Page 17 of Coming Home to You
Finn doesn’t seem to see the humor in it and something about Beck’s comment pisses him off.
“Listen asshole.Life goes on.You think when you left that we all stood around waiting for you to make your triumphant return?Well, fuck you and have a little more respect for me than that.Kelsey’s always been your girl, but you hurt us both and we found a friendship in hating your ass.Get over yourself.”
Finn storms back to his car, leaving both Beck and me standing somewhat dumbfounded in my driveway.
“Did you really think I’d hook up with your brother?”I ask incredulously as Beck looks me up and down.
“No,” he says sheepishly and I finally think I’ve gotten to him, but I should know better.“Finn’s a dick, who knows what he’d try without me around.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Beck, stop making this a pissing contest.You fucking win.You’re the big city detective and he got the life you never wanted anyway.Grow up.”My hands go up in the air out of frustration and the ridiculousness of all of this.I can’t keep going round and round with him; fighting over every petty thing he finds fault in.
“Beck, I gotta get to work,” I say and I can hear the exhaustion in my voice.
“I know.I’m taking you to work today.”He stops and fumbles over his words slightly and I wait, but what he says next shocks the shit out of me.“I’m sorry,” he utters awkwardly.
“What?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?”I demand, suddenly angry again.“Sorry, you left me ten years ago?Sorry you missed both my mom and dad’s funerals?Sorry you fucked up my life?Tell me, I’d love to know.”By now my voice has risen to a near yell and Beck is standing directly in front of me.
“Can you give me ten minutes?”he asks, reaching for me just like he did last night.I back away.He can’t touch me.If he does, I know it’s over.
“No.I have to get to work.”
“Then I’m coming with you.I didn’t come back here to fight with you.I came back to make sure nothing happens to you and right now, leaving you alone isn’t something I’m comfortable with.”
“Fine.”Since Beck’s arrival I haven’t given much thought to this whole situation with Jason, but it just became real all over again.He’s the reason Beck is here and I’d be lying if I said that Beck didn’t make me feel safer.
I park my car around back and Beck does the same, but it takes him a few seconds longer to follow me in through the door.When I look back over my shoulder, he’s taking the place in.He looks around with a look in his eyes that almost breaks my heart, but it’s what he says next that actually does.
“The place looks great, Kels.Your dad would be really proud of you.”I swallow hard and choke back the feeling of tears, but there’s no stopping them when his voice turns quiet and he says, “I’m really proud of you.”
I can’t look at him, so I head through the door putting on a straight face, ready to start my day.Bella trots in ahead of me and goes right for her usual spot behind the desk.
As soon as I enter the lobby, there’s Erin in that stupid chair, scowling at me.I forgot I was supposed to meet her this morning for coffee.
“Sorry,” I say, and she’s anything but forgiving.
“Nope, not today, girly.You know what today was?”she demands.“I’ll tell you.It’s the day that the bakery starts making those cream cheese filled muffins and I missed it.I missed it because of your ass.”
“I know, I’m so sorry.I swear I’ll make it up to you.I’ll have a dozen delivered tomorrow morning and you and I can chat and you can eat till your heart’s content.”
She begins to cave a little and I smile at her.“Fine,” she concedes.“But you have to promise—” Erin stops suddenly and her eyes grow wide.When I turn around Beck is standing behind me and he closes the distance between us and puts his hand on the small of my back.I can feel the warmth through my shirt and when he slips his fingers under my shirt and trails them against my bare skin, I feel like I’m on fire.
“Erin,” I manage to choke out.“You remember Beck, right?”
Before I know it, Erin is yanking me by the wrist, away from Beck’s hand and away from the overwhelming feeling that has taken over.She pulls me into my office and slams the door.
“Fuck the cream cheese muffins!”she shouts.“Tell me you fucked him!”
“Erin!”
“What?”she asks, sounding appalled.“You failed to mention he was here and you also failed to mention that he looks likethatnow.”Erin shakes her ass a little and opens her mouth letting out a moan.“I mean I kinda guessed considering what Finn looks like, but oh my god.Time has been good to that boy.”
“Erin, I know you want all the details, but I’m so late for work and I have a ton of shit to do today.I promise I’ll have your muffins tomorrow and I’ll spill it all then, okay?”
“Fine, but you never answered my question,” she says slightly annoyed with my brush-off.
