Page 55 of Forever to Fall
“Yeah.” Evan took the coffee with a nod and shoved Mallory over to sit on the couch. Sibling dynamics never changed. “Myfiancéeand I were talking.” He paused to chuckle at his word choice. If she didn’t love her brother so much, she’d gag at how in love he was. “And we think the four of us should do dinner or something.” Turning to Beckett, he added, “She hardly knows you, Foxy. I need my people to be comfortable together.” He flapped his hand in the air, the other bringing his coffee up for a sip.
“Aww, that’s really sweet.” Mallory covered her heart.
“Sounds good to me. I’d like to get to know the woman who tamed Lawless.” He winked and Mallory groaned.
“You two are ridiculous.”
“But you love us anyway,” Beckett countered. Damn, he certainly had her there.
Evan leaned back and surveyed the apartment. Mallory held her breath, convinced he could sense the shift between his sister and friend. Beckett, on the other hand, reclined in his chair with a happy expression. How could he be so calm in a time like this?
“You’re off at the diner today?” Beckett asked, his tone carefree.
After shaking his head, Evan drained his mug. “Nah, just in the break between breakfast and lunch. Max hired some new wait staff, so I have some time off.”
“That’s good. You’ll need it with wedding planning.” Mallory understood their desire for a shorter engagement, but she was also keenly aware of how complicated weddings can get. She was a bridesmaid for both her sisters, and it was an ordeal to say the least.
“You and CeCe can get game planning later. You guys free for dinner tonight?” Evan laughed at himself, shaking his head. “Listen to me, acting like you’re a couple.” He looked at Beckett and asked, “Any hot dates tonight I need to avoid? I don’t want to cramp your style.”
Beckett made a show of rolling his eyes. “Why don’t you all come here? We can order takeout and maybe play some games.”
Mallory shot them a thumbs-up. “Sounds good to me.” She was impressed with herself for not shaking as she held up her arms... or slapping her idiot brother. Progress!
Evan turned to leave before hesitating a moment. “Wait a minute.” He spun back and put his hands on his hips, his brow furrowed. “What are you doing here, Mal?”
Mallory was ready for this, and she squared her shoulders. “I was out running errands and thought I’d check on Beckett’s hand.”
A little too eagerly, Beckett held up his hands and exclaimed, “All good. I’m healing like a champ.” He did jazz hands for a moment before catching Mallory’s eye. A Broadway dancer wouldn’t have done that move with more enthusiasm.
Seemingly satisfied, Evan shrugged and strode to the door. “Cool. I’ll text you guys the timing after CeCe’s off. Later.”
And then her clueless brother bounded back to his car. “Wow, you were right. That was surprisingly easy. I’m almost nervous the guy is that unaware of his surroundings.”
“I hate lying,” Beckett said, his tone dry. “I mean, I do have a hot date later.” He reached out, yanking Mallory close until they were chest-to-chest in an embrace. Hugging had never been something Mallory thought about much before, but now it was one of her favorite things. Snuggling Beckett felt like an event, something special that was meant to savor.
“I’m a little offended he didn’t ask if I had a hot date.” She sighed, leaning further into Beckett’s arms. They were fused together like LEGO.
“I love you with your hair down.” He breathed the compliment into her neck, and she shivered at the contact. God, this man.
Maybe it was a good thing her brother was so aloof, because Mallory wanted more times like this—moments with just her and Beckett. She’d waited forever for these stolen moments, and she wasn’t ready to share him yet.
*
Evan and CeCe weredue at his place in a matter of minutes, and Beckett was a nervous wreck. How would he be able to hide his attraction to Mallory? Now that they’d come to their secret dating arrangement, he couldn’t get enough of her.
In true Mallory fashion, she arrived early to help him get dinner ready. She’d brought a six-pack of Evan’s favorite beer, a bottle of wine, and a cheese tray. “What would I do without you?” he asked, pulling her in for a kiss the second her hands were free of her bounty. Their lips lingered a moment while Beckett caught his breath.
“You’d throw subpar dinner parties.” Mallory answered between gasps, her skin turning a gorgeous pink hue as he trailed his lips down her neck. “As much as I’m loving this”—her voice hitched as he nipped at her earlobe—“they’re due here any second.”
“So?” Beckett didn’t care about anything beyond the line of freckles dissecting his girlfriend’s skin, a line of dots he promised he’d explore fully when they weren’t about to be interrupted.
God, his girlfriend. Mallory had always felt like that in his heart, but knowing they were both on the same page did funny things inside his ribcage. The sensation was slightly soured by the fact that he couldn’t share this fact outside his apartment. He wanted to tell the whole damn world, despite fearing the consequences. Beckett would be lying if he said Evan’s dismissal of him and Mallory dating didn’t sting. It more than stung. It felt like his buddy had ripped out his heart and threw it back in his face. From where he stood, wrapped around the woman he loved, this made perfect sense. Why not base a future on a friendship with someone that made his heart sing?
Go get your girl...
Gramps’s words rang through his head, pleading with him to man up and tell Evan the truth. But the thought of Gramps brought an ache to his chest he wanted to avoid. He’d already lost too many people in his life, and he couldn’t think of losing his best friend. Although it would be worth it to keep Mallory in his arms, right?
The sound of two car doors slamming brought him back to the moment, and he reluctantly stepped back from Mallory. Arms falling to his sides, he suddenly felt hollow without her warmth, without her skin pressed to his. God, it was going to be a long night.
