Chapter 20
Beckett
“I did not fucking touch you!” I yell at the idiot who started this.
The cops still have a hold of us, and I am pretty sure my nose is broken, the taste of metal in my mouth. Although I hope I don’t look as bad as the bastard on the opposite end of the porch snarling at me.
“You did, too!!’ Carson yells.
“Will you two fuckwads stop this! I kicked you by accident, Carson! I haven’t been used to having that many people at our kitchen table in months. I lost my footing a few times.” Lacey screams.
Carson looks at his sister like he doesn’t believe her for a minute but sighs. “Lace, I am sorry.”
She crosses her arms, “Sorry? That is all you have to say. How about apologizing to Beckett?”
Carson snarls at me instead.
Good to know he still hates me.
“And you!” She turns to me and my eyes widen. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you? Instead of taking the high road, you had to punch him! You two are literal children! I don’t know why mom even wanted me looking after the both of you!”
“What?” Carson and I both say at the same time.
Lacey throws her hands up in surrender. “I swear, do either of you even know how to survive on your own? You’re like fucking toddlers and I am ten years younger than both of you! Read your fucking letters from mom!”
“Well,” Office Sutton starts, “Boys, I think jail would be a get off scot-free card compared to staying with her.”
Lacey’s eyes shoot daggers at him, and he chuckles. “Guys, let them go. But as a warning, if I get called out here again for childishness, you will be going to jail.”
All I can do is nod as my arms become mine again.
“You two don’t like the situation we are in, I get that.
Believe me, I am not too thrilled either.
My mother just passed away and neither of you have stopped to think how that is affecting me.
You two are so wound up in your own shit that it is irrelevant to everything else that you are hurting those around you. Just stop.”
“I am sorry, Lace.” Carson walks up to his sister. But she turns a cold shoulder to him.
“Officer Sutton, if you are done here, I am going inside and going to bed. Do you need a statement?”
“No ma’am. You guys are okay tonight. If I have to come back again, then I will.” He nods.
“You are not allowed in this house tonight, Carson Taylor.” She says before slamming the door in her brother’s face and locking the door.
“What?” he whines.
“Looks like the boss has spoken.” Office Sutton chuckles again, clearly amused. “I mean it boys, no more of this shit. You two are lucky to have someone who cares about you like that lady in there. She cares or she wouldn’t be mad.”
“How do you know that?” I ask.
He gestures to the other officers to head off the porch and he follows close behind before turning around when he gets close to his cruiser and says, “Let’s just say I have learned from experience.”
* * *
Lacey
“Did you make it home okay?” I ask Lexie into the phone after coming back inside. Leaving the guys on the porch was likely a stupid decision. They could be out there right now killing one another, and you know what? I don’t care.
I don’t.
“Yeah, Briggs was really nice.” Lexie sighs, “I can’t believe he is here. How on earth does this happen? I get away from him and he unknowingly shows up in the same town?”
“How do you know it was unknowingly?” I ask.
“The way he looked when he saw me. He was not expecting me to be there.”
“I don’t know what I should do now. Should I go back to Maple?”
“Hell no. You needed a fresh start. You are going to get one. Honeysuckle is a bit bigger than Maple; hopefully you don’t see him much.”
“Briggs was nice,” she says again making me smile.
“And a lot older than you.”
“So? Beckett is ten years older than you!” she giggles.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“I saw the way he looked at you tonight. The man is intrigued by you.”
“Is not!”
“Is too!”
“Ugh. I am going to bed. Call me tomorrow, okay?” I tell her with a grin.
“Love you, Lace. Thank you for today.”
“Love you, Lex. You know I am always here.”