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I glanced to the dog asleep next to her puppies in a makeshift pen we’d put together.
“Sure.”
“Do you need me anymore?” Beau put a hand on her purse strap.
“So you’re not going to stay either?” Teague kissed the side of Pepper’s head. “I’ll take you home.”
“How much longer are you here?” Pepper asked.
Beau shifted uncomfortably. “I’m . . . not sure.”
“If you don’t mind an old lady and some dogs, we’d love to have you spend a few days with us before you go,” she said. “You’ll be here for the wedding, right?”
Beau’s features softened. “I wouldn’t miss it. And I don’t mind old ladies, dogs, or overbearing brothers.”
Teague dug in his pockets and pulled out his keys. “I’m not overbearing,” he grumbled. “You ready?”
“I’ll drive you.” The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Can you two stand to be in a confined space for that long?” Teague raised a brow.
“It’s only twenty minutes tops, right?” I pretended it wasn’t a big deal.
But it was.
She hadn’t been in my truck in a long time. I doubted it was one of her favorite places anymore.
“I’ll take a cab.”
“No.”
“No.”
Teague and I spoke simultaneously.
Beau scowled.
Pepper ducked out from under Teague’s arm. “I think I’m going to skip this argument. Save yourself the trouble, Beau, and just ride home with Cal.”
“Fine.” She kissed her brother’s cheek and then Pepper’s. “Love you.”
A pit formed in my stomach. She used to say that to me.
I slapped Teague’s hand in a bro handshake and hugged Pepper. “See you. And give Miss Adeline—”
“I’ll tell her you said bye. I’m not giving her anything for you.” Pepper put a hand to her head. “I don’t want to start something.” Then she grinned.
“Fair enough.” I flicked my chin at Beau. “I’m parked a few blocks away.”
Without a word, we walked to my truck. Every step closer, my anxiety ratcheted up another notch. It was one thing to spend a few hours with her in a random hotel room and completely different to go back to a place that had meant something to both of us. Had been “our place.”
I had no illusions about what had been going on between us since she’d been back. Had no illusions things would be different this time. But the more distance we kept, the less personal, the easier it would be when we had to part ways.
What’s more personal than being inside of her?
Being with her in that truck. Our physical relationship had always been just one form of our communication. It was raw and deep and unfiltered. As intimate and sacred as it was, sharing what was in my head was more so.
I’d opened up to her in ways I never had to anyone. My family knew me through and through . . . but not the way Beau did.
