Jesse lifted a brow at him.
Becket leaned back in his seat. He needed a change in subject from his siblings’ low opinions. “How’s Aspen doing after everything?”
There was a small tightening of Jesse’s jaw. “She’s doing okay. She’s resilient. More so than me. She keeps asking ifI’mokay.”
“Areyou okay?”
“No. I’m a fucking mess. Every time I’m not around her, I feel this crippling need to be back by her side. This morning, she basically kicked me out of the house, claiming the only way for me to be okay being away from her would be to actually leave.”
“But you’ve been leaving her now that you’re back at work, right?”
“Yeah, but only because she won’t come with me.”
“I think she’s right. You need to spend time away from her so you can realize she’s safe without you.”
He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I know. I just don’t like it.”
“How’s Holden?”
Jesse and Holden, his brother’s best friend, had become tight when they were assigned to the same Ghost Ops team. “Yeah, he’s good. Settling into town and getting lots of woodworking jobs.”
“That’s good.”
Clara slid back into the booth beside Jesse. “I saw Mrs. Gerald didn’t come over here, so I ordered us three coffees. Double shot for you, Becket.”
“Thanks.” His gaze shifted to Sky, who was leaning over the table talking to her parents. She always seemed kind of frustrated when she was with them. “How was Sky?”
Clara lifted a brow. “You really want to know?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s good.” Clara lifted a shoulder. “She’s excited for her fundraiser.”
“Did you know she owns a doggy daycare?”
His sister grinned. “Yeah. That must kill you, with your hatred for dogs.”
“I don’t hate dogs any more than I hate Sky. I’m just not a dog person.”
Who the hell wanted to wake up to dog breath in their face? Hell, who wanted to go for a walk and have to pick up dog shit? Fuck no.
“Do you know much about her past?” Becket asked before he could stop himself, remembering the fire in her building.
Clara frowned. “Her past?”
“Where was she before she came to Amber Ridge? And why did she come back?”
“She’s an acupuncture client of mine, and a friend, so I can’t really share anything.”
Becket nodded. “Client-patient confidentiality. Got it.”
“Why do you want to know?” Jesse asked.
“No reason.” That was a damn lie. His mind flicked back to the expression on her face after the oven fire. Most people wouldn’t have been so affected. Her face had lost all color.
He also found it interesting that she owned a daycare for dogs and ran fundraisers for animal shelters, yet, as far as he knew, didn’t have a pet of her own.
One thing hedidknow was that she intrigued him. He wanted to know more about her. He wanted to know her story.
