MAE
I hadn’t taken two steps inside before Pia and Delaney swooped down on me.
“Hurry up.” Delaney grabbed my hand. “He’s still up in the shower.”
As she pulled me into the living room of the house side of the inn, I couldn’t see the kitchen but I could hear male voices. Apparently not Beck’s, though.
“He probably got stuck at the bar. When I left?—”
“Girl,” Pia interrupted me. “We only have a few minutes. Start. Talking.”
Our kiss wasn’t a big secret, apparently. Not that I expected it would be. If I didn’t want the guys to know something, I had to explicitly tell Beck not to mention it to them. Otherwise, pretty much anything I said was fair game, especially with Mason and Parker. But even Cole, although he wasn’t in Cedar Falls, stayed in the loop with his bosom buddies.
“As you know, we kissed.”
Delaney rolled her eyes dramatically.
Yesterday when I’d texted them to ask if they wanted to go to Grado Valley on Thursday night, I was forewarned that they already knew. I wouldn’t be surprised if tonight was either to get the scoop or Beck’s doing. Once he put his mind to something, there was usually no holding back. Which didn’t bode well for us keeping things in the friendzone.
They exchanged a glance, waiting.
“Please tell me that’s not your whole story?”
When I grew up, I wanted to be someone like Delaney. Fearless to say whatever was on her mind. “You crack me up. So.” I peered down the hallway. No Beck yet. “It just sort of happened this weekend at the B&B. We had adjoining rooms,” I added.
“Beck was convinced you didn’t see him as anything more than a friend. He said as much when you came back,” Pia said. “I warned him not to complicate things and stay away.”
“Honestly”—I couldn’t fault Beck—“he did. The kiss was… both of us. He was right, but it wasn’t because I never thought Beck was awesome. I mean, he’s one of my best friends for a reason. He’s funny, and smart, and obviously hot. But that was always the problem. He knows it. And the hordes of women he’s been with do too.”
“So what changed?” Delaney asked.
Good question.
“I… I don’t know,” I said honestly. “In some ways, nothing. Which is why I put the brakes on it the next day. Beck says I’m different, but?—”
“Party’s in the kitchen, ladies.”
Caught. Beck’s grin told me he knew exactly why we were huddled in the living room.
“Just got here,” I said.
“Uh huh.” Everything about him was suggestive. His tone. His stance. The way he looked at me was the exact opposite of “friend.”
“Shoo,” Pia said, waving him away. “We’ll be right in.”
Which, of course, sealed the deal. He 100 percent knew we were talking about him.
“For what it’s worth,” Delaney said, “I get the sense from Parker that it’s true. You really are in a whole different category than anyone else.”
Pia nodded. “Not that we’re trying to convince you of anything. The idea of Beck being in an actual relationship…” She made a wincing face. “But there’s a first for everything.”
“I also have to figure out my own life too,” I admitted. “But we can talk more Thursday. I’m so glad you’re both coming.”
“I got someone to cover the shop in the afternoon Thursday. And we don’t open until eleven, so Friday shouldn’t be an issue.”
“Works for me,” I said. “Let’s go in there before they get suspicious.”
“Oh,” Pia said as we walked. “That’s a done deal. Beck knows we’re talking about him.”
