Page 20 of Coming Home to You
“I’m going to head home,” Kelsey says, breaking my train of thought.
I look up and see her leaning against the front desk, arms crossed over her chest and Bella sitting patiently at her feet.
“No you’re not,” I tell her.
“What?”she says, straightening a little.
“No, you’re not,” I say, walking towards her.“First of all, we’re going to go and have some dinner.Then I’m going to grab my bag from Pop’s place, and then, we arebothgoing to go back to your place.”
“Beck,” she says, running a hand through her hair.“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“I don’t give a shit what you think you need, Kels.You’re getting one,” I tell her, crossing my arms to indicate I’m not budging on this.“You think this little fucker’s suddenly going to stop if you ignore him?That sending you dead squirrels is just a fucking joke or something?”
“Beck, come on,” she says, shaking her head.“Yeah it’s gross, but it’s basically harmless.”
“Kelsey,” I say firmly, as I look her right in the eye.“You might think it’s harmless, but let me tell you this.That squirrel, the one you say Bella’s been chasing, means this guy has been watching you.He’s seen your dog playing with it, he’s been at your house, fuck knows how many times.He was there today, killing the fucking thing,” I add quietly.“And he knows Bella wasn’t there.”
“Shit…” she whispers, understanding where I’m going with all of this.
“Yeah,” I say, stepping closer.“And let’s not forget the last time he showed up, andyouwere there.Alone.”
Kelsey stares back at me and for the first time, I can see the fear in her eyes.I have no idea how far this guy’s prepared to go, but I’m not willing to risk anything when it comes to this woman.Finn might be the chief in this town and he might be the one leading the investigation, but it doesn’t mean I’m gonna sit here with my thumb up my ass and do nothing.Not when it comes to this woman.
“Right,” I say nodding at her.“So let me buy you some dinner first, and then you’ll let me take you home.”
Kelsey stares at me as though she’s trying to work out whatlet me take you homereally means.I’m not gonna lie, the thought of taking her home and peeling off those clothes of hers so I can fuck her all night, is the number one thought running through my mind right now.But I also know how scared she is, that she’s finally realizing this might be a lot more serious than she first thought.So I mentally tell my dick to stop with all the fantasies as I stare back at Kelsey to let her know I’m not dropping this.
“Okay,” she eventually says.“Let’s go.”
I nod and we head outside, leaving our cars at the inn as we make the short walk down Main Street to Pop’s pub, sitting on the main jetty at the end.
“You want to eat here?”she asks, surprised as I hold the door open for her.
“Can you suggest anywhere else that might be open on a Sunday night in this godforsaken place?”
Kelsey shakes her head at me as she walks past.“It’s not that bad, Beck.”
I have to bite my tongue before I point out that actually, it’s a lot worse.This place is like a fucking ghost town at the best of times.And even though it’s the start of summer, everyone, tourists included, seem to be tucked up in their beds for the night.Actually, thinking about it, maybe that’s exactly where Kelsey and I should be too.
“Well look who it fucking is,” I hear booming across the pub.
I shake my head, smiling, as I look over at Brad, my best friend from high school.Unlike me, he stayed in Rockport after we graduated.Unlike everyone else, he didn’t hate me for leaving.We’ve stayed in touch over the years and he’s even come down to visit once or twice.That hasn’t happened so much since he went and got himself a serious girlfriend, but I’m okay with that.
“Brad,” I say, walking over to shake his hand.“Good to see you, man.”
“What, no heads up you were coming back?”he says, his eyes flicking between me and Kelsey, who’s now at the bar talking to Pop.
I glance over at her, watch as she smiles and laughs with him.They always did get along well, Kelsey practically a surrogate daughter to him.I imagine their relationship has only gotten stronger since her dad died.I’m glad Pop looks out for her.I hope he somehow explained to Kelsey why I was never able to come back for her dad’s funeral.I know I could have picked up the phone and done it myself, but somehow I knew that the second I heard her voice and she asked me to come home, I’d do it and I’d probably never leave.
“Nah,” I say, turning back to Brad.“It was kind of a last minute decision.”
Brad smiles.“Well it’s good to have you back, Beck.You guys wanna join us?”
I glance down at the blonde he’s sitting with.She’s staring up at Brad with obvious love and when he glances at her, I see the same dopey expression on his face.People used to say Kels and I stared at each other like that.It was how they all knew it was true love between us.I wanted to tell them all to mind their own fucking business.Kels always just laughed it off, told me they were just happy for us.I could never understand how she put up with it all.
“Ah, yeah, sure,” I say as Kelsey wanders over with a Guinness for me, and a pint of cider for herself.
We sit with the two of them, Kelsey already having met Louise before.It’s almost like old times and when a constant stream of locals walk past the table, I begin to see that some things really never do change, as I’m met with the same comments over and over again.
