Page 113 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

“Nope.” I shake my head. “Nope. No way. You don’t get to change the subject like that, Becca.”

She groans, throwing her head back. “I don’t wanna talk about Eli anymore.”

“That’s the whole reason you came over!” I throw my hands up.

“Well, I just needed to vent. I did and now I’m done.” She shrugs, tossing her curly hair over her shoulder.

Playin’ with her hair again. “You know, you and Eli are really startin’ to tick me off. I don’t appreciate bein’ the in-between for you two when neither of you will tell me what’s goin’ on.”

Becca doesn’t say anything, just picks at her split ends.

I grab her hand. “You can tell me, you know? You’re my best friend, Becca. Nothin’ will ever change that. Just please, tell me what’s goin’ on.”

“Nothin’ is goin’ on, Lee.” Her voice is a whisper. She sounds exhausted by my line of questioning.

She should try bein’ the one who has all the questions.

My intuition is an annoying gnat, flying around and nipping at my brain. But Becca’s the most stubborn person I’ve ever met. Continuing to try to get her to talk would be like beating a dead horse.

I narrow my eyes. “If you say so.”

Becca ends up staying the night, passing out on my couch shortly after she decided to avoid all conversation regarding Eli. I know what I heard. But it’s just too crazy to believe. She’s way too opinionated for someone like him, and he’d need to give up some of that precious control of his to have her. Yeah, right. Plus, there’s no way on God’s green earth Becca would hook up with my brother and not tell me about it.

I’m still thinking about it the next day while I’m sitting in the office and typing up a blog post for the Tiny Dancers website. Chase waltzes in, interrupting my thoughts, and my entire body fills up with my smile.

I love him.

My heart grows wings, flapping around my chest at the thought.

“Hey, baby.” He leans down, kissing me. “Fuck, I missed you. Please tell me I get to see you tonight.”

“You get to see me tonight,” I speak against his lips.

“Do you want to go grab something to eat? I’m about to head out for some wings with the guys, thought I’d see if you wanted to come along.”

I scrunch up my nose. I don’t like wings. “Bleh. Pass. Thanks, though.”

His face droops with disappointment, but I’d rather work through lunch and have time to stop for tulips on the way to Mama’s grave.

“Okay. But I’ll see you tonight? Want to go to the lake? Supposed to be a nice night.”

I beam at the thought. “I’d love that.”

He grins. “Alright, I’ll pick you up at your place.”

“I won’t be home until a little later. I’m gonna go visit Mama.”

His eyes gain a sadness to their hazel hue. We haven’t really delved into the “Mama” conversation yet, and that’s okay. I don’t particularly care for the weight that comes along with the topic.

“Okay, baby. Call me if you need me.” He presses a kiss to my temple, then reaches down and slips his hand under my skirt, grabbing a fistful of skin.

“Hey! Watch your hand, mister.” I laugh, smacking him away.

“Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He winks.

Just like that, he lifts the heaviness.

A few hours later, my feet slip over the freshly watered grass surrounding the path that leads to Mama.

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