Page 56 of Royal
Did you get back to campus okay?
Beckham nods, leaning close to nudge my shoulder. “Maybe ask her if the time away helped.”
I hope you had fun with your sister.
Holding my breath as I hit send, I glance over to see Beckham is doing the same. He scratches the side of his head, exhaling hard. “Sorry. I’m just worried.” He roughly clears his throat. “I know I’m not supposed to care about her because she ruined Royal’s life or whatever, but—”
“I get it.” And I do. Because what I’d seen in those snapshots makes me nervous as fuck, too. My phone buzzes with a notification twice in a row.
Hey. Thanks for checking on me.
I’m okay. Kinda out of sorts.
Beckham has moved even closer so he can see how I’m responding.
That doesn’t sound good.
What do you think about getting
out of your head for a bit?
Glancing at Beckham, I catch the quick quirk of his brow as he reads what I sent. “What are you doing?” he murmurs, turning to face me more fully.
I clear my throat, then shrug. “I figured we could pick her up and let her talk if she wants. Every time she and I have had one-on-one time, I get new insight into not only her but also her relationship with Royal. I don’t know if she’ll open up about what just happened, but who knows.”
“Worst-case scenario is a round of milkshakes and burgers.”
“Exactly.” I shoot him a grin, then a knowing wink. “I know someone else who’s a fan of that, too.” We both look down as the next text that comes through.
What did you have in mind?
You’ll see. Promise it’ll be fun.
Can you be ready in fifteen?
Make it twenty and you have a deal.
See you in a few.
Twenty minutes later, I’ve driven myself and Beckham around so we’re approaching TZE from the opposite direction, and it’s not apparent we came directly from next door. “Shit. Do you think it’s a problem for one of us to go up to the door and ask for her? Because that’s running a small risk that someone will use our first names.”
But a moment later, our issue resolves as the door creaks open. Echo steps out in her ever-present concert T-shirt and shorts. She pulls the door shut behind her, then gives the entire area a perusal before she bounds down the steps. Her brow furrows and her gait slows as she comes closer, squinting in our direction. Surely, she recognizes my truck, so I can only assume she’s leery because there are two of us in the cab when she was only expecting me. I hadn’t told her Beckham was part of the deal, so I hope that’s not an issue. “Let her know it’s you. I think it’ll be fine. Turn on that charm of yours, lady killer.”
Beckham snorts, rolling his eyes at me before he opens the passenger door and slips out. He throws out his arms from his sides in a welcoming gesture. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t Calamity Jane.” He crosses the lawn, meeting her halfway, and I’m not surprised when he folds her into a quick hug.
I lean forward, resting my forearms on the steering wheel so I can watch their antics. A tremulous grin makes its way to her lips as she looks up at him. Let’s hope this was the right decision, and Royal doesn’t have an issue with it. I mean, if he does, fuck him. We’re still in his corner, still working on things with her to help him. And if we’re getting tangled up with her in the process, that’s not exactly our fault.
It’s also nothing I’ll regret either, though, so there is that.
Beckham slings an arm around Echo’s shoulders, which she seems comfortable enough with, then he ducks his head and whispers into her ear. Laughing at whatever he said, she throws her head back, her smile getting bigger. Good. This is what we need.
In a move I didn’t expect, he leans in, pops the center console up, and arranges the seat belt before he helps Echo up and over to the middle of the bench seat.
I give him an amused grin. “You know, Benneti, thereisa back seat you could have sat in, right?”
Getting himself situated, he shoots me an impish smile. “Well, yeah, but I didn’t want it to be awkward for you. Nobody likes being the third wheel. And chauffeuring us while I sit in the back next to our girl seems like cruel and unusual punishment.” He winks, aiming all his charisma at Echo.
Fucking hell, he’s so damn smooth when he wants to be. He could probably charm the pants off a snake. And that snake would turn around and thank him for the pleasure of it.
