Page 81 of Beneath the Stands (Sugarlake 2)

“Yeah, well that’s what happens when you grow up with someone whose main purpose in life is to drive you insane.” Becca smiles sweetly.

“Please.” I scoff. “You weren’t even a thought back then. Maybe if I had given you some attention, you wouldn’t have a father who sees you as the town bicycle.”

My heartache spews like vitriolic acid, hoping to eat away her cold exterior and show me the woman underneath. I ache to see her—to know if she still exists. To find out if she ever really did.

“Eli,” Sarah gasps.

Becca’s smile drops, her body hunching like my words are a physical blow against her chest.

The sour taste of what I said sits in the back of my throat, making me feel like I might puke. I suck my teeth to keep from apologizing.

This is why I need to leave here as soon as possible. She makes me lose complete control, and I don’t want this shit in my life—all of these emotions I have no use for.

Becca clears her throat, blinking rapidly to stem the tears teasing the corner of her eyes. “Well, we all have our place in this town, I guess.” She lifts a shoulder. “I’m the town bicycle, and you’re the disgraced hero, too ashamed to show his face, even to the ghost of his momma.”

The chasm in my chest widens, rupturing my heart, and leaving a throbbing pain in its absence.

Bitch.

Shame ignites my veins for the way I am. For the fear that keeps me from things I know I need to face. For the failure of not being the man I was raised to be.

The air grows thick, Becca’s words mixing with my fucked-up emotions and sticking to my skin. How is it the girl who should mean nothing is the one to see through to my core, when the one I’ve promised my forever to hasn’t even peeled a layer?

Sarah laughs, a light tinkling noise. “Well, this is awkward. I feel like putting you guys in time out or telling you to kiss and make up.”

My stomach leaps at her words, my eyes searing into Becca’s.

She looks away, focusing on Sarah, her eyes softening. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I’m bein’ so unprofessional and it’s not what you deserve. I really do want to give y’all a good ceremony, even if your choice in husband is questionable, at best.”

My muscles tense. “Nice. Super professional.”

Sarah grabs my hand, linking our fingers. “To know him is to love him. You know, Becca… we were hoping you could be convinced to help with everything, not just the ceremony.”

My stomach drops, my face flying to Sarah’s. “We were?”

Her smile tightens as she peers at me. “Yep.”

Becca’s shaking her head, her eyes wide. “Oh, no I… I really don’t know the first thing about weddin’s.”

“Oh, nonsense.” Sarah waves her off. “I don’t need you to know about weddings. As long as you know the town and where to go to get what we need. Please say you’ll help. We’ll pay you, of course.”

I look at my lap to hide the way my teeth grind. I had no idea Sarah was planning this. There’s no way I want Becca spending more time than necessary with my fiancée, planning my wedding.

“How much?” Becca asks.

I snap my head up. The hell? My gut squeezes, shocked that she’s actually considering this.

“However much you want.” Sarah smiles. “You’d really be doing us a favor.”

Becca’s eyes are calculating, bouncing back and forth between us as she twists her curls in her fingers. She blows out a breath, nodding. “Yeah. Okay, I’ll do it.”

My heart catapults from my chest.

She never really cared, and that fact is more than obvious. Because even after all this time, after everything she’s done, I could never stand by and watch her marry someone else. And I sure as shit wouldn’t help make it happen.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, sending a tingle down my leg. I pull it out, planning to silence the call, but the number is one I recognize.

It’s one I dialed this morning.

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