Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Beck
We head upstairs into Sutton’s apartment where Sloan has been staying since she left for tour.
I’ve started remembering bits and pieces of the conversation Sutton and I had prior to my fight with Kenzo King but I can’t remember all of it. Maybe that’s for the best.
Just like I still can’t remember the fight since it happened so fast. Perhaps I never will.
Looking around with fresh eyes, I notice the apartment looks tidier. I’m not surprised since Sloan tends to clean when she’s anxious.
“Can you put the ingredients in the fridge, please? I’m going to shower really quick and then I’ll make us some omelets and coffee,” Sloan says, gently putting her hand on my back.
“I can start cutting some of the vegetables while you shower,” I offer.
“That would be great. Thank you.” Sloan smiles before she walks down the hall to the spare bathroom next to her bedroom.
I catch her out of the corner of my eye staring at me for a brief minute before I hear the bathroom door click shut.
I wonder what that was about?
The sound of the water running has my mind remembering Sutton showering in the hotel room in Vegas. She was almost mine, but that feels like an eternity ago.
And now she’s his… I feel my heart cave in on itself.
My phone ringing startles me out of my thoughts and I just miss slicing my finger with the knife as I’m chopping up green bell peppers.
“This is Beck Scott,” I answer on the third ring, irritation lacing my voice.
“Hi, yes, Mr. Scott, this is your landlord, Mrs. Hazel. I was calling to let you know that we unfortunately had a water main break that has flooded your entire floor. We are evacuating the building and planning repairs but it could take a few weeks. I knocked on your door but only heard your dog barking,” Mrs. Hazel continues.
“Is Mayhem okay?” I question anxiously.
“Yes, Mr. Scott. He is currently sitting on your sofa. I’m sorry for going in without you being here but I was worried he may be in danger.
He’s quite the ham. I’m not sure if you’re able to come get him.
We are hoping to get everyone out of here today.
We are waiving your rent this month and next to help offset any hotel fees you may have,” Mrs. Hazel says nervously.
“That won’t be necessary for me but thank you, ma’am. I am on my way,” I say, hanging up the phone.
I’m making my way down the hallway to the bathroom to let Sloan know when she opens the bathroom door.
All the air leaves my lungs at the sight of her.
Long black hair is braided down her back. A sage green crop T-shirt shows off her tapered waist and porcelain skin. Tight black leggings cling to her toned legs. Her little feet are bare, toenails painted the softest pink. Those big lavender doe eyes appear almost innocent staring up at me.
So innocent. So vulnerable. So…gorgeous.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
“Umm…” I clear my throat, snapping myself out of just staring at her.
“Beck, you’re making me kind of anxious.” Twisting the hem of her T-shirt in her hands.
“Sorry, yeah… My landlord just called. Apparently, my apartment flooded. They need me to go get Mayhem and try to find a place to stay.”
“Oh my gosh. Is he okay?” Sloan gasps. “Let me grab some shoes. I’ll come with you.”
“Yeah. She said he was okay. They’re just trying to clear everyone out. You don’t have to. I’m going to call Ash and see––” I start to say.
“I’m sure Sut would let you stay here instead of getting a hotel. They won’t be back for another couple months,” Sloan offers while cutting me off.
“You… You’d be okay with that?” I ask, eyeing her curiously.
“Yeah, if you are. I’m not sure if that’s weird.
Staying in her room or staying here with me, but you stayed here when everything happened with her grandma.
I don’t see why not. Obviously it’s up to you and to her since this isn’t even my place.
I’d love to see Mayhem more too because I miss Khaos—” Sloan is rambling and talking so fast, wringing her hands.
“Little Dove.” I interrupt her, gently stroking her cheek with my thumb.
She blinks rapidly up at me, “Yeah?” Sloan’s almost breathy.
“If Sut is okay with it, that would be great. You can help keep me in line.” I wink at her to ease some of the tension.
A knock on the door startles us both.
Instinctively I step in front of Sloan and walk toward the door to answer it. Trying to keep her hidden behind me while I answer the door.
I’m not sure why I feel so protective of her all of a sudden.
When I turn around to smile at Sloan, she’s already disappeared into her room.
“Aaaand what do we have here?” Quinn asks slyly when I open the door to her shit-eating grin and she pops up on her tiptoes, trying to look over my shoulder to see if anyone is in the room with me.
“I was just heading out, Q. Mind your business.” I bop her on the nose with my index finger.
“Actually, we both were,” Sloan says, stepping up beside me. I never even heard her sneak back out here.
Quinn looks at both of us suspiciously, eyes going back and forth between the two of us.
“My apartment flooded. I have to go get Mayhem,” I tell Quinn walking past her in the stairwell.
“I’m going with him and calling Sutton on the way to see if she’ll let him stay in her room,” Sloan informs Quinn.
“Ohhhh, I love it. What a great idea,” Quinn squeals running down the stairs after us, texting someone at the same time.
“Q, you’re going to eat shit, if you don’t watch where you’re going,” I scold her.
“I’ve walked these steps plenty of times while tipsy, Beckett. Mind your business.” Quinn says, bopping me on the nose like I did to her.
“Wait, love what?” Sloan and I ask in unison.
“This is about to be a forced close proximity romance for my two besties,” Quinn squeals, aggressively typing on her phone. “That is like a top fave trope for me. It’s perfect. Perfect. Perfect!”
“Quinn…” Sloan and I say at the same time again.
“See! You’re already starting each other’s sentences. Just you wait and see.” Quinn squeaks, pulling Sloan under one of her arms and me under the other.
The three of us squeeze down the rest of the stairs. “See you later soon-to-be love birds.” Quinn blows us kisses as we leave.
We’re not even five steps down the sidewalk before Quinn comes running out of the café. “Sut said no banging in her bed, but welcome home!”
Sloan and I share a look before we both burst into laughter.
“She’s insane.” We both start cackling.
“And just FYI,” Quinn shouts. “That leaves a lot of other surface area to use for science.”
“For science?” I question, laughing at Quinn’s dramatics and the look of terror mixed with, is that mischief, from Sloan.
“Welcome home.” Sloan nudges me in the side trying and failing to hold in more laughter.
“Home, sweet home, Little Dove.” I tuck her under my arm where she fits perfectly, as we continue to walk to my apartment.
The smallest sigh leaves her and I feel her sink just a little closer into me.