Page 88 of Coming Home to You
Kelsey and I glance at each other again, shaking our heads.They’ve got no fucking idea.
“Anyway, when are you coming back to work?”Ryan asks, taking a sip of his coffee as he pretends to ignore what we’ve just said.
I glance at Kels again and she gives me a smile of reassurance.I don’t have any doubts though; I’m one hundred percent certain that this is the right move for me.
“I’m not,” I say, meeting my friend’s stare.“I’m leaving, Ryan.Moving back to Rockport.”
“What?!”Erin screams, jumping off Ryan’s lap, grabbing Kels and pulling her in for a hug.
Ryan and I both watch them jumping around, smiling and laughing.When I glance over at my now former partner, I can see he’s watching Erin with a look on his face that could almost be interpreted as hopeful.Almost as though he’s picturing the same thing happening in his future.
“You okay?”I ask him.
Ryan runs a hand down his face, before turning back to me.“Yeah, of course,” he says, smiling at me.“I’m really happy for you man, I know this is the right move for you.”I smile, grateful he understands why I need to do this.“You told the boss yet?”he asks.
I shake my head.“Not yet, calling him today.Wanted to let you know first, make sure we were cool.”
Ryan nods.“We’re cool, Beck,” he says.“I mean it’s gonna suck without you there, but I get it.”
Erin and Kels both sit back down, Erin wrapping an arm around Ryan’s neck as she says, “You gonna be okay, baby, losing your BFF?”
I watch as Ryan smirks at her and smacks her on the ass as he says, “Guess this just gives me more reasons to come up here, doesn’t it, Red?”
Erin smiles at him as she says, “Like I’m not enough,” before kissing him hard on the mouth.
“God,” Kelsey mutters beside me.“The sooner those two wake up to the fact they’re head over heels for each other, the better.”
“Mmmm,” I say, turning to kiss her.“I’m pretty fucking head over heels for you Kelsey Walters,” I say, kissing her deeply.
“I know you are,” she whispers, her hand sliding up my thigh and sending a shudder all through me.
We spend the next couple of hours hanging out with our friends, talking about my plans for the pub and what’s happening for the rest of the summer.Eventually they leave so Erin can claim her winnings on the bet; Ryan grinning like he’s the one who’s really won.
“When are you going to tell Finn?”Kelsey asks, sliding her arms around my waist as we stand on the front porch, waving goodbye.
“Thought I might go and tell him now,” I say, turning to face her.“You wanna come?”
Kelsey smiles up at me.“Nah,” she says.“Now I know you’re sticking around, I’ll let you go do this yourself.”
I grin down at her, my hands sliding down to her ass.“You bet I’m sticking around,” I say.“And when I get home tonight, we’re gonna celebrate.”
Kelsey laughs.“Didn’t we do that last night?”she asks.
I press a quick to her lips.“I think it requires a week-long celebration,” I whisper.“Maybe even longer.”
“Yep,” she murmurs, her fingers gripping my ass and holding me against her.“I think that’s an excellent suggestion.”
I eventually make it into town and head straight for the station, knowing Finn is likely to be finishing his shift for the day.He’s walking out as I get there and he smiles when he sees me.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” I say to him.“Wanna grab a beer?”
“Fuck yes,” he says, running a hand through his hair.
“Bad day?”I ask, laughing.
Finn shakes his head.“Lots of them in summer.Fucking tourists are always doing the dumbest shit,” he says.
