Chapter 12
Eleanor
As the sun stretches toward the western horizon, a pang of melancholy threatens my mood, but it quickly dissipates when I remember there’s no need to rush back to the city tonight. I get to stay and finally enjoy my first full sunset on Starry Hill. With Beck.
He’s been acting differently all day, more attentive, and way more tactile than usual, which leads me to believe there could be some truth to Audrey’s theory. Maybe Beck does like me a little bit too? I don’t want to get my hopes up yet, but so far I’m enjoying every extra brush of skin, each new touch sending a spark racingthrough my body.
“Since I don’t have to leave early tonight, do you want to go sit on the dock and watch the sunset with me?” I ask, feeling like a shy girl asking out the most handsome boy at school. Despite being a lawyer who leads meetings, there are times—like now—where I still feel like the awkward teenager I once was.
“Yes,” Beck answers without a beat of hesitation, effectively stopping my insecurities in their tracks. “Let’s take that bag of candies from Lucille with us.”
“Good idea. I’ve been asking her about them, but I haven’t been brave enough to try one yet,” I say, heading over to the couch to get Lucille’s bag of colorful treats from my tote.
Beck leans against the doorframe as he watches me, and I try not to drool at the way his arms look crossed over his chest. But it’s so hard when he’s this pretty and he’s right in front of me.
“Maybe I can hold your hand and help you be brave?” Beck suggests around a swallow, his pale ocean eyes never leaving me for a second.
My heart kicks into overdrive and a frenzied rabble of butterflies takes flight in my stomach. That might be the most forward thing Beck’s said to me yet. The tiny bead of hope in my chest billows into a fluffy cloud that just about has me levitating off the floor.
Stopping in front of Beck, I lightly poke him on the chest, enjoying the hard muscles way too much. “You might be teasing me, but I’m definitely taking you up on that offer.”
Beck closes his fingers around mine, pressing my hand to his chest. Underneath my palm, his heart also races, its rhythm an echo to mine as our gazes lock. My breathing speeds up andBeck’s eyes dip to my mouth, then to my chest, before leisurely making their way up again.
I’m lightheaded, my whole body tingling with anticipation.
Is he going to kiss me?!
Beautiful opalescent scales scuttle down his neck, disappearing underneath his shirt where I can feel the smooth, overlapping texture against my fingertips. Beck gives me the smallest of smiles and, still holding my hand, wordlessly leads me outside to the waiting blue and orange skies.
When we get to the dock, we kick off our shoes, our feet padding lightly across the sturdy timber as we walk all the way to the end. In the distance, the ocean mirrors the sky, fiery oranges and pinks and purples blend together on the horizon, creating the most serene view my eyes have ever had the pleasure to witness.
Beck helps me down onto the edge of the dock and waits for me to get comfortable before sitting down next to me, our sides brushing against each other, our hands clasped, as our legs dangle above the gently undulating water.
I breathe in the serenity of the moment, wanting to take a mental snapshot with all my senses that’ll be embedded in my brain forever. The way molten pools of sunlight gather between calm ripples, the amiable whispers of waves lapping against the shore, and the steadfast presence of Beck at my side.
“Do you know how much it sucks to always leave right when Starry Hill is at its prettiest?” I ask when I finally find my ability to speak again.
“You don’t have to leave.” The words are so soft, I swear I imagined them, but the pink spreading across Beck’s cheeksmakes me think they’re real. Before I have time to ask him what he means by that, he reaches for the candy bag. “Do you want me to tell you what each one is, or do you want to be surprised?”
“Maybe a little bit of both? Give me a hint of what they can do, but don’t tell me which is which. That way I have some context and can still be surprised.”
“Sure,” Beck says, opening the paper bag and glancing at its contents. “Lucille probably explained it to you, but each candy’s effect only lasts one minute maximum, so you don’t have to worry that you’ll be stuck like that forever.”
“She did mention that, but it’s good to be reminded. Can you imagine my lips turning green and thinking I’ll have to walk into my Monday morning briefing like that?” I say, a shudder rolling down my spine at the mere thought of work and the reactions that look would elicit.
Beck rubs his thumb across the back of my hand, the sweet gesture quickly bringing me back to the present. “There’s nothing scary in here, but even if there was, you’re always safe with me.”
“I know.”
Our eyes meet and hold, the truth of his statement feeling like a promise burrowing into my heart.
A lock of hair falls free from Beck’s hair tie as he looks down at me, and shoving away my self-doubt, I slowly reach up with my free hand and tuck the silky strands behind his ear. My hand lingers there for a moment, enjoying the way Beck leans into my touch, before I finally lower it back into my lap.
Beck remains frozen for a few seconds, then he offers the bag to me as he explains, “So, you’ve got giggling candy, lip candy, hair candy, prank candy, growing candy, and truth candy.”
“Truth candy? I don’t think I remember Lucille mentioning that one.”
“I think it’s a new addition,” Beck says, looking a little embarrassed. “But we can skip it if it makes you uncomfortable?”
