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“Oh, this is—”
“Hello, Ms. Archer,” Beckett cuts me off, “I’m Beckett Cutler, Brixley’s boyfriend.” My jaw tics as I look over my shoulder, promising murder. But his polite smile never falters as he sends me a quick wink.
“Oh.” Aunt Beth’s voice still sounds a bit off, it must be the shock of seeing me with a boy. I’ve never had a boyfriend before. “Why don’t we get you both inside?” She looks down at her watch, frowning.
We walk into the home that holds so much of my memories that built me from scratch into who I am today. I love this home. I look to the green ugly couch and sigh. I missed this couch. “Brix, why don’t you take Beckett to your room so he can put your bags away?”
“He can sleep on the couch,” I say quickly, and hear his low chuckle.
“Come on, Brix. I’m not dumb nor am I old. I know what happens at college and I don’t care if you share a bed.” I want to strangle her, knock some ‘you do care’ into her, but instead, I flick my eyes to Beckett. Motioning him to follow me.
We get to my bedroom door, and I quickly grab our bags, throwing them into my room before slamming the door shut. Beckett raises an eyebrow at me. “Are you not letting me go in there, Rabbit?”
I shake my head. “You’ll sleep on the couch.”
“Highly doubtful, but let’s see how this plays out, shall we?” Everything from his posture to his eyes scream challenge.
We walk back to the living room to find Aunt Beth sitting on the couch, typing something quickly on her phone. Looking up, she says, “Now, what happened to your face?” She uses her stern mother voice. I don’t want to lie, but I know my aunt. She will worry herself sick. It was reckless of me to come here. To think I could share the truth with her. But I did need to see her face, hear her voice.
“I went hiking, tripped over a branch, and fell face first into a rock. Broke my nose.” I point to my nose as if she hasn’t already seen it. “You know how clumsy I can be.”
She sighs, but I see the smile behind it. “No surprise, honestly.” There is a knock on the door and Aunt Beth curses under her breath. It’s then that I notice she’s dressed up. Little black dress, black heels, hair curled. Her makeup is done to perfection. “One second, I told him I couldn’t make it.”
“Wait, are you supposed to be going on a date?” I ask, shocked.
Aunt Beth blushes. “Yes, but it’s okay. I can reschedule.”
“What? No, you have to go.” I stand, grabbing her purse and coat, pushing them into her hands.
“Brix, it’s okay.”
I cut her off, “No, it’s fine. Beckett is taking me out to eat dinner anyways, so you go ahead, and I’ll see youifyou come home.”
“Brixley.” She narrows her eyes at me.
I swing open the door. The man is dripping in riches with his suit and golden watch. “Hurt my aunt and I’ll cut you into a million pieces and feed you to the pigs. They’ll never find you.”
The man swallows as I push Aunt Beth out to him. “Noted,” he mumbles.
“You guys have fun.” I wave before shutting the door. I turn to face Beckett who has taken a seat on my beloved couch.
“Dinner, huh?” he asks cockily.
“No. There is a carnival in town this week. I’m going to go to that and eat a corn dog. You can do as you please.”
“And if what Ipleaseis to go with you?” he asks, a small tilt to his lips.
I shrug, “Then you pay.”
He laughs. “I can do that, Rabbit.”
* * *
There isa light breeze as I watch the bright neon flashing lights, the rides twisting and turning in the air as kids scream off in the distance. I carry my huge rabbit that Beckett won for me as we stand in line for the Ferris wheel. “Thanks for being talented enough at those carnival games meant to make you lose, and getting me this rabbit,” I offer. Not sure why. Things in our dynamic are shifting. We still hate each other, but since the night of the hide-and-seek trial, we’ve somewhat called a truce.
He looks down at me, pushing a rogue strand of copper hair behind my ear. “Anything for you.”
I blush, turning away from his intense depths. “But that’s not true, is it?”
