Page 44 of Begin Again Again

I’m hard, he thought.Sober and hard. Jesus Christ.

They kissed and kissed, hands and mouths moving seamlessly—as though they’d been doing this for years. Byron had no idea what was happening, only that he didn’t want it to stop. When Beth pulled away, he blinked, partially dazzled by the sunlight. “Are you okay?”

“Of course, it’s just… Byron?”

Her voice was husky, as sexy as her swollen mouth. Byron licked his lower lip. “Yeah?”

“We’re, you know, in public?”

He looked around. “I think this place is open. Do you maybe wanna go inside…?”

She gave him a look. “I’m not going to fuck you inside a sporting pavilion, Byron. You’re not that hot.”

He grinned. “That’s fine. Just putting it out there.”

He put her down and adjusted himself in his work pants. Beth watched him, her gaze so hungry it made him throb. He jerked his head toward the building. “You sure…?”

She closed her eyes. “Yes. What were we talking about?”

“You were saying that you think I’m more interesting and attractive than my housemate.”

“Ah yes, AFL’s Derek Hardiman. Was I saying that?”

Byron squinted at the sky. “That’s what I’ve chosen to take away from our conversation.”

She smiled but her gaze was across the park, staring out at nothing. Was she mad at him? Derek? Both?

He touched her hand. “Hey, sorry if Derek was a dick to you. He can be a bit intense. And I’m sorry I didn’t walk you to the door and introduce you. Poor form on both counts.”

Beth met his gaze and, to his relief, she smiled. “Apology accepted.”

“Great.”

She held out her arm. “Continue our romantic walk?”

Byron rubbed his clavicle. What the fuck was happening to his chest? Did he have arrhythmia or something?

“You okay?” Beth asked.

“Great.” He pulled her back into his side and they continued around the running track. He could feel Beth’s eyes on him, but he couldn’t quite bring himself to look at her. He was sure she wanted to ask him what they were doing, and he didn’t want to go there. It was a gorgeous night and he felt better than he had in ages. Why couldn’t they just be together?

“I should get going soon,” Beth said. “I’m starving and I have an early start tomorrow.”

“No problem. Are you sure you don’t want to go to The Cornish and get something to eat?”

Beth frowned. “Wait, you were actually serious about that?”

“Yeah, I got us a table.” He checked his watch. “It’s a bit late now though. Normally I’d say let’s just head down there…”

“… but COVID means everything’s booked out?”

“Yeah. The booking was real though. I’m kind of offended you thought otherwise.”

Beth smiled. “Whatever, dude. Anyway, what’s the deal with you fucking with Josh?”

“Why would I do a thing like that?”

She gave him a withering look.

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