Page 71 of Make it a Double

There was an almost five-mile radius surrounding Pinecrest that was uninhabited. Almost like a barrier between this sleepy town and the rest of the world. It was easy to tell when I was getting closer because everything got a bit quieter.

This part of the countryside was beautiful. It was near the cabins I was staying at, butting up to the massive lake just outside of town. Sometimes I’d take early morning walks along the shoreline, skipping rocks against the smooth water. It was the clearest my head had ever been. I wasn’t sure if I could attribute that to the scenery or the woman occupying my every thought.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a shameless flirt?” Sawyer asked. I could almost picture her standing in the threshold of the doorway, biting down on her thumb as she waited for me to respond.

“Only when it comes to you, sugar. And I’m damn proud of it.”

SAWYER

Date: Wednesday, March 17th

29 weeks:

- Constant headaches

- Sugar cravings

When Beckett said he had a surprise for me this morning, I wasn’t sure what to expect. He’d taken to bringing me a little gift every day he saw me. They were always reasonable, like an ice-cold Cherry 7UP or my favorite chocolate cake donut. Sometimes, he would ask me what I was craving, and it would show up randomly on my doorstep if he was stuck in a meeting.

But this time, he’d gone too far.

Beckett stood outside my trailer, arms spread wide, in front of a brand-new, dark green Volvo SUV with a giant red bow on top. He looked so goddamn proud of himself, like a cat presenting a fresh kill and looking for asspats. “Well,” he said, slowly. “What do you think?”

“I think that had better be your new car,” I said, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.

“And if I said it wasn’t?” he asked, lips spreading in a wide smile.

“No,” I said, shaking my head vehemently. “Absolutely the fuck not.”

His smile never wavered as he ran a hand over the hood. “You’re looking at one of the highest-rated safety vehicles on the market. It’s the gold standard of family SUVs.”

“Congratulations on your new car,” I emphasized, not backing down. “I’m sure the rental costs were eating you alive.”

“They were, which is why I bought two. The other is sitting at the cabin⁠—”

“Beckett!” I exclaimed, eyes widening. Was he serious? He couldn’t just buy two brand new cars like that. This was insane.

He paused, brows knitting together. “Mine’s black. You seem to always wear green, so I thought you might like this color better, but we can switch if you prefer.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, slowly exhaling before I completely broke down. It was entirely too hard not to melt because he’d paid attention to my favorite color. “I prefer the gold Camry my grams has had since I was a kid,” I said through clenched teeth.

“It’s a gift, sugar. I wanted you and our son to be safe, and driving around in a car that belongs in either a junkyard or a museum wasn’t going to cut it.”

“It’s a car, Beckett. You can’t just buy me a fucking car,” I deadpanned. Oh god, I was going to be sick. This was too much. Who bought someone a vehicle as a present?

As if he could sense my impending spiral, Beckett took the stairs two at a time until he was standing in front of me. His hands found my own, unfurling my arms from around my body and shaking them lightly. “Hey, hey. Look at me.”

I glanced away, jaw set stubbornly in defiance. If I looked at him now, I was going to lose it, and we didn’t have time for that right now. My doctor’s appointment was in less than an hour. The drive alone was nearly thirty minutes.

But Beckett didn’t budge. He squeezed one of my hands, moving his other one to cup my face. The moment his thumb swiped across my cheek, I was done for. The first tear spilled over before I could blink it away. I hated crying, but it seemed like the only thing I’d done lately.

It wasn’t easy learning to lean on others. Grams taught me to be independent. It was something I’d always prided myself on. While I’d been forced to accept Duke and Liv’s generosity, I was still a long way off from being used to Beckett’s. It was harder to wrap my head around. Less tangible somehow, despite carrying his baby.

“Sugar, please,” he said, voice wavering slightly. “Please look at me.”

When I did, every ounce of fight left my body in a whoosh. There was a genuine look of fear on Beckett’s face. Like he was worried he’d committed a monumental misstep he couldn’t undo. Brows furrowed, lips parted, he let out a ragged breath when my own expression softened.

“If it really makes you uncomfortable, I’ll take it back. We can get something else.” He cleared his throat, placing his hand on my belly. “I just wanted to make sure the most important people in my life are safe.”