Chapter 12
Eleanor
As the sun stretches toward the western horizon, a pang of melancholy threatens my mood, but it quickly dissipates when I remember there’s no need to rush back to the city tonight. I get to stay and finally enjoy my first full sunset on Starry Hill. With Beck.
He’s been acting differently all day, more attentive, and way more tactile than usual, which leads me to believe there could be some truth to Audrey’s theory.
Maybe Beck does like me a little bit too?
I don’t want to get my hopes up yet, but so far I’m enjoying every extra brush of skin, each new touch sending a spark racing through my body.
“Since I don’t have to leave early tonight, do you want to go sit on the dock and watch the sunset with me?
” I ask, feeling like a shy girl asking out the most handsome boy at school.
Despite being a lawyer who leads meetings, there are times—like now—where I still feel like the awkward teenager I once was.
“Yes,” Beck answers without a beat of hesitation, effectively stopping my insecurities in their tracks. “Let’s take that bag of candies from Lucille with us.”
“Good idea. I’ve been asking her about them, but I haven’t been brave enough to try one yet,” I say, heading over to the couch to get Lucille’s bag of colorful treats from my tote.
Beck leans against the doorframe as he watches me, and I try not to drool at the way his arms look crossed over his chest. But it’s so hard when he’s this pretty and he’s right in front of me.
“Maybe I can hold your hand and help you be brave?” Beck suggests around a swallow, his pale ocean eyes never leaving me for a second.
My heart kicks into overdrive and a frenzied rabble of butterflies takes flight in my stomach. That might be the most forward thing Beck’s said to me yet. The tiny bead of hope in my chest billows into a fluffy cloud that just about has me levitating off the floor.
Stopping in front of Beck, I lightly poke him on the chest, enjoying the hard muscles way too much. “You might be teasing me, but I’m definitely taking you up on that offer.”
Beck closes his fingers around mine, pressing my hand to his chest. Underneath my palm, his heart also races, its rhythm an echo to mine as our gazes lock. My breathing speeds up and Beck’s eyes dip to my mouth, then to my chest, before leisurely making their way up again.
I’m lightheaded, my whole body tingling with anticipation.
Is he going to kiss me?!
Beautiful opalescent scales scuttle down his neck, disappearing underneath his shirt where I can feel the smooth, overlapping texture against my fingertips. Beck gives me the smallest of smiles and, still holding my hand, wordlessly leads me outside to the waiting blue and orange skies.
When we get to the dock, we kick off our shoes, our feet padding lightly across the sturdy timber as we walk all the way to the end.
In the distance, the ocean mirrors the sky, fiery oranges and pinks and purples blend together on the horizon, creating the most serene view my eyes have ever had the pleasure to witness.
Beck helps me down onto the edge of the dock and waits for me to get comfortable before sitting down next to me, our sides brushing against each other, our hands clasped, as our legs dangle above the gently undulating water.
I breathe in the serenity of the moment, wanting to take a mental snapshot with all my senses that’ll be embedded in my brain forever.
The way molten pools of sunlight gather between calm ripples, the amiable whispers of waves lapping against the shore, and the steadfast presence of Beck at my side.
“Do you know how much it sucks to always leave right when Starry Hill is at its prettiest?” I ask when I finally find my ability to speak again.
“You don’t have to leave.” The words are so soft, I swear I imagined them, but the pink spreading across Beck’s cheeks makes me think they’re real.
Before I have time to ask him what he means by that, he reaches for the candy bag.
“Do you want me to tell you what each one is, or do you want to be surprised?”
“Maybe a little bit of both? Give me a hint of what they can do, but don’t tell me which is which. That way I have some context and can still be surprised.”
“Sure,” Beck says, opening the paper bag and glancing at its contents. “Lucille probably explained it to you, but each candy’s effect only lasts one minute maximum, so you don’t have to worry that you’ll be stuck like that forever.”
“She did mention that, but it’s good to be reminded. Can you imagine my lips turning green and thinking I’ll have to walk into my Monday morning briefing like that?” I say, a shudder rolling down my spine at the mere thought of work and the reactions that look would elicit.
Beck rubs his thumb across the back of my hand, the sweet gesture quickly bringing me back to the present. “There’s nothing scary in here, but even if there was, you’re always safe with me.”
“I know.”
Our eyes meet and hold, the truth of his statement feeling like a promise burrowing into my heart.
A lock of hair falls free from Beck’s hair tie as he looks down at me, and shoving away my self-doubt, I slowly reach up with my free hand and tuck the silky strands behind his ear.
My hand lingers there for a moment, enjoying the way Beck leans into my touch, before I finally lower it back into my lap.
Beck remains frozen for a few seconds, then he offers the bag to me as he explains, “So, you’ve got giggling candy, lip candy, hair candy, prank candy, growing candy, and truth candy.”
“Truth candy? I don’t think I remember Lucille mentioning that one.”
“I think it’s a new addition,” Beck says, looking a little embarrassed. “But we can skip it if it makes you uncomfortable?”
“No, it’s good. What’s a little bit of truth between friends?
” The moment that F word is out of my mouth, I want to jump into the ether and bring it back.
Things were going so well, we’re literally sitting here holding hands at sunset, and now it sounds like I’m trying to friendzone him. What the fuck is wrong with me?
Unaware of my mental meltdown and mortification, Beck squeezes my hand as a little bit of excitement dances in his eyes. “The truth will set us free.”
Thinking there might be something to that, I ask, “Are there two of each? Like, can we both have one at the same time and get the same effect?”
“Yes. That’s exactly what Lucille packed in here. She must’ve thought ahead. We’ll do each one together.”
“Together.” This word sounds much better and not friendzony at all. I reach into the bag and grab two of the squishy purple candies. “Ready?”
“Good choice for our first one.” Beck takes his purple candy from my open palm, and we bump them together in a toast before popping them in our mouths at the same time.
It tastes like a normal sweet candy, but soon little tingles erupt along my scalp. I forget to look at my own hair as I stare up at Beck, his silvery-blond hair transforming into a chocolate-brown hue right in front of my eyes.
His upper lip curls back as his gaze flits all over me. “No. No, no, no. Please never dye your hair black.”
“Oh?” I scoop my hair forward over my shoulder and look at the midnight strands against my skin, kind of seeing his point. “It looks bad, doesn’t it?”
Beck’s entire face softens and he shakes his head. “I don’t think you can look bad if you tried, but I love the vibrant copper of your real hair. It looks like a fiery crown. It suits you much better than this black color.”
“Thank you. That means a lot to me. Brown looks good on you, though.”
The next candy we try is an orange triangle that has us giggling for a minute straight, my cheeks aching happily as I fall into Beck’s side.
After that, the growing candy enlarges Beck’s feet a significant couple of sizes, while I add a few inches to my height.
I stand up to walk around with my longer legs, wanting to experience the world from a higher point of view for a minute, before I sit down again and giggle at Beck’s clown feet.
Beck hands me a jelly swirl next, which I recognize as the lip candy I’ve wanted to try. We take them at the same time, and I watch transfixed as Beck’s lips transform into a blue pout. Slowly, he lifts his hand and reaches forward.
“This magenta color suits you, but then again, anything does,” Beck whispers as his thumb grazes along my bottom lip.
My mouth parts and I hold absolutely still as he traces the outline of my mouth with a featherlight touch. His eyes flick up to mine, and when I see the raw desire in his gaze, my breath catches.
Every hint of apprehension, every thread of doubt I had about our feelings for each other blows away on the next gust of wind.
Feeling brave, I say, “Let’s have those truth candies now.”
“Okay.” Confusion furrows Beck’s brow, but he follows my request and holds out the unassuming white star-shaped candies in his hand.
Our eyes stay locked as we chew on the sweet confection, and in my peripheral vision the sun melts into the ocean, the entire moment feeling suspended somewhere between a dream and reality.
Light flutters through my veins and a goofy grin pulls at my mouth. “Ask me, Beck.”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Beck’s tongue darts out to wet his lips. “Eleanor, can I kiss you?”
“I’d like nothing more.”
Gentle fingers lift my hand toward his mouth, and Beck presses his lips to my knuckles, working his way across my whole hand.
My heart rate ratchets up as he turns my hand over and kisses the inside of my palm before grazing his nose along the sensitive skin and brushing his lips against my wrist, goose bumps scattering up my arm and down my spine as my breathing turns shallow.
Beck places my hand on his chest, right on top of his racing heart, as he cups my jaw, his eyes once more checking in with me before they lock on my lips.
“I’ve been wanting to do this,” Beck whispers as he lowers his head slowly and places the lightest of kisses on the corner of my mouth.
A breathy sound escapes me as I sink into his touch, my mouth parting for more. But Beck takes his time, savoring this moment, savoring me, like this is the most important kiss of his life and he doesn’t want it over anytime soon.
Beck presses another kiss to the other corner of my mouth, then meets my eyes again. I give him a small nod and rub my thumb across the hard scales forming under my touch, reassuring him I’m still very much consenting to all of his affection.
Reality ceases to exist as Beck finally brushes his mouth against mine.
The first caress of our lips is tentative, like we’re both almost unable to believe this is really happening. But the moment our tongues meet, a fire is lit within me and I never want it gone.
Everything about this kiss feels different, everything with Beck feels different, and all that I am wants to guard this special connection, keep it safe, and make it last.
Beck’s fingers tighten on me, moving to my nape as he draws me closer. My arms go around his neck as our kiss grows stronger, our tongues tasting, dancing, playing.
Then, I’m in Beck’s lap. He lifts me up and my knees land on both sides of his hips, and his arms wrap around me to keep me secure in his embrace as our kiss grows hungrier.
Just before I start writhing on his lap and think about taking this further, Beck slows our kiss down and rests our foreheads together.
“Eleanor?” Beck says, his breathlessness holding awe.
“Beck?” I ask, leaning back only far enough to take in his incredulous grin that pretty much mirrors mine.
“I have a confession to make.” There’s no guilt or maliciousness in the statement, so my walls remain down as his fingers rub up and down my back.
“Yeah?” I encourage, twirling a strand of his pretty hair around my finger.
Beck ducks his head to meet my eyes. “I know I said I wanted to be friends again. I lied. I want more than that.”
“Me too. So much more.”
“And, there’s one more thing,” Beck adds, shoulders climbing up toward his ears.
“Yeah?” Apprehension threatens my good mood, but once again, I aim to give him the benefit of the doubt.
“Tilly and Bodin aren’t fighting. I made that up as an excuse to spend more time with you. The guys helped me plan everything for today and postponed game night,” Beck admits, imploring me to understand with the most beautiful puppy eyes I’m increasingly weak for.
My smile grows slowly, enjoying the effort he’s put into this day and the fact that he enlisted his friends for some help. For me. “That’s actually really endearing. I love the team effort.”
Beck’s brow furrows and his mouth sets in a serious line. “Eleanor, more than a minute has passed since we’ve had the truth candies, so I’m saying all of this without any coercion. I want you to know that I won’t lie to you again. Ever.”
Whispering fingers across his brow and down the scales along his jaw, I say, “I’ll always tell you the truth, too. Promise.”
“Promise,” Beck echoes before sealing our vow with a kiss.