Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Jacob
Ground roasted coffee beans and a very long line greet me as I walk into The Bleacher Bean. Stretching my fingers and slowly fisting them, I take a deep breath to calm the thumping in my chest.
Since being in Maple Ridge, not one person has gotten out of line or asked any personal questions. If anything, it was as if I’d never left.
“Jacob Thornton,” a voice that could never be forgotten, calls out from my left.
Twisting my head over my left shoulder, I find the familiar, if not older, face of my fifth-grade teacher. “Mrs. Clark! How are you?”
“Betty, please, Jacob.” She reaches out and gives my hand a gentle squeeze, and then winks at me. “We’re both adults.”
A wide grin covers my face, and I nod. “Yes, ma’am. I mean, Betty.”
“What brings you to The Bleacher Bean?” She shifts her gaze over my shoulder before whispering, “Or maybe I should ask who.”
“Hi Betty,” Becca’s voice rings behind me, before she comes and stands next to me, her arm brushing mine, sending shocks of electricity through me. “Jacob here has been assigned the task of helping me finish up the decorating for the fundraiser tonight.”
“I’m not sure how much help I’ll actually be,” I tell Betty before turning toward Becca, “but when this lady asks, the answer is always yes.”
“I’m not sure how much help he’ll be either,” she teases, before looping her arm through mine and gently hip-checking me. “But some help is better than none.”
Becca continues saying something to Betty, but I’ve stopped listening, unable to drag my eyes off her face. The way her eyes light up as she talks, the way she just makes the entire space feel brighter. She steals my breath.
“What is this?” Betty asks, a mischievous glint in her gaze as she points at Becca holding my arm.
Becca’s cheeks turn the cutest shade of pink. Ignoring Betty’s question, she shifts her attention to me and pushes the cup she’s holding toward me. “Michelle saw you standing here and handed this to me.”
“That was nice of her,” I say right before taking a swig of some much-needed caffeine. Betty’s still watching us like a hawk, but something tells me she knows there isn’t going to be an answer. “Are you ready?”
Relief fills Becca’s eyes, and I chuckle. “Yup.”
“It was so good to see you, Mrs…umm Betty.”
“Are you going to be staying around?” She asks as Becca pulls me toward the door.
“Depends,” I shout back over my shoulder and tip my head toward Becca.
Mrs. Clark’s laughter can be heard until the door to the coffee shop closes.
“Embarrassed of me, Becs?”
She catches my gaze and rolls her eyes, not letting go of my arm, but the adorable shade of pink is back.
Moving my mouth next to her ear, I whisper, “You’ve always looked super cute when you blush.”
“STAAAAAAAHP!” She smacks me, her face turning an even brighter shade of pink.
Snickering, I press my lips against her temple and grin. “So what type of decorating torture do you—”
“Jake, Becca?” The smile on my face freezes as I glance up to find my best friend and his wife, watching us, glaring at Becca’s arm looped through mine.
“Becca!” Jane, John’s wife, rushes from her husband’s side, gives her sister-in-law a hug, then whisks her a few feet away, leaving me with John.
His lips are drawn in a straight line, and his eyes glitter with anger. “What’s going on?” His voice clipped.
I know exactly what he’s asking, but I choose to evade the question. “Becca and I are heading over to finish up decorating for the fundraiser.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder. “Are you and Jane joining us?”
“You know what I’m talking about, Jake,” he growls, “I’m talking about you and Becca.”
Raking a hand through my hair, I blow out a heavy breath. “I know, I just didn’t think about talking about it here,” I look around at all the people walking on the block to make my point, “was the best idea.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, he stares at me. When I take a sip of my coffee, I notice him tapping his foot, and I snort, nearly spitting out my drink.
“You think this is funny?”
“You acting like we’re nineteen?” The corner of my mouth lifts. “A bit.”
The women’s voices move closer to us. “Look, John, there’s a bunch I need to talk to you about. But right now isn’t the best time. What I can say now is that I love your sister. I always have.”
His eyes widen, and the hardness in them softens a smidge. At that exact moment, Becca entwines her fingers with mine as she leans in and gives her brother a kiss on the cheek. Something settles deep inside my gut.
“You and Jane will be at the fundraiser later tonight, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” John turns to his sister, and the tension on his face is replaced with a deep affection. “It’s the last one for your boys.”
“I can’t believe it! How did they grow up so fast? It was just yesterday that Steven was learning to walk.”
John puts a hand on each of Becca’s arms and squeezes. “Caleb would’ve loved it. I’m sorry he isn’t here to witness it.”
Becca’s gaze drops to the ground, and my stomach falls. But then she squeezes my hand, and I’m not sure if it’s for me or because she needs support. I squeeze back, letting her know I’m here. “Yeah, he would’ve.”
“John, I’m gonna get in line,” Jane says, as she holds the door to The Bleacher Bean. “See you two later tonight.”
Lifting my cup, I give Jane a half smile and turn back to my best friend and his sister to see a look pass between them. Warmth blooms around my chest. They’ve always been close, and I’m glad they still are.
I’m not sure that Becca would’ve made it through Caleb’s loss without the support of her family.
“Well, I’ll let you two get to decorating.” He gives Becca another kiss before he slaps me on the back, a little harder than necessary, before giving me a pointed look. “See you later.”
We both watch the door close before Becca turns to me, her eyes full of mischief and a wide grin stretching across her face. “Looks like you have another third degree coming your way.”
“How do you know that he didn’t already hit me with it?” I quirk a brow.
“Because there’s no way my brother would’ve been subdued in three minutes.”
“This is true,” I grumble.
“Let’s go.” She tugs on my hand and starts making her way toward the parking lot. “We only have a few hours to get everything done.”
My brows shoot up. “You think this will take us three hours?”
She grins at me, and I groan.
“Are you going soft on me, Thornton?” Her eyes sparkling, a dare in them.
I’m not sure what type of dare it is, but it’s not one I plan to walk away from.
“Not in this lifetime.” I take a few steps to catch up to her.
Though I sincerely wish we were doing anything other than decorating. In fact, this might be the only time I would choose to speak to the press instead.
“I promise, it won’t be that bad.” She bumps me like she can read my mind, and I huff.
Wrapping my arm around her waist and pulling her close, I lean in and touch her nose with mine. “Any time spent with you Becs, could never be bad.”
She throws her head back and laughs before she says. “Unless it’s time spent decorating.”
Three hours later, on my way home, a smile I can’t get rid of rests on my face. I hated every minute of decorating, but every minute spent in the company of the lovely Mrs. Becca Ashford-Bennett was worth all the torture in the world.