“I don’t know what to do with you,” he finally admitted in a soft, bewildered voice.
Before I could think of anything snarky to say Beckett walked through the tall chain link gate on the far side of the track. He was a ways away and if I wasn’t his sister I probably wouldn’t have been able to recognize him from this distance. But because I could, and then see that he already spotted us and was walking our way I knew I had to extract myself from this company right away.
“Well, let me know when you figure that out,” I said quickly to Fin. He scowled at me, again not expecting me to dismiss him so easily. I ignored the small pang of disappointment I felt because we wouldn’t get to continue this banter. Grabbing Britte’s arm I yanked her toward where we stashed our stuff on the bleachers. “We’ve got to go!” I called back over my shoulder. “See andtalkto you Monday Fin.”
That was my warning. He better heed.
“What is wrong with you?” Britte whispered harshly.
“Beckett,” I replied, that one word causing her to sober immediately. She tensed under my grip, and picked up her pace.
She didn’t even turn to wave to Fin and his friends behind us. She just dutifully picked up her things and marched along beside me as we went to face my brother. I could feel her body continuing to stiffen next to me and I had to wonder why she was as nervous as I was. She believed all of my brothers were hot, as did the majority of females that came into contact with them, but this was a little absurd for Britte. She was usually laid-back enough to not let her nerves get in the way.
“Are you Ok?” I asked in a whisper just before we reached Beckett.
“Probably not,” she admitted. “But you will be, you didn’t even look suspicious with Fin, so don’t let him guilt you into feeling bad.”
“Thanks.”
“Morning, E,” Beckett called out. “Changed your running schedule?”
Seriously? Was nothing I did private?
“Yep,” I answered easily.
“I caught you talking to Fin again,” he stated simply. His eyes were heating with some angry emotion and I was just waiting for the fall out.
“Yep,” I echoed. Short and sweet. It seemed to work with Fin.
“Does your project include working out together?” his expression was sharp and accusing. “And you,” he swung on Britte. “Were those guys bothering you?”
“B-bothering me?” she sputtered. Britte, one of the most poised and well-spoken people I had ever known sputtered!What was happening?
“Yes,” Beckett snapped. His attention was completely off me now and centered wholly on my friend. “Were they bothering you?” Each of his words were precisely clipped as if he were barely restraining his temper.
“Becks, what is wrong with you?” It was one thing to overprotect me. It was another thing entirely to give Britte a hard time.
He ignored me, of course. “You’re my sister’s best friend.” He was stating obvious facts, but his tone and locked jaw made it seem more like an allegation.
“Yes, I am,” she found her nerve again, talking to Beckett like he was a small child.
Beckett narrowed his eyes further, seeming to catch on as well. “You should be a better influence. She shouldn’t be hanging around with Hunter, any more than you should be partying and-“
“Oh, lord,” I cut in, realizing this was all my fault. “We’re going now!” I spoke over Beckett and started dragging Britte along with me. “I’m so, so, so sorry B! I have no idea why he is acting so crazy!”
She allowed me to pull her along again, but cast a glaring look over her shoulder at Beckett, who at least hadn’t followed us.
“He thinksI’ma bad influence on you?” she asked with more outrage than I expected, which was a lot to begin with. “He doesn’t know the half of it!” She suddenly yelled in a very loud voice, with her head still turned back towards my brother, “Come on Ellie! Let’s go get sloshed! I need a drinksobad right now!”
“Oh my gosh,” I mumbled. “We areneverrunning in the morning again. This was a nightmare.”
“Ha!” She turned back around so she could stop stumbling over her own feet. “This was a nightmare,” she agreed and then back to the yelling over her shoulder thing, “Your brother’s a nightmare!”
“So, you’re still bummed you missed family dinner on Wednesday?” I asked in a light tone.
“I finally get it, Els. I mean, all this time and I thought I got it. But now I really, really get it. You should never have come here. Next year, you and me, we will both transfer back to UW and we will never have to see these people again.” She was at least a little bit calm now, she sounded more bewildered than hurt or offended. Which was a good thing, I hoped….
“Sounds like a plan to me,” I agreed.
