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I feel Beckett stiffen.

“Okay.” He’s holding his smile, but it’s now obviously fake, and I know he’s trying to keep what Lawson told him in mind. Be kind. Let her down easy. This whole experience is potentially formative for her.

“I have been the one who’s been delivering the packages to your house.” Her cheeks are red, but she keeps her gaze direct on his.

I can practically feel his silent groan. “No kidding,” he says, obviously not surprised by this confession. “Some of those have been very…interesting.”

She nods. “I just think you’re amazing. I’ve had a huge crush on you for a long time, and I decided I had to shoot my shot, you know? So I’ve been sending those things as kind of a tease, but I realized I finally had to tell you who I am.”

Beckett nods, and I give him a squeeze, trying to instill courage.

“I’m really flattered,” he says. “Truly.”

Hayley tucks her hair behind your ear and looks at him, almost shy.

Which is interesting considering the stuff that she sent him.

“So do you think that maybe we could go out sometime?” she asks. “It’s been really fun thinking of things to send you, but I would love to get to know you in person. And besides, that’s kind of the next step, right?”

I can feel Beckett’s conflict. He doesn’t want this. She’s young and clearly his feelings for Andi have had a recent shake-up. But he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings.

Be nice, Beckett.

But I don’t really know how he should handle this.

“Well…I—” Beckett starts.

“You are so sweet and have been so great for his ego.” Andi is suddenly there on Beckett’s other side. She slides her arm around his waist, and I step away. “He really is flattered.”

I notice that Beckett’s arm goes around Andi and he hugs her tightly against his side like she’s a life preserver.

She puts her hand on his chest. “And while he probably would love to date you, the problem is… he’s already got a girlfriend.”

Hayley’s eyes narrow, and she looks from Beckett to Andi, then back. “No, he doesn’t.”

“Oh, I assure you he does,” Andi says. Her words are casual, but the tone is now a little cooler.

I feel Lawson behind me. He wraps his arms around me, and I lean back into his strong chest, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the drama unfolding in front of me.

“What’s going on?” he asks near my ear.

“Andi is saving Beckett again,” I say.

“This is becoming a habit.”

“Yes. Interestingly.”

“If Beckett Moore had a girlfriend, we would all know,” Hayley says. “It would be all over the Internet. He is famously single.”

Andi nods. “We’ve been friends for a long time. I’m really close to his sister. And it’s a small town. And I am divorced and all that bullshit. So we decided to keep it quiet until we were sure it was serious. But I can promise you, he’s very taken.”

Hayley plants her hands on her hips. “By you?”

Andi runs her hand over Beckett’s chest. “Yes. By me.”

“I chased after her for a long time,” Beckett breaks in. “But she finally gave in.”

His hand slides down to Andi’s ass, and I see her pinch his side. All of that is, of course, hidden from Hayley and anyone else looking on from in front of Andi and Beckett.