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She grimaces, “I’ll call my plastic surgeon, we can get it fixed, love. No worries.”
I sigh, my eyes sting with the need to cry over something so petty as my nose, but my looks have always been my hustle. “It’s just a nose, I guess.”
Amiyah frowns. “It’s okay to be upset that some lowlife broke your nose and almost killed you.” I see Beckett shift in his seat beside me, his jaw tightening. “How’s the trip? You haven’t killed one another yet?”
I roll my eyes. “He drives like my grandmother—if I had one. Never goes above the speed limit, always under it. It’s going to take days at this point to get there.”
Amiyah presses her lips together to keep from laughing. The truth is, I try not to think about last night. All of it is so confusing. And if someone really is trying to kill me and this isn’t some sick joke, why? “How’s Prim?” I ask.
Amiyah hardens a little. “Sad because some red-headed asshole yelled at her.”
I throw my head back, moving my feet to the dash, having discarded my sandals earlier to get comfortable for the long ride. “Feet off the dash,” Beckett barks.
I glare at him, pressing my toes into the windshield to leave my toeprints behind. Looking back at Amiyah, I say, “I’ll give her a call and apologize, I kn—” The phone is ripped from my hands. “Hey!” I scream at Beckett as he pockets my phone.
He doesn’t look at me, just keeps driving like a turtle. “Get your feet off my dash,” he says calmly.
“I don’t want to.” I roll my head on the seat, watching the raindrops slowly slide down the window. Observing how one dissolves into another while others look as if they’re in a race. Strong fingers grasp the back of my head, turning me to look at Beckett. He massages my scalp and looks over to me. “Kiss me and I’ll let you keep them up there.”
I make a noise in the back of my throat, pulling my legs from the dash. His fingers loosen a little and I look back to the stormy skies, letting his skilled fingers massage my scalp into a peaceful sleep.
* * *
Fingers brush over my lips,trailing my jaw. “Time to wake up, Rabbit.” The deep, honey thick voice makes my eyes blink open. The street is familiar, like a scent that brings me comfort.
“We’re here?” Beckett nods. “I slept the whole time?”
“Snored too.”
I cast a glare his way. “No, I didn’t.”
He smiles, the first soft smile I’ve ever seen from him. “Come on.” He opens his door, climbing out. I follow suit, slipping my feet into my sandals before meeting him at the trunk as he lifts both of our bags out.
“You think you’re staying?” I ask.
He shuts the door, turning to look down at me. “I know I am. Someone’s trying to kill you.”
“You mean your group?” I turn to walk, but his hand captures mine, pulling me until my back is flush to his broad chest.
“It’s not us.” He speaks against the side of my head.
My body reacts, melting against his, wanting to feel his lips brush over every inch of my skin. This need, this overpowering lust mixed with hate, is confusing. Unrequited. I want to feel nothing for Beckett. His scent, his caramelized mossy eyes, the way his lips tip up when he’s amused, his toned, sculpted body. Everything about him is genetically made to draw me in, swallow me whole. And in moments of weakness, I want to fall in the hole that is all him. Let him bury me alive.
I’ve never felt this way, never allowed myself to. But with Beckett, I have no choice. It just… is.
“Sorry if I don’t believe you,” I whisper, my eyes falling shut in his warm cocoon.
His arm wraps around me, spanning over my lower stomach. “I get it.”
I stay in his embrace for one weak moment before I’m shifting away. “Well, come on then.”
I lead him up the old porch. Some may be embarrassed about where they come from, knowing the person behind them is powerful, never hurt for anything, but I embrace my upbringing. Because he may have had everything he wanted, but I had Aunt Beth and unconditional love. And that is the true riches of the world.
I knock on the chipped wooden door; I don’t use my key because I don’t want to frighten her by walking in. This is a surprise visit, after all. Looking over and waving at my old neighbor, Mrs. Perkins, and she waves back, a huge smile on her old, weathered face. The door swings open, bringing my attention to the woman in front of me. Aunt Beth’s mouth falls open, eyes wide. “Brixley? Oh my god.” I laugh as she embraces me into a death hug. “My sweet girl.” She pulls back, smile falling as she gently holds my face. “What happened to your face? What…” Her voice trails off as she looks over my shoulder. Recognition flashes in her eyes before it quickly falls away.
Do they know each other? No, I’m being paranoid. But what if? Will this paranoia ever go away, or will I always question everything?
“Who’s your friend?” Aunt Beth asks cautiously.
