Page 23 of Coming Home to You
As I’m wiping the tears from my eyes, Beck and Finn walk into the kitchen.When Beck takes in the look on my face, his eyes lock with mine and no words need to be spoken.He’s in front of me taking my face in his hands.
Beck presses his lips to my forehead, to my cheeks, along my neck until I’m sobbing in his arms.He’s no longer the hard ass detective hell bent on finding Jason; he’s now my sweet, caring Beck, the only one who can comfort me.
“What happened, baby?”he asks softly.
I pick my phone up off the island and hand it to him.I see him change in an instant, snapping back into full-on protective mode as rage burns in his eyes.
He shoves the phone into Finn’s chest, shouting, “He’s been in her fucking house!You said you did a sweep!”
Finn’s face is full of confusion, as if he missed an important detail.He looks past Beck, knowing that right now he’s so enraged there’s no getting through to him.All Beck can see is me and the harm that could have come at the hands of Jason.
“Kels, what happened?”he asks me, elbowing Beck out of his way.But in that second Beck grabs Finn by the arm and forces him against the wall in my kitchen, his arm across Finn’s throat.
“What happened?!”Beck hisses.“What fucking happened is that you didn’t do your fucking job and that disgusting motherfucker was in her house!”
I finally catch up and realize Beck is going to kill Finn if I don’t do something.
“Beckham!”I scream and they both turn to look at me immediately.He drops his arm from Finn’s throat as Finn shoves him hard causing Beck to stumble backwards into the island.At that moment Beck’s eyes flare with hatred, his face red and his jaw set in a hard line.I know this isn’t just about me or the situation with Jason, but I can’t let the two of them hash out their problems in my kitchen right now.That asshole is still out there and I need them both to focus on finding him.Stepping between them, I put my hand on Beck’s cheek drawing his eyes to mine.
“Baby, stop,” I whisper.“Please, just let Finn do his job.None of this is his fault.”
Both guys begin to calm down and I breathe a sigh of relief.The last thing any of us need is a family feud in addition to all of this.
“I’m sorry, Kelsey.You know I’m doing everything I can to find this guy,” Finn says sincerely, his eyes never leaving mine.I nod my head in response.I know he would never do anything that would put me in danger.
Beck grabs my phone and tosses it to Finn, although the aggravation of all of this is still weighing on him, he has softened a bit.
“Get your IT guy to run a trace on this.Figure out where he’s at.Apparently he’s a fucking idiot because he’s still using his phone to send these texts.”
Finn looks at me and then down at the ground, I can almost feel his embarrassment, him feeling inferior to Beck.It breaks my heart because I know he’s working as hard as he can, but it’s never good enough.
“We don’t have an IT guy, we contract that out.Hired on an as-needed basis,” Finn says sullenly as he walks out of the room.
Beck follows him muttering something about this ass backwards fucking town, but I take his hand in mine and pull him back into the kitchen.
“Stop this, seriously, Beck.He’s doing everything he can with what he has to work with.You have to stop acting like Finn isn’t a great cop because you know he is.”
He rolls his eyes and begins to walk towards the living room.
“No.You’re not going out there to berate him.”I glare at Beck and hold up one finger signaling for him to wait in the kitchen while I talk to Finn.
We’re all exhausted, so I send Finn home, hoping all of us can get some rest.God knows we need it.But knowing Finn, the last place he’ll go is home.He won’t stop until Jason is found and arrested.He might be a small town police chief, but his determination won’t let him fail at this.
Beck is just finishing boarding up the window to my back door as I enter the kitchen and I stop to watch him.He’s so beautiful, but I can’t keep falling back into old habits.This situation may have brought us back together, but it will be exactly what pulls us apart.
I wash my face and brush my teeth and as I enter my bedroom I notice that Beck has changed the sheets on my bed and placed my duvet in the washing machine.I’m overwhelmed by his thoughtfulness and his need to take care of me.Relying on him to take care of me, to support me and make me feel safe is fruitless; it only makes me miss him more.I know it will all come to an end.
I finally climb into bed, but my body aches and I just want to sleep.My eyes are closed and I feel his presence in my room before I even see him as he runs his hand along my hair.Kneeling next to my bed he kisses me softly and I whimper at the touch of his lips.
Beck strips off his clothes and begins to climb into bed next to me, but I stop him before he can.
“Can you sleep on the couch?”I ask quietly and he looks floored that I have even asked.
“Are you punishing me for fighting with Finn?”he questions, sounding shocked that I would dare ask.
“No, Beck.I just don’t have the resolve to turn you away again.”My voice shakes as the words come out.I don’t want to hurt him, but I don’t want to get hurt either.
Without speaking Beck finds the blankets and pillow I had begun to lie out and takes them into the living room.I hear him open a beer and after that I remember nothing until a loud crack of thunder jolts me out of bed and sends me running into the living room.
