felt natural—if I ignored all the signs saying how unnatural a couple like us was.
At a long rustic table, takeout boxes were spread in front of us. Mr. Langley busied himself dishing the food onto plates. Beckett let his hand slip from mine. “What do you want to drink, Cupcake?”
I shrugged. “What is there?”
“Lemonade, tea, water, milk, orange juice—”
“Too many options.” I laughed. “How about lemonade?”
“Sure thing,” he said.
“Grab me a glass too.” Mr. Langley nodded at the table. “Pick any seat, Rory.”
I sat down across the table from where he stood, and he passed me a plate loaded with alfredo, bread sticks, grilled chicken, and steamed broccoli.
My eyes widened in delight. “Carbs.”
He chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
“Mine,” Beckett corrected jokingly. He set a glass of lemonade in front of me and his dad, then took the chair next to mine.
“Dig in,” Mr. Langley said.
I didn’t need any more encouragement than that. The hEAlthy meals at school left plenty to be desired—mostly in flavor and calories. Not like this. The noodles melted in my mouth, along with the calorie-laden alfredo sauce.
I swallowed. “This is so good. Thank you.”
Mr. Langley chuckled. “You’re welcome to join us any time.”
Beckett nodded.
I smiled at them. I’d love to take them up on it, but I had a feeling our cozy dinners together would be ending soon. I resolved to tell Beckett about the bet as soon as we were done. If he hated me, then we wouldn’t become even more attached before the heartbreak that was sure to follow. And, if by some miracle Beckett forgave me, I’d have less time with this secret hanging over my head like a guillotine.
Beckett glanced over at me with a smile, and I barely found the strength to return it, because no matter how much I hoped for the second option, I knew my life didn’t work like that. Girls like Merritt always found a way to win.
Thirty-Seven
I offered to help with the dishes, but Mr. Langley waved us off. “Go enjoy each other. I’ve got the dishes.”
“You sure?” Beckett asked.
He nodded. “Rory’s much better than the other girls you’ve brought around.” He chuckled. “I hope you’ll keep her.”
I hoped so too.
Beckett put his arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “I was thinking we’d go to the patio.”
“Sounds good,” his dad said. “I’m heading up to my room. I’m going to try and get my work done early so I can watch your game tomorrow night.”
The hope that flickered across Beckett’s features was unmistakable. “Yeah?”
Mr. Langley nodded. “Can’t miss your homecoming game.”
Beckett grinned at him. “Thanks, Dad.”
His dad turned back to the dishes, but I gave Beckett an encouraging smile. Well, as big of a smile as I could manage knowing this was all coming to a head soon.
“You can go on out to the patio, Cupcake,” Beckett said, nodding toward the big glass door. “I have to grab something from my room.”
I searched his expression for a hint of what it could be, but Beckett was unreadable. “Sure.”
He dropped an easy kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be out there in a second.”
Mr. Langley called over his shoulder, “Just turn the knob on the right of the pit to get the fire going.”
“Okay,” I said and walked across the large living area. When I reached the patio, I slid the accordion glass door open and stepped into the crisp night air. I pulled my jacket tighter around me and bent to look for the knob. As soon as I twisted it, fire flared from the glass beads in the stone pit.
Heat and light spread on the patio, and I sat on one of the couches facing the city. It was romantic out here, especially in the dark with twinkle lights blanketing the black expanse below.
I steeled myself to tell Becket, although I still had no idea how to frame it. There was no good way to say, “I used you for a bet.”
The door slid open, and Beckett stepped onto the patio carrying a leather-bound book.
“What’s that?” I asked.
He handed it to me, and I realized it was a photo album. “Are these...?”
With a nod, he said, “From the pier. They turned out amazing. But then again, it was pretty easy with you as a model.”
Blushing, I opened the cover. The first two spots didn’t have photos from the shoot, but instead a handwritten note from Beckett and a photo of us from our night at Spike’s.
Cupcake,
I hope you know how beautiful you are in my eyes. Always.
Beckett
I