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“Yep.” She bounces on her toes, her expression happy, oblivious to the significance of what just happened, and I’m grateful for that.

Beckett’s relieved sigh suggests the same as he stands and turns my way.

“Do you want to go home?” he asks softly to which I frantically shake my head.

“Absolutely not.”

“Okay.”

Without waiting a beat, Beckett grabs both Ava’s and my hand, and we jog across the street. I’m lost in thoughts of Beckett’s statement until we come to a stop in front of Henley’s and my store and I curse internally. I didn’t bring my key. Of all days. “I’m sorry, I⁠—”

Beckett pulls something from his pocket, halting me mid-apology.

“You have a key?”

“I do.” His smile returns as he unlocks the door and holds it open, waiting until we’re all inside to lock the door behind us. His smile remains right up until Ava runs off down the hall, leaving us alone. Then his true feelings emerge.

He blows out a breath as his face drops, the weight of the world returning to his shoulders. He bounces a few times as his body trembles.

“Are you okay?” I ask, hesitantly, my chest tight with worry for him laced with my own insecurities. He made a statement, declared me his girlfriend, but what if he wishes he could take it all back?

After a beat of painful silence, Beckett’s smile returns, his real smile, and I relax slightly. “I feel like I just told the world to f—” His eyes flash to Ava as he cuts himself off. “F off,” he continues, censoring himself. “And it feels pretty good.”

“It does?”

“It does. Even though I did it in my own Beckett way.” He chuckles to himself and I almost smile.

“That’s great. But why did you look so worried just now?”

Beckett’s smile falls again and he runs a hand through his hair. “Because honestly, it could have gone in another direction entirely, and I’ll always be worried when it comes to you and Ava. Always.”

He’s worried about us? My pulse spikes at the sincerity in his eyes. While I know my parents care, I’ve only ever felt the true weight of those words from a Myers family member. As though Ava and I were destined to be a part of their family.

And I’m getting ahead of myself again. Dammit, Lily.

“Are you okay?” Beckett asks after a pause, his brows furrowing, making me finally giggle.

“I’m good. I promise. I’m proud of you. I know that wasn’t easy. And you should know…I’m always going to worry about you too.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Beckett jokingly rolls his eyes as he wraps an arm around my shoulder and guides me through the store. “I think it’s time for your surprise.”

“Are you going to address the girlfriend statement?”

“We can. Are you okay with me calling you that?”

“I am.”

“Good. Anything else?”

“Nope.”

“Okay.” He chuckles and a giddy feeling runs through me. “Are you ready, Ava?” Beckett releases me from his hold and waves Ava over as we walk past, falling quiet as she rushes to join us.

The energy shifts when we reach the stairs leading to the roof and Beckett halts swiftly, spinning to face me.

“I checked with Henley, and she said it was safe for Ava to go up there.” He points up with a wary smile. “I hope that’s alright.”

“Of c—” My words catch on the emotion in my throat, and I cough to clear it. “Of course. Thank you for checking.”