13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
WESTON
I told myself that I’d set her up with a movie and then I’d go do something else. Especially since what she was watching was for children. But I couldn’t make myself leave the stupid sofa. Outside, moments ago, she had seemed frail and haunted, a sight that had nearly splintered my heart. Even more distressing, she almost shut the door on me, content to leave us as enemies. Suddenly, I couldn’t tolerate the idea.
I was surprised by the intensity of my sudden longing to spend time with her. I’d grown accustomed to avoiding her, resenting her loud cheeriness.
However, in this moment on the sofa, I found my resentment for her lessen slightly. She was undeniably compelling. Her relentless positivity, which I still found frustrating, now also sparked an inexplicable warmth within me. Perhaps it was the way her eyes gleamed with an unyielding spirit, despite the exhaustion etched on her face. Or maybe it was her stubborn refusal to let her circumstances defeat her, evident in her determined attempts to match pace with me yesterday. She intrigued me, impressed me, even.
Her presence beside me was no longer a complete irritation. I liked it—the strange serenity that I felt in her company. It was an unforeseen change in our dynamic, but I was willing to embrace it. After all, I was friends with Gray, so I’d inevitably be around Becky. It made sense to include her in my inner circle, which seemed easier than trying to keep my distance. A soft smile curved my lips as I leaned back against the sofa, embracing the movie I never planned on watching.
My first ever viewing of Tangled came to an end. “It doesn’t have the guts and glory of the movies I like to watch, but it was fun,” I said.
“Can’t believe you sat through the entire thing,” she said, her voice full of triumph. “And Eeyore is just the best medicine.”
“How are your pain levels now? ”
“Much better, thanks to you. Thanks for looking after me.”
Her words made me feel funny inside, so I just nodded at her response, not sure what to make of the warmth spreading through my chest. We sat in awkward silence for several moments, but still, I never left the sofa.
“My pain is mostly gone. I can show you how to make the one-pot chili now if you like? It can be our dinner,” Becky said with so much hope there was no way I was going to refuse her.
“Okay,” I said.
Becky flitted about the kitchen, showing me all her tried and tested techniques. I was sure I’d never remember half of what she told me, but I was enjoying this relaxed version of her. She had on navy leggings, an oversized Georgia State University T-shirt, and her hair was tied up in a messy bun. She was mesmerizing.
“Hey, did I hear correctly? Did you call me Becky earlier?” she asked while stirring the onions.
“Yup.”
“Does that mean you consider me your friend now?” she asked, her voice dropping to a near whisper, her eyes never leaving the onions.
“I decided we should just be friends. Why do you think I’m cooking with you? ”
Becky turned her dazzling smile on me, and I lost the ability to breathe normally for a second.
“I’m so glad we are friends. I promise you won’t regret it,” she said, but I wasn’t so sure. “Now that we are friends, I want to get to know you better,” she said. “Tell me something interesting about yourself while you chop the peppers.”
“I’m not an interesting person. What do you want to know?”
“I think you are interesting. Tell me where your passion for the insurance company came from?”
“It’s not exactly my passion,” I said before thinking better of it.
“Really? Why do you do it?”
That was a loaded question. I just stared at her, unsure what I should answer or if I should answer at all. The innocent look on her face pushed me over the edge and I went the honest route.
“It was my dad’s wish for me to take over his business. But desk jobs aren’t my thing.”
“What is your thing?” she asked, as if she had all the time in the world to hear my answer.
“I studied engineering. In a dream world, I’d earn a living doing something with my degree. But it doesn’t make sense to step away from a profitable business. And my dad really wanted me to take it over. I don’t want to let him down. I like the company. Never mind what I said about passion.”
“I’m sure your dad is proud of you for running his business, but I want to bet he’d be just as proud if you pursued your own dreams.”
Not in the mood to talk about my dad, I quickly changed the subject. “Now it’s your turn.”
“What would you like to know?” she asked.
“Maybe this is out of bounds, but prior to this week, I’ve only ever seen you perfectly put together. Why do you make such an effort to look so… perfect? I saw you without makeup the other day and you don’t have any on now. You don’t need it.”
Becky laughed. “It gives me confidence, I guess. I like people to see my best side; pretty clothes and makeup allow me to do that.”
“How come you let me see you without makeup?”
“Well, when I arrived on Monday, I was mad at you for locking me out. And for a second, I didn’t care what you thought,” she said, shaking her head like she was rebuking herself. “And today, you pounced on me when I was wounded. ”
“Well, I think every version of you looks fine,” I said. Fine was an understatement. She always looked stunning to me, but I wasn’t about to tell her that.
We chatted some more and ate dinner. I was enjoying her company too much, so I knew I needed to extract myself. We cleaned away the mess from dinner and then I gathered up Eeyore and grabbed the keys for my truck.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“To drop Eeyore off at Darcy’s and to check on my renovations.” I lied; my renovations were fine. I was going to my property. But I needed to decompress by tinkering with my Mustang. No one knew about my little workshop. It was my sacred space.
“Can I come?” she asked and searched my face. I didn’t want company, but I didn’t know how to say it nicely. Before I could respond, she spoke up. “Never mind. I can see I overstepped in asking.”
“Yeah, I’d rather you didn’t come.” I said, stating the truth, but her face fell. The light in her eyes dimmed, her sunny smile dampening like a sunset shrouded in clouds. I hated to see her hurt, but my need for solitude was unshakeable.
“Becky,” I said, softening, striving to mend the hurt I’d inadvertently caused. “It’s not about pushing you away, really. It’s just that... well, sometimes, I find it revitalizing to have a bit of alone time. Clears my head, you know?”
“Okay,” she said, and she offered me a soft smile. Wow, I could get used to those. Is it normal to love the smile of a ‘friend’ so much? The reason I’d avoided Becky right from the start is because deep down I knew she’d be like kryptonite for me. Yikes. I’d just have to try to walk this fine line of friendship with her. At least she’d be leaving soon.