“If you’d have asked me a month or so ago if I thought there was a woman out there who could handle you, I’d have said no, but Bea is perfect. It’s like she was made for you.”
Unease ripples through me.
If only it were really like that.
“How are you doing?” I ask, turning the conversation back on him.
“Uh…” He hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, things are…well, shit, if I’m being honest, but there’s fuck all I can do about it. I’m heading home the week after next, hopefully until the season starts.”
“What about Linc and Parker’s wedding?” I ask, although I’m not sure why. I have no doubt that whatever his issues are, they’re more important.
“Oh, I’ll be back for that.”
“Yeah?”
“Well, hopefully, yeah.”
“You’ll still be here for their engagement party?”
“Hopefully,” he repeats quietly before he takes off, leaving me standing, watching after him.
After a few seconds, I shake my head and close and lock the door.
Despite only being gone a few minutes, when I get back to the couch, I find that Bea is already fast asleep on her side with her hand resting under her cheek.
She looks so peaceful. I wish I could leave her there. But she’ll wake with a crick in her neck, and no doubt needing to vomit. The closer she is to the bathroom, the better.
I make quick work of tidying up, but when she doesn’t so much as twitch, I know I need to take matters into my own hands.
“I’m going to take you to bed, sweetheart,” I tell her as I slide my arms beneath her.
She moans as I lift her and immediately cuddles into my chest.
My heart slams against my ribs at seeing her looking so at home against me.
She was incredible tonight. And I don’t just mean her CoD skills. I mean how she was with my teammates. It didn’t matter that she’s never properly met them. She fit in as if she’s been a part of our group forever. Something tells me it’ll be the same when we’re all together in a couple of days. She just…she fits, and it makes me want to keep her even more.
“Everett,” she mumbles as I carry her to her room.
“Yeah, sweetheart?”
“I like you.”
Fuck.
“I like you too,” I confess, confident that she won’t remember this in the morning.
“I wish you’d see yourself how everyone else sees you.”
“What do you mean?” I ask without meaning to.
“You’re deserving of all the good things in your life.”
My chest tightens, but no matter how sincere she sounds, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to believe the sentiment.
“If only that were true.”
Kicking her bedroom door open, I carry her to the bed before awkwardly pulling the sheets back and laying her down. I take a step back, but before I can pull my arms from beneath her, she reaches out and wraps her arms around my neck.
