Page 75 of Love You Already

Nate had moved into an apartment above the garage last month when the renovations on it were complete. Not that there was much to move. Three boxes, a duffle bag, and his tools were all that left the ranch that day. I suspect he didn't want to leave until he knew Rose was settled with Lachlan and their whole confusing marriage thing. Speaking of...

“Has Rose told you whether she and Lachlan are going to stay married? And if they'll tell people soon?” I ask Dad.

He shrugs. “I know some stuff, but it's always best to get it from the source. Why don't you go down to Sips to find out yourself?”

My head falls back as I stare at the ceiling and sigh. He's doing all this to purposefully annoy me. Dad is pushing all my buttons, and he knows not having the most up-to-date family intel is going to be my limit.

“Fine. I'll go there now. You happy?”

His grin tells me the answer to that is a resounding yes. “I might be if you shower and clean up first. You're a bit ripe, son.”

Laughter follows me the entire way up to my room. I think through his words as I shower and shave. Have I really been on hold in life? Do I just need to man up and deal with the ghosts haunting me?

By the time I'm finished, Dad has moved to the living room to watch some TV before heading to bed soon.

“Take tomorrow off, Beck. Enjoy tonight and then come back later refreshed. I think you really need it.”

I lean down to hug him goodbye, then take off without another word. If I start up again, then we'll just go round and round in circles. I can't fathom either of us agreeing with me in the state I'm in.

Climbing in my truck, I focus on taking long, slow breaths in and out. It calms me as I think through the possible outcomes for the evening. The probability of me seeing Caroline tonight is slim. She's got kids, according to the call from Verle, which would mean she's at home. Sips will be a safe place for me to go for tonight. Then tomorrow I can take the day off and lie low at the ranch. Hopefully Dad won't give me more shit about it.

There. That's the plan. Easy as pie.

My drive is short, and sooner than I'd like, I'm walking through the doors of Sips. The place is busy tonight, though not as busy as I'm sure it gets on weekends. I beeline for the bar where I see my sister's signature messy bun moving about behind the messy top.

“Hey Rosie! Give me a Bud, will ya?” I call out once I'm close enough.

Her eyes whip up to mine, obvious panic shining brightly in them. “Oh, no! Beckett... what are you doing here? You didn't call.”

“I didn't call? I mean, yeah, normally I do, but I didn't this time. Dad told me to go out for the night, so here I am. What's going on?”

My sister has never been all that good at lying to us Wrights and tonight is no exception. “It's just that, well, I wasn't prepared for you to be here. I need you to be still for a minute. Just don't move.”

She rushes over to a guy at the end of the bar, who takes in her waving arms and eager movements with wide eyes. He gives her a nod, then rushes out from behind the bar. I try to follow his line of sight, but my sister reaches over the bar to grab my arm.

“Hey! Just stick with me, big bro. What's up? You need a drink? I've got you.” Her voice is squeaky and high, a sure sign something else is going down.

“Rosie,” I say cautiously. “What the hell is going on? I want the truth.”

She doesn't reply at first. Her gaze is locked with mine. Then, in a quick flash, it moves past my shoulder and back. It's a fast enough movement that it could mean nothing. Any other day it might. But tonight... yeah, tonight it means something.

I spin around before she can stop me. The second I spot what's going on, I realize my mistake. Or rather mistakes might be a better term. The first is listening to Dad to leave the ranch. The next is thinking Sips was safe. The one after is thinking my sister was on my side. And the last, the one that hurts the most, is believing for a single moment that I could one day face Caroline James and be alright.

She's as beautiful as the last time I saw her, if not more. Blonde hair hits her right on the shoulders, just as bright and wild as I remember. She’s wearing black leggings, a pink T-shirt, and is carrying a tray. Waitressing? She's a waitress here?

I turn back to Rosie, only to find her damn near gnawing her bottom lip off. “I didn't know you were coming, Beck. I would have been prepared if you'd have just called.”

And there it is. She had no intention of telling me. My own sister, the woman who saw me fall apart after Callie left me, is now her boss. She's been working here for who knows how long, yet I've been kept in the dark.

Betrayal works through me like a hot knife. It tears open the fabric of what I've thought to be true and leaves me in a deserted space where family, love, and loyalty once stood.

“Don't,” I bite out before Rose can say another word.

I allow myself one last glance at Callie before turning for the door. Rose shouts my name, which makes more than a few heads turn to watch. Let them. Let them all see it play out. I'm sure it will be the perfect fodder for the gossip mill Firefly Cove thrives on.

My truck starts with a sputter as I force the key to turn. I pull away from Sips in a cloud of smoke, my tires making it known I'm in a rush to get gone.

But it doesn't matter how far I drive, I'll never outrun the memories. I know because I've tried.

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