Page 80 of Desired Hearts
“Would it have been amazing to get together with Mae? Sure. At first. But they call it the honeymoon period for a reason. It doesn’t last.”
Mason and I looked at each other as Cole’s “pep talk” seemed to be cheering up Beck. Not surprisingly, we couldn’t give the same advice, given our positions. Mason was engaged. Delaney and I weren’t there yet, but honestly, after this weekend, we seemed one step closer. It was true we hadn’t been together long, but when you knew, you knew.
And I knew my feelings for Delaney were something different.
“Can you get a few days off? Come down to the city.”
“I’m off next Friday,” Beck said. “Maybe I can see about coming Thursday night. With the ski trip, it’s probably all I can swing.”
“I’ll make sure it’s worth the trip.”
This had the makings of a shit show written all over it.
“Anyone else feeling an overnighter?” Cole asked through the phone.
“Pia and I are heading to Oregon next weekend to see her family. They’re having some kind of engagement party or something.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Cole said.
I was about to decline as well, but Beck’s expression stopped me. He was like a ten-year-old boy who had just learned big eyes and a frown could make his mom say yes when the answer should be no.
“We’ll see,” I said instead, not intending to leave Delaney again so soon until Beck smiled so big, I had no choice but to reconsider.
“Come on, Park. Three of us. Like old times. Minus one.”
“Look at you, doing math,” I said, trying to avoid giving him an answer.
“Gotta run,” Cole said through the phone. “Let me know either way.”
“Will do.” Beck clicked the phone to hang up after Mason and I said goodbye as if we wouldn’t be texting him, probably later that night. Cole was the most bothered by group texts which, of course, meant we used any excuse to do it.
As if they’d timed it perfectly, Pia and Delaney came back just as Beck hung up with Mason.
“Did I hear Cole’s voice?” Pia asked.
“Yep,” Mason said. “Did you get me General Tso’s chicken?”
“I did,” she verified. “Beck, I think that’s the first time you’ve smiled all night.”
“Thank you, guys,” he said. Beck didn’t need to offer an explanation. We all knew what he was thanking us for.
“It’s what friends do.” I pulled Delaney toward me, and whispered just for her, “Later, I’ll show you what boyfriends who miss their girlfriends do. Pretty sure you’ll like it.”
“Pretty sure I will,” she said, settling into my side.
I would make sure of it.
30
DELANEY
“How long do you have? I want to show you something.”
I was working second shift today, and since Parker’s current job was in town, we agreed to meet for lunch at The Big Easy. They had a po’ boy special on Tuesdays which was one of my favorites.
“I’ll work late, so at least an hour. Maybe a little more. What’s up?”
It was a cold one today, the temperature flirting with teens, but since I’d been meaning to show him and we were only a block away…
