Page 79 of Forever to Fall
CHAPTER 25
Mallory scrubbed herface, hoping that her cleanser would do more than erase blackheads. She needed the image of Beckett obliterated from her mind. The haunted look in his eyes as he left, the defeated slump in his shoulders; it gutted her. She’d known the man for most of her life, and it was clear he was still trudging his way through grief. It wasn’t her place to fault him his own process, but it hurt that he wouldn’t lean on her more, wouldn’t trust that they would be okay in the end.
When she was as fresh-faced as anyone nearing thirty with a monster hangover could be, she padded out to the kitchen in search of fattening foods. Alcohol wasn’t appealing, but she needed something comforting to soften the edges of the last twenty-four hours.
After she pulled out a loaf of bread and block of cheese, her culinary efforts were interrupted by the jangling of keys in her front door. Mallory spun around in time to see Evan bound into the apartment, his jaw tense and eyes wild. “Ev?” she asked, wiping her hands on a tea towel.
At first he didn’t say anything, simply stared at her like she was the one acting crazy. Then he turned and stalked back to the living room. He ate up the floor with his long strides, and she hoped her neighbors couldn’t hear him stomping. It sounded like a pair of elephants in tap shoes. Fernando came out long enough to investigate before hissing and dashing into the bathroom.
Mallory joined her brother, only then noticing the bandage around his hand. “What happened to your hand?” She stepped forward, already frowning at the subpar bandage work. “Let me see.”
Evan held his arms up, their own version of keep-away. “No, Mal. I’m fine.”
“What happened? Did you hurt yourself at the diner?” It wouldn’t be the first time Evan showed up with a minor burn or a nick from a chef’s knife.
Evan shook his head.
“Let me see.” She urged, jumping and waving her arms. “I’m guessing you haven’t seen a professional, so stop being a big baby.”
Side-stepping her, Evan sighed. “Leave it, I’m fine.”
“You’re obviously not, so let me—”
“I punched Beckett.” Evan’s admission echoed throughout the room, his words shocking them both. Behind her, Fernando meowed, seemingly just as appalled by the news.
“I’m sorry, what?” Mallory stumbled back as if she was the one being struck. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t understand,” Evan said, pacing back and forth, acting as if she didn’t just ask an important—and valid—question. Her apartment had never felt overly spacious, but right now she was surprised her brother could fit inside with all his barely contained rage. “Why didn’t you just tell me?”
Mallory took a deep breath, readying herself for a fight with Evan. They were siblings, so this was hardly her first rodeo with bickering and arguments. But she knew this was different. She’d done the one thing Evan couldn’t stand—treating him like a kid. They were barely eighteen months apart, and she knew he felt the sting of her betrayal acutely, like a jellyfish sneak attack.
“Ev,” she started, only to be silenced by Evan grunting.
“Has he hurt you? Ever done anything you didn’t want?” His questions were so outlandish, Mallory pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
“Beckett’s never willingly hurt me, but our relationship hasn’t always been easy.”
“Oh, geez,” Evan sighed. “Your relationship. I don’t know if I can hear this.” He covered his ears with his hands and turned his back, his shoulders tense. “Ugh, this is too much.”
Mallory had so many questions, least of which was the state of Beckett’s face. Did he break his glasses? Did he fight back? Was he hurt right now? She grew dizzy with the myriad of questions and sat on the arm of the couch for support. “Evan, I need you to tell me what happened.”
Evan whirled around but kept his distance. “Why? I feel like I’m the only person in Buckeye Falls that doesn’t know the full story.”
Mallory raised an eyebrow. “The story of me and Beckett?”
“Gah! I’m still not ready for this.”
