Chapter Eleven
Beck
It was Friday night.
Tonight was dinner with Grant. What was I thinking? Why was I nervous? The blame fell on Rachel and the girls.
I made it clear to them that this was just two friends catching up after years apart. The girls got in my head, and now I couldn’t stop thinking this was a date.
I mean, I was ok with Blade thinking this was a date.
We would not analyze why that was, though. No Sir.
Now, with all that running through my head, I needed to decide what I was going to wear. I didn’t want to seem like I was dressing up for Grant, but I also didn’t want to go out looking like a bridge troll.
Finding balance would be the key.
Hearing a motorcycle pull into the driveway caught my attention. I looked out the window and watched two large men swing their leg over their bikes and walk toward the house.
What in the world were Blade and Jack doing here?
Grams.
I bet she invited them to dinner.
Grams didn’t like that I was going out with Grant, either. I imagine she invited them over so Grant would see them. What did she think would happen?
That the muscled bikers sitting at the table would intimidate Grant?
He hadn’t been so far that I had seen.
Well, I am on to you, Grams.
Grams just decided for me what I was going to wear.
A cute little sundress was perfect for my dinner date. Of course, I would need to make sure Grant understood we were just old friends catching up. Similar to when I had pizza with Ryder and his girls.
Liar.
I didn’t care one bit about Blade knowing I was having dinner with Ryder.
While that may be true, the fact was that he had no one to blame but himself. If it bothered him to see me going out with Grant, oh well. He knew what day it was.
With the last few touches done on my makeup, I placed my phone and ID in the pocket of my dress and headed downstairs to wait for Grant.
Walking into the kitchen, I heard a whistle.
I stopped inside the door just as Jack walked over and circled me.
“Beck, you look stunning.”
“Thank you, Jack.” I looked toward the table, sure I heard a growl. “It’s just a sundress.”
“No such thing as just a sundress. A sundress is every man’s kryptonite. You hoping to get lucky tonight?”
My jaw dropped open.
Rachel was right. Jackass .
“No, Jack, Grant and I are old friends. We are just having dinner to catch up.” I stole a quick glance at Blade and, shocker, he was glaring at me again. “I had dinner with Ryder and his girls on Wednesday. Same thing.”
“You didn’t get dressed up for Ryder,” Blade mumbled.
I didn’t think he meant for me to hear that, but I did.
Before I could comment, there was a knock on the door.
I spun around as Grant walked in.
“Wow, Beck, you look beautiful as always.”
“Thank you, Grant.”
“Good evening, Willow. You are also looking lovely.”
Jack coughed as he looked at Blade with a smirk.
“Jack, Blade. I wasn’t expecting to see you both here. To what do we owe the pleasure?” Grant asked, narrowing his eyes the slightest bit in Blade’s direction.
Blade opened his mouth to answer, but Grams cut in first.
“Grant, are you questioning why my guests are in my home? I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to have friends over for dinner, seeing as Beck will not be home.”
Looking over at Grams, I wondered what game she was playing.
“I apologize, Willow, I did not know you were all that close.” Grant placed his hand on my lower back, a hair too close to the top of my behind to be comfortable.
Hearing another growl, I wondered if I was imagining them all. Surely no one growled like that so consistently.
“Shall we go, Beck? We have reservations for six-thirty.”
Grant led me toward the door, stopping briefly to look back at the men sitting at my grandmother’s kitchen table. “Have a pleasant night, gentleman. I know I will.”
I heard chairs scrape across the floor just before the side door closed. When I looked up at Grant, his smile was wide. Grant made that comment to antagonize Blade, and it sounded like it worked. Thank goodness Jack was there, too. I knew he was the reason Blade couldn’t follow us out to the driveway.
Grant held the door open to his sleek shiny Camero, like the perfect gentleman. It didn’t have the same effect as it did when Blade held the door of his beat-up pickup, though.
“So, where are we having dinner tonight?”
“There is a steakhouse right outside of town. It opened up after you left, so I assume you haven’t been there yet,” Grant said, glancing over at me as he placed his hand on my thigh.
Taking his hand in mine, I settled it on the console between us.
“Grant, I, um, I hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression. I came home to help Grams with some things she isn’t able to do anymore. But I am not staying forever.”
I peeked over at him as he placed both hands on the wheel. “It’s just that I am not looking to get involved with anyone. I am excited to catch up with a friend I haven’t seen in a while, but… that’s all it is.”
Something passed over his face quickly as he looked through the window at his side. When he looked back at me, he had a wide smile.
“Of course. Can’t say I’m not disappointed. I’ve always thought you were beautiful since high school. I was hoping maybe after all this time you might see me the same way.”
“You are a very attractive man, Grant. I just, I don’t think a relationship is in the cards for me, ever.”
I stared out my window, thinking about the boy that I loved with everything in me. He took everything when he died, leaving nothing left for anyone else. Suddenly, a vision of Blade came to mind. I shook my head, trying to wipe the vision from my mind.
Where did that come from?
“I’m sorry. We can turn around. I don’t want to waste your time,” I apologized, looking back at Grant.
“Nonsense. We are still friends and have a lot to catch up on.” Grant gave me another blinding smile as we turned into the parking lot of the restaurant. When I reached for the door, Grant stopped me.
“Let me get that. Despite this not being a date, I am still a gentleman,” he said with a wink before getting out of the car and coming around the front to open my door. He held out his hand to help me out and, just like in high school, I wished I could feel something for him.
Another glimpse of Blade floated through my mind.
What is wrong with me?
Grant continued to hold my hand as we walked into the restaurant, and I wasn’t sure what I should do. I didn’t want to pull my hand away and dishearten him more. I also didn’t want to give him a false hope that I would change my mind, either.
Thankfully, he let go of my hand, reaching for the hand of the ma?tre d’. He gave the man his name and once again his hand was on my back and felt lower than it had been at the house. The man led us to a small table in the corner. A secluded table, definitely meant for a couple who wanted privacy.
I looked back at Grant, and he shrugged sheepishly at me.
“Sorry, I was hoping to wine and dine you this evening. I should have clarified when I asked you to dinner. I can ask for another table.”
“That isn’t necessary. We have a lot to catch up on, and there won’t be any distractions from other diners.”
There was that smile again. It really was a shame there were no sparks.
I heard a growl, and I looked around.
I expected to see a biker standing behind me, but no one was there. Maybe I imagined all those times I thought I heard him growl. I couldn’t deny the way my body just responded to that growl in my head, though.
What is that?
I sat down as Grant pushed my chair in. He walked around and sat across from me. The waitress walked over and poured us both a glass of wine. There was no mistaking the way she was drooling over Grant. Talk about unprofessional.
I thought of Samantha and how professional she was when she waited on Rachel, the guys, and me that first day at The Diner. She barely acknowledged the men, except for Jack. No one could ignore someone like Jack, no matter how hard they tried.
The differences between the professionalism in a diner waitress compared to the waitress in this very expensive-looking restaurant were astounding. Seeing Cash, Jingles, and Jack sitting with only two women, anyone would assume at least one man was available. All three were gorgeous. Yet, Samantha’s eyes never roamed over them.
Here, however, as far as she knew we were a couple and the way she was blatantly trying to engage him and get his attention was absurd.
Clearing my throat, I looked at her pointedly.
She glanced over and finally got the point. There was no jealousy on my part. Like I said, I wished I felt something for Grant.
Still, her actions were just plain rude.
“I ordered ahead, three courses,” Grant said with a smile.
He sure smiled a lot. Was he really that happy all the time? Studying his face, I noticed his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes and now I wondered if I had missed something.
“I’m sorry?”
“I ordered ahead. No need to deal with pesky menus. An appetizer, entrée, and dessert. You can just relax and sit there looking gorgeous. I have taken care of everything.”
I blinked slowly, like I couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. He ordered for me?
I met Grant in my senior year of high school, and while technically we had known each other for seven years, we didn’t really know each other at all. Certainly not well enough for him to order food for me.
What if I had an allergy?
What if I didn’t like what he ordered?
Thankfully, neither of those would be an issue. I had never had an allergic reaction to any food, and there was almost nothing I didn’t like. He didn’t know that though.
It was the principle of the thing.
And just like that, memories of prom night came rushing back. Grant took me to dinner before we headed to the dance, and he did the same thing then.
I was so annoyed but, hearing my mother’s voice in my head telling me not to be ungrateful, I said nothing.
Should I say something now? Or just let it go? I’d let it go. It’s one night. Grant was a take charge kind of guy. I had forgotten just how much he liked to take charge in every situation. I was not a child. Food did not need to be ordered for me. The conversation with Rachel and the girls came flashing back to me, and I realized this was the mistake they said it was going to be. But I was here now, and I would make the best of it. When the date was over, I would never make this mistake again.
We made it through dinner with no fanfare. We talked about high school and college. He told me he was in real estate and how lucrative it was. He talked about the women he had been involved with over the years, which seemed an odd topic for what I thought wasn’t a date. Maybe he figured since I squashed that idea, he didn’t need to try very hard. He was right; still, I didn’t really care to hear about his conquests, though.
I told him about becoming a journalist and a highlight of what I had been doing over the years. Highlights pretty much summed it up. I hadn’t been living at all. Just going through the motions.
Maybe Ryder was right.
Maybe I needed to accept that the boy I hoped would be part of my life forever was really gone.
Living a shell of existence certainly wouldn’t bring him back.
Maybe if I could accept he was gone forever, I could move on. And if I finally moved on, I could find someone.
Have a family one day.
I wondered if Blade wanted a family.
Wait, no.
If I was ready to move on, it would not be with Blade, or anyone from the MC. Jack was the only one I could tolerate, and despite how hot the man was, he felt more like a big brother, even in the short time I had known him.
“Beck?”
Blinking, I looked up at Grant.
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
He tilted his head and looked at me. “Where did you go?”
“Huh?” I was not telling him where my mind was.
“Where did you go? You looked confused, but also kind of like you smelled something bad.”
Laughing to myself, yeah, thinking about Blade and Jack had that effect on people.
“Sorry, I just got lost in my head for a second. Something from a story I am working on popped into my head and I started running through a list of things I need to check into,” I answered with my head down, picking my fork through my dessert.
Thankfully, this dinner was almost over.
“What’s the story about?”
“Huh?” I responded, looking back at Grant.
“The story. What’s it about?” he asked, and I got the feeling he knew I was lying. Maybe I used that too much when my mind wandered. It had always worked before.
Lie number two coming up in three… two… one.
“Unfortunately, not something I can talk about just yet. Still have to get my facts straight before I can mention anything. Have to be careful so I don’t get sued for slander, or libel.”
God, I hope he bought it?
“Hmmm, that is probably a good practice.” Grant set his napkin on the table and stood. “Ready to go?”
Nope, he didn’t buy it.
“Um, sure, it’s really been fun catching up, but it is getting late.” I set my napkin on the table and stood as well.
Grant had already turned, heading toward the door.
Well then.
I followed Grant outside as he walked me over to the passenger side of the car. I guess he was still going to open the door for me. Only when I got to the door, he just stood there, without keys in his hand.
“You know, when I asked you to dinner, I had hoped things would go differently.” Grant looked at me. He wasn’t smiling this time. “I had wanted to pick up where we left off on prom night. You know, when you disappeared without a word?”
Prom night, oh boy.
“I thought maybe you had gotten sick or something, so I gave you some time to come to me. Only you never did.”
I had gotten sick, but not in the way he assumed.
“I thought you would come to me and apologize for making me look like a fool in front of our entire class.”
He took a step toward me, and I took a step back, bumping against the car.
“Did you know you won prom queen?”
I knew. That was why I ran.
“I did that.”
“What?” I looked at him, confused.
“I made sure you won. Just as I made sure I won. We were supposed to be together.”
“Grant, I don’t understand.”
“NO! You don’t understand,” he shouted, and I flinched.
“Maybe you can explain it to me.”
What is going on?
This was not the Grant I knew.
I had never seen him like this.
You’re right, you don’t know him. You only knew him for one year, not even a year, one school year. One hundred and eighty days and then you left.
“You owe me, Beck.”
“What? What do I owe you?”
“You owe me prom night. You were going to be mine. We planned the entire night.”
Grant was pacing now. Growing more agitated with every step.
“Grant, you aren’t making any sense.”
I was getting worried now. Really?
“We had plans! You and I would go to prom, and we would win prom king and queen. We would dance in front of the entire school and after, I would make you mine. We had a plan, and YOU SCREWED IT UP!” he yelled, throwing his hands in the air. Turning back toward me with a sneer, he snapped, “So you owe me, and tonight I’m going to collect. The plan can still go forward. Sure it’s a few years later, but it isn’t too late. We can get the land back.”
“What land? What plan? Grant, what are you talking about?” I scanned his face, my gaze zipping between his eyes, trying to make sense of what he was saying.
“You’re still a virgin. She told me you were. You can still be mine. You will never be his.”
Before I could question him again, Grant grabbed my cheeks in his hands and pressed his lips to mine.
NO!
I tried to pull away, but he was relentless. I kept my lips closed tight until he bit my lower lip, causing me to cry out. He took advantage and thrust his tongue inside my mouth.
Suddenly, his hands were no longer on my face. One hand was on my back as he pulled me to him while the other was on my breast.
NO!
He squeezed hard, making me cry out. Then, before I could think, his hand left my breast and was on my thigh. Grabbing the hem of my dress and lifting it up.
“I had a special night planned after prom. I even had a special night planned tonight, but you just can’t seem to cooperate,” he said, his mouth going to my throat.
I pushed at his chest, screaming.
“GRANT, NO! PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!” I begged, trying to get away.
I was stunned when I felt the slap on my face.
“SHUT UP!” he yelled, spittle flying from his mouth. “I tried. I wanted to make this nice for you. You were thinking about him, weren’t you?”
Thinking about who?
“That’s why you disappeared on me. It was HIM. It’s always him. Well, he can’t have you. I won’t let him. You belong to ME!”
Both his hands were on my dress now, pulling it up to my waist. When he reached for my panties, my brain kicked in and I finally realized this was serious.
Grant was going to rape me if I didn’t get away.
I reached up and scratched my nails down his face.
He screamed, “YOU BITCH!”
This time, he hit me with his fist, and I was stunned by the force as my head turned to the side. No one had ever punched me before.
He shoved his knee between my legs to hold me in place while he reached for the button on his slacks.
I had to do something.
With my hands on his chest, I shoved with everything I had. He stumbled back enough for me to bring my knee up to his groin.
I slammed my knee into his junk with so much force I lost my balance and fell to the ground with him.
Scrambling to my hands and knees, I tried to crawl away, but he grabbed my foot. Rolling over onto my butt, I kicked my legs. My foot connected with his head, and he fell back. It was just the moment I needed to get to my feet and run back to the restaurant. He must have realized he couldn’t catch up to me because I heard him yell.
“FUCK!”
I heard his car start just as I reached the door to the restaurant.
I watched him peel out of the parking lot and took a moment to consider my options. If I went back into the restaurant, they would call the police. Did I want to report it? He didn’t actually rape me. Assault charges wouldn’t be enough. He likely wouldn’t even face jail time.
My other option was to call someone.
Someone I knew would come. With my mind made up, I stepped into the shadows of the building and removed my phone from my pocket. Surprised it was still there, given the state of my dress.
Oh God, how did this happen?
How could I have been so wrong?
My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold my phone. He gave me his number and told me to call anytime, and he would come.
No questions asked.
I scrolled through my contacts until I reached his name. Pressing the call button, I leaned against the brick wall of the building, trying to settle my nerves.
As the phone rang, I thought about the nice dinner I had with a man I thought was a friend. What he said made no sense. We, he said, not I. Did he misspeak or was he working with someone else? And what did it have to do with me? And the land? What land does he need back and who has it?
The most confusing of all was when he said he couldn’t have me. Talking about prom night, I assumed he meant the boy that held my heart. He could never have me, just as I couldn’t ever have him. He was gone forever. Nothing would bring him back.
None of it made any sense.
The call picked up, and I heard his voice.
“Beck? Is that you? Are you ok?” All at once my heartbeat slowed, and a sense of peace and safety consumed me knowing he kept his word. He answered.
With a shaky breath that gave me away, I whispered,
“Jack, I need you.”