Chapter 22 Jensen
Jensen
“Okay, so I’m not allowed to let your sister do her tarot cards?” Beck asks as we unload our Thanksgiving to-go feast. One thing I’m grateful for today is the fact that not a single one of us even brought up the idea of cooking.
“Right, and don’t you dare tell her your birthday unless you want us to know all about your zodiac and star chart.”
“What if I do, huh? It could be interesting. And it’s something your sister likes, I’m just trying to be supportive of your family,” Beck teases.
With the last to-go box spread out on the island, I turn to him, hip cocked. “I don’t need you to be supportive. I have other needs for you and not one of them include you getting all buddy-buddy with my sister.”
Beck steps to me, his hands lean against the wood as his eyes level with mine. “Tell your sister Thanksgiving is canceled, let me fulfill all those needs for you right now.”
That is oh so tempting, especially with the memories of yesterday still fresh in my mind. Not to mention the marks. I had to throw on a turtleneck for the hickey he gave me.
I knew sex with him was going to be good, but it’s more than good—the only word I can truly think to describe it is Beck. It was every part of him that made me fall for the guy.
It was just as spontaneous and fun as he always is, but again he had me feeling everything. All the possessiveness and want for him.
When my high truly came down, I kept waiting to feel this wave of impending doom. This need to run for the hills and salvage what I can of my heart—but it never came.
I’m not sure if my rose-colored glasses are firmly back on and my mind is purely set on being in the moment, or if I’m just majorly delusional, but I’m going with the former. Beck makes being in the moment easy, so why not roll with it?
I glide my finger from the buttons of his Henley down his sternum then push hard until he relents.
“Damn, woman, you could have said move.”
“Oh, you’re fine.” I brush him off but his hand captures mine pulling me to him.
“No, I’m not, kiss it and make it better.”
My laugh comes with ease, and for a moment I press deeper into him. Soak in the warmth of his body against mine and let all the tension pent up in my muscles go.
I love that he’s wearing his glasses today. Something about him in them just feeds my soul. It’s like the Superman effect, except it’s not a disguise from anyone—it’s like a different side that feels more mine than anyone else’s.
I’m going to have to be a little more on guard when Stella gets here.
And not because of the roommates-with-benefits deal, because Stella will see the feelings behind it.
I’m not exactly sure how she’s going to feel about me working through them instead of burying them, but it’s too late to go back now.
Beck’s hands move around my waist, then he drags his lips up my neck to my ear. “I see you covered up that hickey I gave you.”
A small tingle slides down my spine. “Sure did. Don’t worry, I can still feel you.”
A low growl comes from Beck as he backs me up against the island. His hold on my body tightens and just as he nips at my ear, Dottie starts to bark. His grip flexes and neither of us move until the knock comes to the door.
Perfect freaking timing, Stella.
Beck places one more quick kiss on my neck before letting me go. “No tarot cards and no zodiac talk.”
My hands trail down from his shoulder to his pecks. “Good boy.”
This smile comes to his face and a playful smack comes to my ass. “Go answer the door.”
With a bit of a skip in my step, I answer the door with what my sister can tell right away is too damn happy.
My greeting is lost when her jaw drops and her head tilts to the side. “Oh my god, you’re practically glowing. Are you high again?”
I fold my lips together tightly. “No, can’t I be excited to see my sister?”
Stella steps inside, setting her bag down then pulling her snow-clad coat off. “See, I believe that to some degree, because of course you’re excited to see me, but also I don’t think I’ve ever described you as glowing.”
I pinch my eyebrows at her. “Okay, that’s a bit rude.”
Dottie prances up to Stella as she takes her boots off. Her voice goes up at least four octaves as she pets her. “There’s my sweetie! Have you missed me?”
“And somehow my greeting was too happy.”
Stella snaps up. “I’m always this much of a delight.”
Ah, yes, and she’s humble too. A smart remark is on the tip of my tongue when Beck walks up beside me. Stella’s smile grows the size of a coat hanger.
Beck barely gets his hello out before Stella says, “So, you must be the one who cracked my sister like a glow stick.”
“Stella! ?Por qué dirías eso?” Why would you say that?
She waves me off with a tsk, then holds her hand out for Beck. “I know we met briefly on FaceTime, but it’s nice to officially meet you.”
Beck shakes her hand but he looks at me with a smile on his face. “This is about to be fun, isn’t it?”
“Oh, it so is.” Stella reaches into her bag and pulls out two bottles of wine. “Boozy Thanksgiving!”
Beck’s laugh warms my body, but when he takes the bottles and Stella pulls out two more, I can feel the headache already forming.
“Stella.” I sigh, bringing my hand up applying a bit of pressure.
My sister walks right past us to the kitchen, ready to make herself completely at home. “We’ll pour your glass first, sis.”
Beck steps to me, bottles still in hand. “Come on, Killer. I’m even more adorable when I’m tipsy.”
I give him my best side-eye for entertaining this, but that smile he has melts me. I try to keep some of my bite in my tone. “I will call Lucie to come get me.”
“No, you won’t.” Beck moves so quick I don’t even register the kiss to my forehead until he’s turning, walking back to the kitchen.
Stella hovers over the to-go boxes, lifting the lids at a few to see everything we got. “Cheeseburgers, wings, tacos…and no cooking on our end. Must say, this was a fabulous idea.”
“I have to agree. I had Jen pick out the spread and I came in with the credit card.” Beck sets down three wineglasses then a bottle opener. “Which one are we opening first?”
Stella slides the bottle of Cabernet to him. “I say we open ’em all, but I know this one is Jennie’s favorite.”
Beck flashes me a grin. “Perfect, we’ll start with this one then.”
“Yeah, I bet you will,” Stella whispers. The smile on her face is a bit more smug than Beck’s.
I’m honestly waiting for her to outright ask what’s going on between us. Unlike Lucie, Stella isn’t afraid to cuss me out like a sailor without blinking an eye…all lovingly, of course.
Making my way over to them slowly, Beck hands me a glass and I take a big gulp. “Anyway, how’s work going, Stel? You ready to be flying out this weekend for whatever inevitable scandal happens today?”
Stella groans and slides the bottle of Zinfandel to Beck. “Just put a straw in that bottle for me. I’m already hating the phone call I’m sure to be getting tomorrow for whichever sleazy public figure has their side piece fuck up Thanksgiving.”
While Beck doesn’t hand her back the bottle with a straw, he does give her a very generous pour. “So, what is it you do exactly?”
“I work for a PR company.” Stella plops down on one of the stools around the island. “Primarily, I clean up messes and scandals.”
“That puts it lightly.” My sister is the PR girl with the company she works for. “Stella lives to make grown men cry while she puts out their fires. People have started requesting her by name with how good of a job she does.”
Stella waves a hand for me to stop, but the look on her face says otherwise. “I am pretty good at it. However, I would love to stop having to deal with random fires and flying out all the time.”
I make my way over to the seat next to her. “What? I thought you loved your job?”
“I do. I really do love coming in looking like a bubblegum princess with my pretty dresses and purple streaks in my hair for everyone to doubt my capabilities then completely blow them away. And yes, make a few grown men cry in the process.” Stella shrugs.
“But I also want some good fires and puzzles to solve. I want to work with a place and nurture it, not come in only for crises.”
“Have you looked at some of the places around here?” Beck asks. “I’m sure there are plenty of companies that could use someone on deck.”
Stella weighs her head back and forth. “I’ve looked some, but haven’t really had a ton of time to dig too deep into it, but I suppose if I moved here”—Stella spins to face me—“we could find a place together. I could probably swing moving here with the company I’m with now too.”
Hi, heart, meet my stomach.
“I…uh…I guess we could.” My eyes seek out Beck but he hides his reaction to my sister’s suggestion by taking a sip of his wine. I guess he could have zero feelings about the situation.
Stella follows my gaze. “Unless this isn’t as temporary as mentioned before?”
Yep, my heart is definitely deep in my stomach now.
Beck clears his throat but keeps his eyes down at the wine in his hand. “It’s temporary, but no hard move-out date.”
Stella reaches over to squeeze my leg. “Well, it was just an idea. One that doesn’t have to be entertained today.”
She’s right, it doesn’t. But Beck’s right too—we’re in the moment, but the moment will eventually pass.
“We can talk about it over the next few weeks. I know Reagan is wanting to get the ball rolling on our building so worrying about apartments is a little low on my list.”
Stella thankfully takes my bait and her eyes light up. “Oh, tell me more about that. What are we thinking? Do you get to have your own name? Can I pick it? I’ll be your PR girl, and you’ll get the family discount.”
“No, I get the sister discount—which is free.” I take a sip of my wine really hoping a buzz takes that lingering pain of moving out of Beck’s place eventually off my mind.
“I would imagine I’ll get to name my business…
” I look to Beck. “That actually does seem like something Reagan might be anal about.”