27. Chapter 27
Chapter 27
WESTON
A fter lunch, Becky returned to her cottage to shower, and Darcy immediately pulled me aside.
“Weston, what’s going on?” she questioned urgently, her eyes piercing through me.
I threw my hands in the air defensively. “Nothing,” I said, not even sure what I had done wrong.
“I mean, what’s going on with you and Becky? I always thought you hated her,” she said, tilting her head.
“I never hated her. I’m... we’re kind of seeing where things go,” I admitted, my cheeks warming at the confession.
“Seeing where things go?” Darcy echoed, incredulous. “Weston, since when do you ‘see where things go’? I’m not sure what to think about this. She seems nice enough. But why did she act funny when mom brought up the courier? What was with that?” Darcy said, now frowning.
I exhaled, searching for patience. “I don’t think she acted strange. Mom just put her on the spot. Darcy, I get that it must be weird for you to see me with someone. It’s weird for me too. But I think it’s a change that’s been needing to happen. I’ve been pushing everyone away for too long.”
Darcy’s expression softened slightly, her intense gaze melting into concern. “I just don’t want to see you hurt, Wes. Don’t rush into anything. Be cautious with her, that’s all I’m asking,” she said, her tone filled with a protective edge.
My heart tugged with brotherly affection for my baby sister, and I drew her into an embrace. “I should be the one worrying about you, not the other way around,” I chuckled softly. “I’ll be careful, I promise. And Darcy, please... try to give Becky a chance? I really like her. She might be... well, she might be the one. I can’t have you chasing her away.”
Darcy pulled back, her eyes searching mine, before a silly smile stretched across her face. “I’ll do my best, Wes. Or should I start calling you Romeo? ”
“Weston is just fine, thanks,” I said, and laughed with Darcy.
An hour passed like a blur, and soon Becky joined us, looking like a vision straight out of my dreams. Her denim shorts hugged her curves in all the right places, and the oversized T-shirt gave her a casual yet alluring charm. Her wet hair was slightly tousled, and it just brushed the top of her shoulders, making her look even more radiant.
My heart raced as I gazed at her. A powerful urge to hold her in my arms and never let go swept over me. But I knew I had to keep my composure, especially for Darcy’s sake. So, I played it cool and greeted her with a warm smile.
Becky caught my eye and winked at me, sending a thrill through me. I admired her as she made her way to the kitchen, where my mom was working on dessert.
“Here, Mrs. Foster.” I heard Becky offer, her voice warm and enthusiastic. “I can help you with that.” She reached for the bowl of unpeeled apples that my mom was working on.
The corners of my mother’s eyes crinkled with warmth as she relinquished her task. “Why, thank you, Becky.”
I leaned against the supporting pillar in the middle of the open-plan room and watched the scene unfold with an undeniable contentment. Becky’s laughter filled the room, mingling with the peeling and chopping of apples. The comforting smell of cinnamon filled the air as my mom stirred the cooking apples.
“Weston,” Becky called out suddenly, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she sought me. “Come over here. Your mom’s just telling me about that infamous cake disaster on your tenth birthday.”
Her cheerful call broke my reverie. As I pushed off the pillar, I felt a smile tugging at my lips. It was an unusual, but not unwelcome, sensation.
I moved closer, immersing myself in their warm banter. The scene was so different from my usual life of quiet order, and yet, I found it wasn’t displeasing. Quite the contrary, it filled me with a joy I hadn’t realized I craved.
As my mom and Becky chatted and chuckled, trading stories of baking triumphs and failures, I glanced at Darcy. She was taking part in the conversation, but I could see her guard was still up.
Thankfully, after we finished dessert, Darcy suggested we spend some quality time playing a board game before Becky and I left for the race camp .
Mom and Becky teamed up against Darcy and me, and as the game progressed, I relaxed. It was nice to see Darcy enjoying herself too.
Time seemed to stand still, allowing me to forget the world beyond this singular moment. It was a peaceful and cozy afternoon, and I began to entertain the thought that this could easily become my new normal.
But eventually, the time came for Becky and me to hit the road.
Mom would sleep at Gray’s house tonight, look after Eeyore, and stream the race from the comfort of the sofa because her ankle no longer allowed her to stand around and walk the long distances at the race.
Darcy had to teach a kickboxing class in the morning, but she’d return to catch the highlights of the race with Mom.
Becky and I would sleep at the base camp for the race so that I’d be ready to go for my early start time. I offered to find Becky accommodation in the little town, but thankfully she opted to stay in the communal tent I’d booked. We’d be two of ten people in a tent right near the starting point. Race mornings were chaotic—traffic jams, eager spectators, and participants all rushing to find their places. I didn’t want Becky to have to grapple with the unpredictability of public transport and potentially miss the start of the race.
I finished packing our bags in the truck and went to let Becky know it was time to leave. She was sitting with Mom and Darcy, looking at one of Gray’s old photo albums. Seeing the album sparked an idea. I pulled out my wallet and retrieved a familiar keepsake. As Becky stood to join me, I handed her a small, worn photo of Jared and me at our first triathlon together. “He would’ve loved that you’re here,” I said, the weight of the upcoming race settling in my chest. I just prayed I was ready.