Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Beck leaned in and whispered something that made the other women burst into laughter. They were all still giggling when she caught me watching her from across the room. She held my gaze, and for a beat, everything else faded. There was a questioning look in her eye, maybe even a little wary—but then she smiled. It was small, but it was enough to make the knot in my throat tighten even more.
I took a long swig of my beer, trying to swallow the emotion building inside me. Seven years was a long time, but for a moment, it felt like no time at all. It felt like something I’d been waiting for, and now, it was finally here.
I was lost in my world of thoughts until I felt a pat on my shoulder, and Rooster said, “You better get to it, brother. The good stuff is about gone.”
“On it.”
I headed over and made myself a plate, then made my way over to the table and sat down next to Dad and Stitch. I took a bite of mashed potatoes, and they were incredible. That’s all it took for me to dive in. I finished my plate and went back for another. I filled my plate high before heading back to the table.
Once I finished it off, I leaned back in my chair and let out a satisfied sigh. I couldn’t remember when I’d been so full, but I wasn’t quite done. I still needed to decide on a dessert. I was trying to decide between Cass’s pecan pie and Wren’s banana pudding when I noticed that Beck was no longer in the room. She had been sitting a few chairs down from me, and Ava was tucked in right beside her.
But now, Ava was coloring over at the kids table, and there was no sign of Beck. I glanced around the room, making sure I hadn’t missed her, but she was nowhere in sight.
I gave it a minute, then leaned over to Dad and asked, “You seen Beck?”
“She was here a minute ago.”
“Yeah, I know. Just wondering if something’s up.”
“Probably nothing.”
I nodded, then took another glance around the room, searching for any sign of her. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, so I eased my chair back and made my way out of the dining area. I started down the hall, and it wasn’t long before I spotted her leaning against the wall with her arms crossed tightly over her chest and her head bent low. Her shoulders shook, and I realized she was crying.
“Hey?” I whispered softly, not wanting to startle her. “You okay?”
She flinched anyway, quickly wiping at her cheeks and turning toward me. “Oh, hey. I didn’t hear you coming.”
“I didn’t figure you did.” I stepped closer, keeping my voice low. “Something wrong?”
“No, everything’s great,” she said quickly, but her red-rimmed eyes told a different story. “I just needed a minute.”
I didn’t respond.
I just gave her a look, letting her know that I wasn’t buying that nothing was wrong. After a few seconds, she let out a long sigh and admitted, “It’s just a lot. I thought things would be different... I thought everyone would treat me like an outsider or like I was just a joke and wasn’t wanted, but it hasn’t been that way at all. Everyone’s been wonderful.”
“I don’t get why you’d think they wouldn’t be.”
“I don’t know. I just got it in my head that...” She glanced up at me for a split second, then immediately looked away. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
“It does matter,” I pushed. “Tell me.”
“Everyone always saw me as the dumb kid who drooled over you like a love-sick puppy, and they couldn’t have cared less about me or what I was doing. I looked like a fool. Then, I go off to college to prove myself but end up getting pregnant by the absolute worst jerk-face on the planet. It was humiliating. I didn’t want anyone to know, so I stayed gone and didn’t tell anyone what had happened. And I honestly didn’t think anyone would notice one way or another.”
“That’s a lot to unpack there.”
“Yeah, I know.” Her back stiffened as she wiped the last of her tears away. “I was wrong about them... It makes me wonder what else I’ve been wrong about.”
Beck
“I know of at least one thing you were wrong about.”
“Well, add it to the list.”
“I’m serious, Beck.”
“Okay, then what else have I been wrong about?”
“Feeling the need to prove yourself, for one. We all knew how smart and determined you were. There was no doubt that you were going to go off and do big things.”
“I don’t know about all that.”
“Well, I do. You’re amazing. You always have been.”
There was something about Torch’s expression that made me think that he was being completely sincere, and I had no idea how to take it. I could only stand there and listen as he continued, “And as far as the whole getting pregnant goes, it brought you Ava, and there is no reason to ever be embarrassed about her. She’s an amazing kid.”