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I didn’t need to see him to know who it was. Beckett was lounging in a dark corner, keeping to his natural habitat.
He chuckled. “Though playing kissing games in high school might be the closest she’s come to getting some action, so I’m sure she’ll be all in.”
Asshole.
Tyler laughed off Beckett’s mean-spirited comment. “I’m sure that’s not true.”
I just shrugged. “You’d be surprised.” I wasn’t going to lie about my lack of experience… and I certainly wasn’t going to come clean about what had happened with Beckett. What was the point?
Marcus clapped for attention. “Right, shut it, Beckett, I’m getting this thing going.” He shook the spinner thing in his hand. It looked like it had come from a Twister set. “Now that you’re here, Eve, we have an even number…Are you up for playing Guess Who?”
I groaned as a cheer went up from those sitting around the fire.Seriously?I hadn’t played Guess Who since ninth grade. But Marcus didn’t seem like he was going to be deterred. He was drunk and determined. Who was I to stop him?
“Fine, whatever.” I laughed when he pumped the air.
“Yes! Okay, I’m organizing. Beckett, you’re playing.” He tossed the command into the dark corner where my self-proclaimed prison warden lurked.
“Pass,” Beckett said flatly.
“No chance, the numbers don’t work if you don’t.”
“Maybe he’ll play if you promise to get him a mirror to kiss,” I murmured to Marcus, who barked in laughter.
“If you’re so desperate for a chance to kiss me, Eve, there are other ways to ask,” Beckett called.
“Oh, burn. One point to House Anderson. The game is even,” Marcus provided the running commentary.
I crossed my arms, needing to keep them occupied so I didn’t grab one of the pitchers of beer on the table and dump it over the arrogant billionaire’s head.
“Don’t,” Tyler murmured and touched my arm again. He grinned sweetly at me. “He doesn’t need to play. We can justhead out of here and go get a coffee or something. Honestly, drinking after games wipes me out.”
I hesitated. Did I want to leave here with Tyler? Lily was close with him, they’d worked together at the veterinary practice in town for years, but I didn’t really know him. He seemed nice and he was definitely handsome, but I still wasn’t sure. There was something missing. A spark.Sparks like you and Beckett have?I forced that insidious little voice down. Beckett and I didn’t have sparks. We had a whole bonfire and an arson investigation. What brewed between Beckett and me felt dangerous somehow, and yet, I wouldn’t let myself be the first to blink.
“Sure,” I agreed, slowly, casting around for an excuse to stay.
“Another time.” A big hand landed on Tyler’s shoulder, and Beckett loomed behind him. “Eve can’t leave her friend here with Marcus, all alone. That wouldn’t be very nice of her.”
He nodded toward Isabelle, who Marcus had cornered against the outside bar and turned the full beam of his charm on. She was flustered and blushing.Crap.I needed to intervene. If she wanted to take a walk on the wild side with Marcus, she was more than welcome, but I’d like her to know how much of a playboy he was first before she made that decision.
“She looks like a big girl; I’m sure she can take care of herself. Besides,” Tyler pointed out, “Lily’s here.”
A muscle ticked in Beckett’s jaw as he stared Tyler down. “Why would Eve leave? She lives here,” he reminded him.
Tyler shrugged. “And she’ll come back here after a walk. You’re not her dad, last I checked.”
Beckett’s hand curled into a fist at his side, the only sign that he was getting pissed off. It took me right back to being thirteen and watching him face down his stepmother and get slapped in the face for it.
“It’s fine. I don’t want to leave Isabelle anyway, and there’s a game to play, after all.” I aimed to lighten the mood. Honestly, I didn’t care if Beckett was annoyed, I just wasn’t sold on going anywhere with Tyler. I wanted to hang out with Lily and Isabelle, not go and make awkward small talk with a new guy at the coffee shop. Maybe once I got more used to college, dating would seem easier. Right now, it felt like a lot of effort.
I’d thought I’d be more excited about it, but then maybe Beckett and his deranged promises to control me and everything I did had gotten to me. His eyes were on me. I could feel my skin heating under his gaze. He made me so aware of myself and my body. I could count every breath and heartbeat; I could feel the way my nerves prickled and my jeans rubbed my skin. My bra felt too tight, like it was constricting my chest. Only Beckett had that power, and it was maddening.
Marcus busied himself setting up the game. “Beckett, in or out?” he called toward us.
“I’m in. Go nuts,” he replied to his friend, his eyes never leaving mine.
Tyler cleared his throat beside us, picking up on the tension. “Can I get you a refill, Eve?”
“Sure.” I held out my empty bottle.
