CHAPTER 18
G ood Lord, why did she just hand-feed Beckett cheese and crackers? Was she insane? And then she decided to cover by spilling wine all over the table. Not only was that a waste of really good wine, but she knew CeCe was suspicious.
“Let me get a wet rag,” CeCe said as she fumbled with the sink’s faucet. “At least it’s white wine and won’t stain.”
“Thanks. I’m such a klutz.” And an idiot, but Mallory wouldn’t provide CeCe with more ammo.
CeCe raised an eyebrow, and Mallory wilted under her scrutiny. “Uh-huh.” The other woman wasn’t known for holding her tongue, and that was one of the reasons she loved her future sister-in-law. Evan didn’t get away with his nonsense. Unfortunately, it appeared that attitude translated to all Lawsons. “You want to tell me anything?” she asked, voice hushed.
“No.” Mallory flinched; her lie came too quickly to be genuine. To distract herself, she tidied a stack of already tidied napkins.
“Uh-huh,” CeCe repeated, her lips pressed in a suppressed smile. “You know what I love about you, Mal?”
“My ability to make a good cheese tray?”
CeCe nudged her with her elbow while she cleaned up the wine. Thankfully Beckett and Evan had migrated to the couch and were currently watching a baseball game. “Okay, I guess there’s two things.”
Mallory collected the dirty dishes and strode back in the kitchen, head held high like she wasn’t weighed down with secrets and lies. Why did she think she could handle this? They’d been in the presence of other people for less than thirty minutes before the secrets were exposed.
Struggling to distract CeCe, Mallory attempted a change in topic. “My ability to save lives under stressful situations?”
CeCe wrung out the towel in the sink before draping it over the spigot. “That’s worth an honorable mention.” Her lips quirked. “What I meant was that you’re the worst liar in the world. Like, it’s impressive how bad you are.” She turned to face Mallory, arms crossed over her chest. “What’s going on with you?”
“Nothing.” Mallory flinched again. She really was bad at this. “Just, uh, tired after a crazy stretch at work.” She flapped her hands in front of her, as if batting away the wildness of the week.
“Hmmm, are you sure it’s not from...” Her voice trailed off as she motioned toward the living room. True to form, Evan was yammering on about something that Beckett listened to intently, his head tipped in concentration.
“Beckett and I are just friends.” The statement landed with a thud between them, and Mallory knew the conversation was far from over.
CeCe picked up the bottle of wine and held it up to the light. “You boys don’t mind if I borrow Mallory? I’ve got some wedding stuff to discuss, and this wine is begging for some fresh air.” Not bothering to wait on a reply, CeCe looped her arm through Mallory’s and yanked her out onto the tiny balcony.
Mallory grabbed their glasses on the way past, shooting Beckett an expression she hoped wasn’t terrified. As soon as they were outside, CeCe pulled the door closed and topped off both glasses.
“We’ve got about ten minutes before Evan feels left out and joins us.”
Mallory snorted. “You’re giving him ten whole minutes before FOMO takes over? I was thinking five at best.”
CeCe raised an eyebrow, a gesture designed with maximum impact. “You’re probably right, but he knows we have girly wedding things to discuss. That’ll scare him enough.” She waved at the empty chair beside her, and Mallory tried not to frown as Nana’s ring caught the fading sunlight. Red and white sparkles flickered like a firework on the 4 th of July. You need to get past this, Mal...
“So what do you want to talk about? Bridesmaids’ dresses, the menu, invitations?” Her voice trailed off, heart hammering. “Oh! What about flowers!” Mallory nearly shouted the last word, the sound of her voice echoing off the neighboring apartments.
“Well, I guess we have two things to discuss. The first is a request, and I hope you don’t mind.” CeCe’s expression was sober, not teasing. If this was about Beckett, Mallory had no idea where the conversation would go.
“What is it?”
CeCe sipped from her drink, looking out at the sunset with a faint smile. “I really do love it here. When I moved, I had no intention of staying, as I’m sure Evan’s told you.”
Mallory leaned back in her chair, relieved from the reprieve of her own drama. “Yeah, he’s mentioned it. But after everything happened with—” She let the sentence hang, knowing the reasoning behind CeCe’s frequent moves was a sore subject.
“You can mention my ex. Eric’s name no longer turns me to stone.” CeCe sat tall, clearly unaffected by her beast of an ex. When he finally got his comeuppance, Mallory and most of the free world cheered. That manipulative asshole was a far cry from her little brother, and she was so pleased he and CeCe found each other. She deserved a happily ever after.
“I want you to know, I’m glad Evan got his head out of ass and asked you out last year.”
CeCe smirked, the look of a satisfied woman. “Me too.” She drained the last of her glass and placed it on the small table between them. Beckett hadn’t bothered with more than a pair of folding chairs and a questionable end table he found at a thrift store. Mallory didn’t have the heart to tell him it was uglier than the box it came in.
“Anyway,” CeCe said, pulling them back to the moment. “When I moved here, the people of Buckeye Falls were surprisingly welcoming. At first I thought just Max was a nice guy, but then I realized it was damn near everyone.”
Mallory liked Max, the diner’s owner and technically Evan and CeCe’s boss. Although he never acted like that, the man was a gooey cinnamon roll through and through. “Max and Evan might be two of the nicest people, you don’t need to convince me of that.”
“I know, but they aren’t the only ones that make me feel included, feel like there’s more to this town than baking and winning food competitions.” She turned in her chair and pierced Mallory with a look that should scare her, but it didn’t. CeCe had this natural intensity that Mallory admired. She was no-nonsense but had a good heart. She was the perfect balance to her brother’s sunny disposition. “Mal, you made me feel included in the Lawson clan right away. Not only are you important to Evan, but you’ve become family to me.”
Mallory took CeCe’s hand and squeezed, keeping their fingers linked. “You’re already like a sister to me, and you know that’s saying something.”
“And not having any siblings of my own, I appreciate that, more than you know.” CeCe tightened her hold and asked, “I’d like you to be my maid of honor, Mal. It’s more than my wedding day, it’s about having family beside you. I’d love to have you by my side. If you don’t mind, that is.” CeCe’s certainty faltered a moment as Mallory blinked.
Mallory’s heart skittered in her ribcage and her blue eyes pooled with tears. “Mind?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “That’s the nicest invitation I’ve ever received.” She tugged CeCe closer until they were hugging and both holding back tears. “I’d be honored.”
CeCe patted Mallory’s back and choked back a sob. “Good. Then it’s settled.”
When they pulled apart, both women dabbed at their wet eyes with their sleeves. “But I have to tell you something,” CeCe added, sniffling as she smiled. “I can’t have secrets on my bride squad.”
Mallory stilled, her gaze not quite meeting CeCe’s. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah.” CeCe scoffed, reaching out and flicking Mallory on the arm.
“Ouch.” Mallory covered her arm. “When did Evan show you the Lawson flick?”
CeCe did it again, this time right on Mallory’s forehead. “I’m a fast learner, and you need to spill the beans. What is going on with you and Beckett? I know I’m new to this crew, but there is certainly something going on between you two.”
“No, there isn’t,” Mallory said, sounding like a teenager. “We’re just friends.”
“Pfft, yeah right. And I’m Gordon Ramsay. Something is going on there, sister. The looks you two were flashing each other could have melted the cheese board. And don’t think I missed you feeding him. Friends don’t feed each other, or at least my friends don’t. I’m pretty sure I’d cut off Max’s hand if he ever tried that move on me.”
Mallory’s face flamed and her tongue felt heavy. She reached for her glass, only to grimace when it came up empty. Damn, she really could use some liquid courage right about now. “We’ve known each other for like twenty years.”
CeCe arched an eyebrow. “And how long have you been in love with each other?” She held up her hand when Mallory opened her mouth. “Don’t bother denying it, Miss Maid of Dishonor. I know what I saw, so cut the crap.”
Mallory covered her face in her hands. “Does Evan know?”
CeCe threw her head back and cackled so loudly, Mallory feared half the town would hear. “Are you serious? Oh, Mal. I love that man to death, but he is clearly clueless. All he talks about is finding Beckett a date for our wedding. If he got a whiff of what’s going on between you, it’d be all he talked about.”
“We don’t want him to know,” Mallory said, hating that their secret dating had lasted all of twenty-four hours. Beckett would be furious, but she didn’t have time to dwell.
“Why not?” The humor was gone from CeCe’s tone. Instead, she looked concerned. “You’re actually afraid to tell him, aren’t you?”
Mallory shook her head. “I’m not, but Beckett is.” She let out a lungful of air, happy to deflate and share this burden with someone else. “He’s afraid Evan will end their friendship if he found out. Like some bro code or something.”
“Evan loves that man like a brother.” CeCe was incredulous. “You really think he’d react so poorly?”
Throwing her hands in the air, Mallory sighed. “I don’t know. Beckett is convinced it’ll end their friendship, which will then end our relationship. Honestly, I don’t know how he’ll react, but I get Beckett’s reasoning. Or at least I’m trying to. He lost his grandparents in the last couple of years, and they were his last remaining family.”
CeCe frowned. “What about his parents?”
Mallory scoffed, hating that she had to share the hurtful truth of Beckett’s past without his permission, but needing CeCe to understand the full story. “They got divorced when Beckett was eight. They left Ohio, and him, without a backward glance.”
Letting out a gasp, CeCe covered her mouth. “That’s horrible. Poor Beckett.”
“So, you see the issue? If we come out as a couple and things go south, he’s afraid he won’t have anyone left.”
CeCe took Mallory’s hand, Nana’s ring digging into her skin. “I can’t make any sweeping promises of how this will work out, but it’s clear this isn’t some childhood crush. You two seem really into each other, and I think Evan would hate to keep you apart.”
“That’s all well and good, but Beckett needs to make that call.” Mallory pulled her hands free and covered her face again, feeling the need to hide away from life and all its complications. “I just need to be patient.”
CeCe didn’t say anything but patted Mallory’s arm and sighed. For a few minutes, they listened to the late summer cicadas. “You should trust Evan with the truth of your relationship. I can’t imagine him cutting Beckett out of his life, and he certainly wouldn’t do that to his favorite sister.”
Mallory smiled at CeCe’s words, hoping they were true. “But in the meantime, can you please not tell him?”
“Ouch, I hate keeping secrets from Ev. We know how well that worked out last year.” Both women recoiled at the memory, and Mallory hated herself a little for asking this of CeCe.
“If it helps, I hate that I’m asking this of you. We just need a little time.” She held up two fingers pinched together, barely a sliver of evening light between them.
CeCe huffed and pulled herself to standing. “I’ll do my best, but please don’t make me wait too long. I don’t want to walk down the aisle with a secret literally surrounding us at the altar.”
Before Mallory could respond, Evan pulled open the sliding door and walked outside, Beckett on his heels. “All right, are you girls done? I’m feeling a little left out.”
Beckett snorted and nudged Evan with his elbow. “He’s been pouting for the last ten minutes, convinced you’re having more fun.”
CeCe wrapped her arms around Evan’s neck and pulled him down for a quick kiss. “Babe, you need to calm down. You know I save all the big fun for you.” A look passed between them that siblings should never witness, and Mallory fought the urge to gag. Evan and CeCe could be in love, but she didn’t need a front-row seat.
Striving to change the subject, Mallory clapped her hands and announced, “CeCe asked me to be her maid of honor.”
Evan whooped and picked up CeCe, twirling her around the cramped balcony until her sneakered foot hit Beckett on the hip. “Oof,” he exhaled and tried to duck from another kick.
“Put me down,” CeCe ordered, giggling as Evan placed her back on the floor. “Let’s not injure the best man in the meantime, huh?”
“Thanks, CeCe.” Beckett rubbed his hip. “If this continues, I’ll need a wheelchair to get me down the aisle.”
Mallory ushered everyone back inside for dessert, which was sadly a store-bought pie. “I know it’s poor form to offer this to a pastry chef, but I was short on time.”
CeCe took her slice and beamed. “And I will never say no to free pie, especially from family.”
Mallory’s eyes misted and she shook her head. “No more sweet words, ma’am. I’m really trying not to cry.”
Beckett passed out spoons and the foursome fell back into safer conversation topics like the engagement party. “The party is next week,” Evan said between bites. “Foxy, you think you can help me make a playlist? CeCe and I have the food covered, but we’re thinking it’ll be nice for something to play in the background.” Turning to his sister he added, “And Mal, can you help me with the invites?”
“Absolutely. Should be easy since everyone is local.”
Evan wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and nodded. “Exactly. The only unknowns are your and Foxy’s dates.”
Like a scene from a movie, CeCe, Beckett, and Mallory all froze. CeCe’s fork stalled on the way to her mouth and the piece of pie landed with a sad splat on her plate. Mallory looked to Beckett, who was about to choke on his dessert. “Well, I was thinking,” Mallory started, striving to sound casual and not rehearsed. “Beckett and I would go together.”
Evan rolled his eyes. “Geez, Mal. Maybe he’s got a better offer?” Despite Evan not knowing the truth, his words stung. Why couldn’t she be the better offer?
“C’mon, man,” Beckett said, his brow creased in frustration. “Lay off, Mal.”
Ever the diplomat, CeCe covered Evan’s hand with hers and added, “I’m with Beckett. Let’s be reasonable. If they want to go together, why not? The party’s next week.”
Evan shrugged and moved on, although Mallory wasn’t going to recover so quickly. They needed to find a way to resolve this, because she could not handle many more digs from Evan. She understood that from where he was sitting, these two had just been fallback options for each other. Oh, how wrong he was...
But the question remained, how would they convince him that they were a good idea? How could Evan see them in a new light if they didn’t shine in public? Mallory tried to catch Beckett’s eye, to see what he was thinking, but it was no use. Since Evan’s dismissal of their date, he’d been quiet. CeCe, for her part, tried to steer the conversation to other topics, but the mood had shifted.
By the time Evan and CeCe left, Mallory felt wrung out. Beckett snatched her hand as soon as the door closed, pulling her close and cradling her against his chest. “I’m sorry about that,” he muttered, his hold on her only tightening. “What did CeCe say?”
Mallory fought the urge to lie, knowing it would stress him out. “She knows about us.” Beckett tensed around her, but he didn’t pull back. “She’s not going to tell Evan, at least not yet.”
“I hate that she has to lie,” Beckett said, and she agreed. This was no way for CeCe to start her engagement, but Mallory wasn’t sure what the answer was.
Well, that was another lie. Mallory knew exactly what the answer was, she just needed Beckett to get on board with the truth. If they were going to do this, they might as well get started. There was no better time than the present, because this secret threatened to hurt them all.