Mallory pushed him down by the shoulder.
“Nope. I’m more than capable of cleaning up a fort. I’m not that rusty.” She sidestepped the couch and pulled the bedding free. In their haste to avoid the effects of the thunderstorm, Beckett had forgotten about their pile of sheets and pillows. All that he cared about was the woman under the covers...the woman pulling away from him now.
Within minutes, the couch was transformed back to its original boring state. Beckett tried to hide his frown, but it was no use. “You and Evan still do Kung-fu movie nights, don’t you?” He smiled at the memory, even though he wished he’d been there. When he’d ghosted Mallory, he had lost more than just her. He missed countless memories they could have shared. It gutted him still.
“Is that even a reasonable question?” She mocked him, helping him ease back onto the pillow stack.
