Chapter 18 #3
“Damn, it smells good in here.” Flip drops his bag and heads for her.
She turns around, a wide smile on her face, and accepts a brief hug.
I look away, jealous that he can do that and I can’t.
Not being able to touch her when other people are around is wearing on me.
I crave those stolen moments when Flip disappears into the bathroom or his bedroom and I can hug her from behind and bury my face in her hair.
It makes me wish we hadn’t started this with a pact I don’t know how to get out of.
“Your timing is perfect!” she says. “I made an extra pie. I figured waiting until dinner tomorrow night would be torture. Come sit down, and I’ll cut you both a slice. I also made too much filling for the pecan pie, so there are tarts. You can try those, too!”
There’s a bottle of red wine on the counter and a mostly empty glass beside it.
She grabs plates from the cupboard and rushes back to cut slices of pie. She tops them with fresh whipped cream and pushes them toward us.
Flip drops into the chair opposite her, and I take the one next to him. He digs in, shoveling a huge bite into his mouth. “This is so good,” he mumbles. After he swallows, he asks, “Grandma Madden’s recipe?”
I slide my fork through the pumpkin and pastry, gathering whipped cream before I take a bite. It’s incredible. But then everything Bea makes is.
We eat the entire pie, and Flip passes out. Thanks to his food coma, I take Bea to my room. I’m soft with her. Gentle, because last time I was hard. I don’t want to be too much for her. I want to give her a reason to stay, not leave.
The next day, we wake up and get ready to drive over to my dad’s for Thanksgiving dinner.
“I have an idea,” I say once we’ve loaded Flip’s car with pies, sweet potato casserole, and the gift Bea picked up for my brother, since we’re also celebrating his birthday. She offered to make a cake, but Brody only likes ice cream cake, and my dad has taken care of that.
“What’s that?” Flip asks as he closes the trunk.
“Bea should drive my brother’s car over. That way, he’ll think it’s hers, and it’ll be more of a surprise.”
“Uh…” Bea pushes her lips out. “I haven’t driven to your dad’s place like…ever. And this is a brand-new car. I don’t want that kind of responsibility.”
“How about I drive most of the way, and we switch spots when we’re around the corner?” I suggest.
“Yeah, okay. That would work,” Bea agrees.
She rounds the passenger side of my brother’s soon-to-be-birthday present, and Flip frowns. “Why doesn’t Rix drive with me until we get close to your dad’s? Don’t want you two killing each other before we even get there.”
Because I want half an hour to huff Bea’s shampoo before we have to spend the rest of the day behaving . “Sure. That works.”
When we’re two streets away from my dad’s place, Flip pulls over, and Bea hops out of his car and into my brother’s birthday present.
“I saw what you tried to do there,” she says as I tell her where to turn. My dad lives in the same house my brothers and I grew up in.
“I thought we’d get half an hour without an audience.”
“So you could get a car handy?” Bea glances at my crotch before she turns right.
“Mostly so I could tell you all the dirty shit I want to do to you later. But I wouldn’t have been opposed to a car handy.”
She rolls her eyes and smiles. “Brody will be so excited when he realizes this car is his.”
“Yeah. He’s been drooling over this one for a while. He only works one shift a week because of hockey, so saving has been hard,” I say.
“You’re a great brother.”
“Eh, I do what I can. Our mom sucks. She hasn’t called him or sent him a card on his birthday in a few years,” I admit.
Bea reaches over and squeezes my hand. “I’m so sorry. That’s beyond shitty.”
“It is what it is. That’s why we make such a big deal about birthdays.
Try to take the sting out, you know? He was only four when she left, so he doesn’t remember her much.
Mostly she’s been an occasional voice on the phone and someone who sends him a card once a year.
” This isn’t something I talk about, mostly because it makes me feel like garbage.
“It still sucks for all of you.” Bea pulls into my dad’s driveway. “Oh wow. It’s the same, but different.” She puts the car in park.
I spot my brother in the window, and a second later, the front door opens. His smile falters as Bea gets out of the driver’s seat.
He schools his expression and comes down to greet us. “Sweet ride.”
“Right?” Bea tosses me the keys and bites back a smile.
Flip parks on the street.
I wait a moment before I toss the keys to Brody. “Happy birthday, buddy.”
He catches them, eyes bouncing between me and Bea. “Are you fucking serious?”
Nathan and my dad appear in the doorway.
“Yup. It’s all yours.”
“It’s a smooth ride. You should check it out.” Bea pats the hood and steps aside.
“Rix, right? My dad said you were coming. I haven’t seen you in like…
a long time. You’re like…” His gaze moves over her, and his cheeks flush pink.
He’s all over the place. Trying to be polite while freaking out.
“Yeah. Holy shit. It’s nice to see you. This fucking car, man! Sorry about the swears, Dad.”
“Why don’t we take it for a spin?” I suggest.
“Can we?” Brody looks over his shoulder. “Is that okay, Dad?”
“Yeah, of course it’s okay.” Dad turns to Bea and Flip. “Beatrix, it’s wonderful to see you again. You remember Nathan.” He squeezes my brother’s shoulder.
“Hey! Hi!” Nathan wipes his hand on his leg and holds it out. “It’s been a long time.” His eyes are wide, and he looks shocked.
“Hey. It’s good to see you.” She grins and shakes his hand, then nods to us. “You should probably go for a ride, too.”
“Come on.” I beckon him over. “We’ll be back in a few.”
Nathan climbs into the back, and I take my place in the passenger seat while Brody gets behind the wheel.
“This is so sweet. I can’t believe this is my birthday present. Like, dude…” Brody is vibrating with excitement.
He drives it around the block and hops on the highway for one interchange, but it’s slow going thanks to the holiday weekend, so he exits and drives back to my dad’s.
Nathan checks his reflection in the rearview mirror before he gets out.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He gives me a look. “Making sure my hair isn’t a mess.”
“Why? Who you looking to impress?”
“Dude, did you see Flip’s sister? She’s hot.”
“You have a girlfriend.” Unless something has changed in the past few days. Lisa was supposed to come for Thanksgiving, but she has a midterm paper to finish, so she had to bow out.
“I can still make a good impression.” He sniffs his armpit.
I roll my eyes. “She’s involved.”
“Oh yeah? With who? Is one of your teammates brave enough to date her?”
“It’s none of your fucking business. Don’t flirt with her. She’s Flip’s sister, and she’s off-limits. Got it?”
He raises his hands. “Geez. Don’t get your panties in a knot, Tris. I wasn’t gonna flirt. I just want to make sure I don’t have shit in my teeth.”
Bea’s in the kitchen with my dad when we get inside.
I’m unsurprised to find that she’s taken over food prep.
I’m also unsurprised when both of my brothers suddenly want to help.
Nathan’s right. She is fucking gorgeous.
She’s smart, and fun, and funny. She has an infectious smile and a laugh I can’t get enough of.
And watching her with my family makes me wish for things I shouldn’t. Like permanence. Which is impossible.
She’ll stick around for the sex, because I’m good at giving orgasms. But I’m not the kind of guy anyone wants long term. Ask my mom about that.
Flip hands me a beer. “Thanks for inviting us, man. Rix needed this. She’s missing Essie and our parents, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.”
“Yeah, of course.” Essie is another piece of the Bea puzzle I can’t ignore. There’s always a chance she’ll end up where her best friend is. Those two are tight. And Essie is the stability Bea needs, emotionally and otherwise. I can’t give her that.
And anyway, we’re just supposed to be fucking.