Page 27 of Three Minutes
I notice Beck biting her lip, shifting her gaze between my eyes. “Well, there’s a lucky girl out there waiting for you,” he says with a grin. I brush it off and force a smile before heading back to the kitchen to toss my plate. Once there, I pull out my phone to check notifications—still no word from Raina. My worry is growing with each passing moment I don’t hear from her. I feelI have no choice but to drop by her place and see what’s going on. This is completely out of character for her. I need to make sure she’s alright, and if she’s fine, I have to find out why she’s shutting me out. I’d rather just face the music now than keep wondering what I’ve done. Even though deep down, she and I both know I’ve done everything wrong and more.
“Everything alright, Ez?” Beck asks quietly from behind me.
I turn to face her, rubbing the back of my neck. “Yeah…I’ve got to head out, though.”
She glances over her shoulder before looking back up at me. “Alright, I’ll walk out with you.” I make my way back into the living room, giving Eric a quick hug and thanking him for having me over. I then fist-bump Blake. Finally, Jenson stands up, shakes my hand once more, and nods his head firmly in acknowledgment.
Beck walks quietly behind me as we make our way to the driveway, heading toward my bike. My mind races with questions and things I want to express. I come to a stop in front of my bike, my fists clenched tightly at my sides. Turning to face her, I try to collect my thoughts so I don’t mess this up any further. She stands there, arms crossed, rubbing them as if she’s cold. I offer her my jacket, but she shakes her head. We share a moment of silence, our eyes locked. “I’m sorry, Beck,” I finally manage to say.
A soft smile crosses her face as she tucks her hair behind one ear. “I’m sorry too,” she replies softly.
Taking a step closer, I place my hands gently on her arms. “I mean it, B…I’m truly sorry for how I’ve handled things all these years, leaving you in the dark, questioning what you truly deserve.” She lets out a frustrated huff and pulls back out of my reach.
I pull my hands back, giving her the space she clearly needs. She looks away for a moment, crossing her arms tightly. “Youalways say that kind of stuff.” I furrow my brows, unsure how to respond. When she meets my gaze again, her expression is intense. “You act like I don’t know what I deserve, while also hinting that you don’t deserve the same happiness.” I glance down, feeling a knot of anxiety twist in my stomach. I hear her sniffle, and it draws my eyes back to hers. She bites her bottom lip, trying to hold back her emotions. “If anyone deserves more, i-it’s you, Ezra. When are you going to see that?” A single tear slips down her cheek, and her lip trembles slightly. Instinctively, I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her tightly. I don’t have the words right now to explain why I feel unworthy, so I stay quiet, choosing instead to focus on how much I’ve missed her presence.
She wraps her arms around my waist, resting her head against my chest. I let my head drop and bury my face in her hair, inhaling her familiar scent that brings back memories of all these years spent knowing and loving her. We remain quiet, savoring the moment together. “Beck,” I murmur softly.
She snuggles deeper into my embrace. “Yeah?”
I place my hand gently against the back of her head. “Just be happy, okay? And don’t worry about me…I’ll be alright.” I close my eyes for a moment, silently hoping she won’t ask for a promise I can’t keep. Because deep down, I know I may never truly be okay, and that’s a burden I’ll carry alone. One that’s not hers to bear.
She steps back, wiping away any traces of tears from beneath her eyes. A strand of hair clings to her lashes, and I gently brush it away. She smiles up at me, then glances back at the house. “I should head inside. Jenson is probably wondering what’s taking me so long…and we both know he’s not safe stuck with Blake in there.” We share a chuckle. She takes hold of my left arm, running her thumb along the leather of my jacket before turning to walk back to the house.
“Hey, Beck,” I call out. She turns to glance back at me. “See you at work in a couple of days?” I ask.
She playfully rolls her eyes. “See you then,” she replies, and a wave of relief washes over me. Things have felt so off not seeing her in our usual routine. Now, we can finally move forward. I get on my bike, taking one last look at the house that was once my home, with a family that has always accepted me since the first time we met on the street as kids. Despite all I’ve been through and continue to face, I am grateful to have the twins and Eric as my family.
Chapter Twenty-One
I flick my cigarette butt away as I anxiously walk across the street, heading toward the entrance of Raina’s apartment complex. I quickly look up at where her balcony is and see a faint light glowing from inside. She has to be here, unless someone picked her up. My thoughts begin spiraling.What if she left with Scottie?I will lose my fucking shit if she’s with him. I don’t care about the chaos it might cause. I will make sure he knows exactly how I feel about him and why he should have stayed away from her. I have already made myself very clear during our last encounter.
I feel my heart racing as I move, each step almost in sync with my pulse. I would run to her room if I knew it wouldn’t draw unwanted attention. Yet, since discovering she lives here, my approach has shifted from trying to conceal my identity to casually walking in as if it’s my own home. I press the elevator button impatiently, tapping it repeatedly while clutching my bike helmet tightly. My patience is wearing thin.What’s taking this elevator so damn long?I tug at my hair, anticipation practically igniting my skin. I glance around, my gaze landing on the stairway door.Fuck this. I bolt over and yank it open, racing up the stairs and skipping three steps at a time. In seconds, I find myself on the third floor, standing in front of Raina’s door. I press my ear against the cool wood, straining to catch anysounds of a TV or anything that might suggest she’s inside, but all I hear is the rapid thump of my heartbeat.
I quickly pull out my phone, checking for any response from her, but as I suspected, there’s nothing. I slip my phone back into my jeans and lightly knock on the door. Restlessly, I pace in front of it, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration. Pressing against the door again, I strain to hear any signs of movement from the other side. Still nothing. I exhale sharply through my nose, feeling a mix of anger and concern bubbling up inside me. With a sudden surge of urgency, I bang my fist against the door, harder than I meant to. If this doesn’t grab her attention, I might just have to kick the damn door down.
Just as the thought crosses my mind, the door creaks open, and I catch a glimpse of Raina peering through the crack. Once she recognizes me, she swings the door wide open. I open my mouth, ready to bombard her with questions, but I hold back and simply stare.Something feels off.Her hair is down but tangled, and I notice dark circles under her eyes, suggesting she hasn’t been sleeping well. The vibrant green of her irises seems muted, lacking the usual spark. She’s dressed in emerald-green pajamas, made of a silky fabric—the pants are long, and the top has delicate, thin straps forming a V at her chest. Something is clearly wrong. I just can’t pinpoint what it is, and the frustration I initially felt toward her slowly begins to fade away.
She crosses her arms and looks up at me, asking, “What are you doing here?” Her voice screams exhaustion.
I take a moment to study her, trying to figure out what’s going on. “It’s nearly eight at night, and you haven’t replied to any of my texts,” I respond, keeping my tone calm yet firm.
She lets out a sigh. “Yeah, I haven’t even looked at my phone all day.” I wait, hoping she’ll offer an explanation, but silence hangs in the air. I rub my jaw, working to maintain my composure. “You didn’t think it would be a good idea to just let me knowyou were okay?” I step closer as the words leave my mouth. She holds my gaze, fatigue etched on her face.
“I wasn’t aware that you cared,” she retorts sharply, then turns and walks away, leaving the door wide open behind her. She’s right in thinking that, even though it’s false.
I step into her apartment, trailing behind her as she enters. It’s dark, with only a dim lamp casting a glow in the living room. My gaze drifts down the hallway where I spot a flickering light at the end. She must be watching TV in her bedroom. As Raina moves into the kitchen, she grabs her phone off the counter. “Well...it’s dead,” she states flatly. I watch her pull a charger from a small drawer and plug it in. Looking up at me, she asks, “Happy?” Dropping the phone back on the counter, she walks past me, almost brushing against me. Even in her exhaustion, there’s an undeniable feistiness about her. She heads down the hall, glancing back over her shoulder. “Would you like to follow me to my bedroom...to make sure I get there safely?”
A weak smile crosses her face. “Yes...I would,” I reply. She scoffs at my answer, rolling her eyes as she steps into her bedroom.
I set my helmet down on the bar counter and walked toward her room. She probably thinks I’m some weird stalker or a total creep, but I need to find out what’s really going on. It hurts to see her like this. I pause at the doorway, watching her closely. She slowly crawls onto her bed, settling against a large pillow. Then she reaches over, grabs a heating pad, and places it on her stomach. She tilts her head back and takes a deep breath. “What’s going on, Raina?” I whisper.
She briefly closes her eyes, then turns her head toward me. “Um…well, it’s that time of the month.” I furrow my brows and lean against the doorframe. At first, it doesn’t register, but then I get it. I always knew when my mom was dealing with it, and also when Beck was, while I was living with them.
She turns her gaze to the TV, flinching as she shifts uncomfortably. “Is it really that bad?” I ask, hoping to gain a better understanding as seeing her in this state fucks with my head.
She picks at her fingernails, clearly uneasy. “It is when you’ve got the condition I do.”
My heart sinks. “What condition?” I ask, my concern deepening.
