Page 63 of Forever to Fall
WickedWarri0rBr0:That’s a possibility, but you could also lose them both if you keep hiding. Someone is going to get hurt. Might as well try to be honest out of the gate.
FoxyMage96:When the hell did you get so wise?
WickedWarri0rBr0:About twenty raids ago when we brought down that other guild?::winky face emoji::
Beckett spent the rest of his night lost in a fantasy world and pondering WickedWarri0rBr0’s advice. Granted the guy’s been married three times, but he seemed happy enough with his current wife. And he’d been listening to Beckett drone on about Mallory for what felt like an eternity. Hell, Beckett probably owed the guy a few hundred bucks for therapy services rendered.
Just as he turned off his computer, he heard a knock at the door. Glancing at the clock on the stove, he saw it was nearly midnight. After striding over to the peephole, he saw a familiar halo of hair. Beckett pulled open the door to find Mallory in her pajamas, her purse slung over her shoulder. “I couldn’t sleep,” she said in greeting, handing her bag off to him as she pushed inside.
“Me either.” He followed her to the bedroom and couldn’t hide his smile as she pulled back the sheets and dove inside. “I need to be up in six hours, but I needed a dose of Vitamin B.” She patted the mattress beside her and wiggled back. “I know we have a lot to discuss after tonight, but right now I just want to cuddle.”
Beckett yanked his T-shirt off over his head and catapulted beside her. “You’ve got it.” They immediately clicked into place, Beckett’s arm draped over her middle as she nestled into the pillow. “I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered, meaning every word. He’d been looking forward to their sleepover, and he didn’t realize how disappointed he was until she was back in his arms.
“Night, Beckett.” Mallory’s words were heavy with sleep, and she was snoring before he had a chance to close his eyes.
They would figure this out, he knew it in his bones. This felt too right not to savor and keep forever. Evan was a smart guy and a good friend. As soon as the engagement party was over, they’d come clean. No more secrets, no more hiding. Simple, right?
Then why did Beckett fall asleep with a knot in his stomach?
CHAPTER 20
Aweek into their sneakingaround, Mallory pulled up to her apartment with just enough time to shower and change before work. She really needed to remember to bring more than a hairbrush and pajamas to Beckett’s place. The notion brought a goofy grin to her mouth.
Striding up the pathway to her apartment, Mallory was so lost in her musings that she didn’t see the figure leaning against the entryway. “I take it you two talked?”
Mallory yelped, dropping her purse to the ground. Her keys, phone, and a set of lipsticks scattered around them. “Good Lord, Alice. You scared the crap out of me.”
“I did?” she asked, squatting down to retrieve a rogue pack of gum. “Lady, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days. I’m literally here for a proof of life call.”
Mallory held out her bag for Alice to dump everything in. “That seems a bit dramatic.” She pushed past her bestie into her apartment.
Alice raised an eyebrow. Mallory was so busted. “Oh? I’m dramatic. I’ll remember that the next time you swing by my place at ten o’clock at night.”
Once inside, Mallory tossed her bag onto the coffee table and flopped down on the couch. “I have five minutes before I need to get to work. Please, do your worst.”
Alice dutifully took her perch on the other end of the sofa and chuckled. “Start by answering my initial question.”
