Page 8 of Forever to Fall
Whenever she was ready, she would text Evan for Beckett’s address. There was no use hiding from the man. Not only was Buckeye Falls too small, but she also wouldn’t live in fear. Maybe the time had come to face her past head-on—consequences be damned.
*
Beckett woke up onthe floor of his new apartment, a candy bar wrapper stuck to his cheek. The night before had been a lonely one, filled with boxes to unpack and papers from his grandfather’s estate to go through. Feeling tired and overwhelmed, Beckett opted to order a pizza and have a few beers to relax with his favorite video game. The only problem was he hadn’t accomplished anything, including putting linens on the bed. He’d been in town for two whole days, and he still couldn’t relax, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Easing himself to stand, he pulled the wrapper from his face and let it flutter to the floor. He needed to watch his eating habits, but junk food was a comfort. And comfort felt in short supply these days. God, he missed his grandfather. He missed his laugh, missed his wit, missed how they could sit in silence and enjoy each other’s company. Now that he was truly gone, Beckett didn’t know where he fit in the world.
After plodding to the fridge, he yanked the door open and remembered he hadn’t bothered going to the grocery store. The convenience store provided the candy bars and beer, but Beckett needed to get actual food. He covered his rumbling stomach with his hand and sighed. It was time to go to the diner and learn what all the fuss was about. Plus, he needed to see his friend again to thank him for the help with moving.
Twenty minutes later, Beckett stepped out of his car and headed toward the diner’s entrance. On his way to the door, he spotted a woman in blue hospital scrubs getting into a car at the far side of the lot. His heart stuttered in his chest—was that Mallory? Doing a quick inventory of his current state, Beckett exhaled with relief that he’d remembered a clean T-shirt and deodorant. Granted, his glasses were a little smudged, but that was usually the case.
Picking up the pace, he strode toward the car and hoped it was Mallory. Then his feet faltered, causing him to stumble against the hood of a pickup truck. This was no way to have a reunion with Mallory, chasing her down in a random parking lot. She deserved a real greeting; she deserved the world. Beckett ducked low behind the truck and waited for the car to turn and leave, heading west on Main Street. After pulling himself upright, he turned and walked right into a wall.
That wall was nearly six feet tall and covered in a cotton apron. “Foxy? What the heck are you doing hiding in the parking lot?”
Beckett felt his cheeks flush.Busted!
“Um, I thought I lost...” His hands helplessly padded around his pockets. “My keys?” It came out as a question, and Evan raised an eyebrow. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he pulled his keys out and held them in the air. “Found them,” Beckett declared with a little too much gusto.
Evan looked around the parking lot and frowned. “It’s a shame you weren’t a little quicker. Mal just left on her way home from work.” His friend slung an arm over his shoulder and turned Beckett toward the diner. “But your timing is perfect for breakfast. The rush died down and CeCe is dying to see you again.”
So that had been Mallory. Learning the truth made his skin prickle, but Beckett strained to keep his composure. With a quick glance over his shoulder, he confirmed Mallory was nowhere in sight. The realization should have relaxed him, but it had the opposite effect. He was both eager to see her again and terrified of her reaction. Would she remember the last time they saw each other? Would she even want to speak to him?
Beckett’s internal monologue ended when they stepped inside the diner. His nostrils were greeted to the sweet smells of cinnamon, chocolate, and berries as Evan slapped his hand on the counter. “Have a seat. I’ll bring out a menu and snag a coffee.”
“Thanks, Lawless.” Beckett slid onto a stool. He rested his forearms on the counter and savored the coolness. Outside, summer was taking over, and he wasn’t quite ready for the dog days of crushing heat. Then again, he didn’t know what he was ready for.
Evan was back in record time with a mug of coffee, a menu, and his lovely girlfriend in tow. “Hi Beckett,” CeCe greeted him with a wave, her other hand clutching Evan’s. Even though he’d only met CeCe a few times, it was clear that she loved his best friend. They looked at each other like his grandparents used to, with love and admiration. Their eyes sparkled with secrets and tidbits that only they knew. Man, he was jealous.
Beckett wanted that type of tenderness in his life, and he knew who he wanted to share it with. Hell, he’d had that and he’d made a foolish mistake and lost her.Don’t go there now, man.
“CeCe, looking lovely as ever. You sure you’re not tired of putting up with Lawless yet?”
With a playful eyeroll, Evan shoved a menu at his friend. “Real nice, man.”
CeCe elbowed Evan and a look flashed between them that could melt butter. Beckett cleared his throat before taking a swig of his coffee. The bitterness was exactly what he needed to wake up and get his head on straight. “What’s the special today?” he asked, hoping it was something sinfully sweet.
“Chocolate chip pancakes with strawberry glaze, but I also have a bunch of muffins if you’d rather something like that.” CeCe held up her hand and counted off several decadent flavor combinations until Beckett felt himself drool. It was a wonder that Evan hadn’t gained fifty pounds already.
“Let’s do the pancakes, and I’ll take a banana muffin to go?”
Evan chuckled. “Exact same order as Mal. I’m telling you, it’s crazy how in sync you two are.” He rapped his knuckles on the counter and headed back to the kitchen, CeCe hot on his heels.
“Great seeing you again, Beckett. We’ll stop by for dinner soon.” She ducked into the kitchen and left Beckett alone with his thoughts.
Thoughts of Mallory.
Of course, they still liked the same things. Back when they were kids, his grandmother would get gallons of ice cream for the neighborhood children, and he and Mallory were the only ones who liked butter pecan. When Halloween rolled around, they were the only two kids willing to swap a Snickers for a Three Musketeer. And when everyone at the winter formal dance in high school got food poisoning from the plastic chicken, he and Mallory were saved because they had snuck in their own bag of Taco Bell.
That night had been a favorite of Beckett’s for a lot of reasons, and ninety-nine percent had to do with Mallory. Agreeing to go as friends to the dance, they tagged along with Evan and his girlfriend at the time. They danced, laughed, gossiped about their classmates, and genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. Being with Mallory was effortless, and he missed that feeling. The feeling of sharing your time and space with someone who saw you, someone who didn’t try to make you into someone you’re not. Beckett always appreciated that about Mallory, and it was a measuring stick he’d use when dating other women. So far, no one had come close to measuring up.
His musings ended abruptly when Evan returned with his breakfast. The pancakes were massive, with chocolatey decadence covering every square inch. “How are you not as big as a house, man?” Beckett asked as he cut into the first pancake. He took a massive bite, feeling a trail of syrup run down his chin.
Evan laughed and handed him a stack of napkins, which Beckett immediately swiped over his face. Thank God Mallory wasn’t here to see his table manners.
“How’s the unpacking going?” Evan asked as he tidied up the space around them. He carefully placed empty plates and coffee cups in a bus bin before wiping down the counter. Beckett took a moment to savor his breakfast and watch his friend’s routine.
Evan had a carefree demeanor that Beckett envied. No matter the situation, he knew that Evan would be calm, collected, and more importantly smiling. That was one of the reasons he liked Mallory so much, she was like Evan, but with a twist. Like her brother, Mallory was fiercely loyal to her friends and family, but she had a sense of humor that kept him in stitches. There was also a nurturing air about her. She genuinely cared about people. For a time, she cared for him.
