Page 17 of Three Minutes
I carry the prepared plates over to the couch where Beck is flipping through channels on the TV. I set her dish down on the coffee table and take a seat beside her with my plate. As she glances at our meals, a smile spreads across her face. “This looks really good, Ez,” she compliments.
I take a deep breath through my nose, nodding in appreciation. “I hope you think it tastes as good as it looks.” I watch her closely for a moment as she twirls the pasta around her fork and brings it to her mouth. Her eyes flutter shut for an instant as she savors the first bite. Raising her hand to cover her mouth, she turns to me with wide eyes.
“Holy shit, this is amazing!”
I can’t help but smile. “Really?” I ask, wanting to hear her confirmation.
She nods enthusiastically. “Really!”
I take a quick bite, savoring the nostalgic flavor that floods me with memories. “So, did Esther teach you how to make it?” she asks.
Wiping my mouth, I respond, “Not exactly. After you know…my father left…spending a lot of time at home…my mom and I would cook together in the kitchen. I watched her closely and took notes. Eventually, I got to where I could whip up decent meals for her. She deserved that, you know? And she always loved it when I made her chicken alfredo.” I notice Beck set her fork down and turn toward me. Her hair is pulled back into a high, messy bun with loose curls framing her face. She’s dressed simply in fitted, black sweatpants and a light pink tank top. I can tell she’s glossed her lips, but that’s about it. I’ve always admired how she stays true to herself, never trying to impress anyone or get all dressed up. She’s beautiful just as she is.
She places her hand on my left arm. “Thank you for sharing a piece of her with me. It really means a lot, Ez.”
I raise my right hand and gently cover hers. “Of course. I know she was important to you and Blake, as well.”
For a brief moment, she looks away, pulling her hand back to rub her palms together. “She filled in the gaps that our mother left behind…when she didn’t have to. I’ve always loved her for that,” she confesses. Her words strike a chord within me. I’ve always known my mom held significance for them, but I never really considered how much she and Blake missed having a mother around for most of their lives. At least I had sixteen years of my mom’s love before she was taken from me.
I take a moment to study Beck. For someone who grew up without her mother, she has always been such a remarkable person. She’s strong, caring, and brimming with love. I’ve had the privilege of knowing and loving her since I was seven. I’ve watched her remain the same Beck while blossoming into the incredible young woman she is today. More than anything, I want to be what she deserves. I may not have it all figured out—we’re just teenagers trying to navigate life—but I want to make the effort.
As she reaches for her fork to take another bite, I quickly interlace my fingers with hers. She turns her head to look at me, her stunning, blue eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and something deeper. Without hesitating, I gently grasp her face, drawing her nearer. Our lips meet instantly, and the sensation sends shivers down my neck. Letting my tongue slide past her lips, I feel us both hungry for this connection. This moment is perfect—I’ve missed the taste of her lips ever since that night. And I can sense that we’ve both craved this for months. My mind stays focused, her name on the tip of my tongue as I lose myself in the sweetness of our kiss. Beck…my beautiful Beck.
I trace my hand from her jaw down to her chest, gently pushingher back against the armrest of the couch while keeping our lips locked together. She doesn’t pull away; instead, she lets me guide the moment. I plant soft kisses on her lips, then along her jawline, gradually working my way down to her neck. My tongue glides over her smooth skin as I place purposeful kisses. A soft gasp escapes her as her pulse quickens beneath my lips. Pausing for a moment, I take her in. She looks up at me, biting her bottom lip, sending butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
I scoot back on the couch, gently lifting her legs and resting them across the cushions. Taking a deep breath, I stand up quickly, reaching into my sweats to pull out a condom I placed there for if we reached this moment tonight. As I hold it up, Beck’s eyes light up with anticipation, and although she doesn’t say a word, her gaze clearly reveals her desires. I slowly slide off my sweats and boxers, leaving them tossed on the floor beside the couch. Her eyes roam over my lower half, taking in the sight of me as I watch her tongue glide along her top lip. When her gaze lands on my inner thighs, where scars from the skin grafting are visible, a wave of nerves washes over me. Still, I keep my cool, reminding myself that my body has changed since then. I need to reveal these parts of myself to her, gradually. For a short moment, I catch a hint of sadness in her expression, but she quickly masks it.
Her eyes stay on me as I grip the condom in my hand and climb on the couch above her. I lock my fingers around the seam of her sweats, slowly sliding them off her hips and down her legs. My eyes scan over the blue cotton panties that hug her hip bones. I run my thumb over the birthmark that kisses her lower stomach, before tugging down her panties. She stays silent, only the sounds of our heavy breathing and my pounding heart surrounding us.
I ease myself between her legs, taking notes of the small amount of room provided on the couch. I then tear the corner ofthe condom with my teeth, picturing the way Beck did it our first time. I gently roll the condom on, focusing on her. I bite down on my lips, preparing myself. In the back of my mind, I repeat.You are in control, Ezra…you are in control.Finally, I position myself. Even with the condom I can feel her wet entrance graze across my sensitive tip. I shut my eyes for just a moment to gather my thoughts, thrusting forward and immersing her completely. We both let out a breathy moan, savoring the sensations that envelop us.
I continue a slow, meaningful rhythm, taking in the way her eyes shutter when I fill her completely. My thoughts go back to that night, the way her hips moved with me inside her.How can something feel this good?I bring my mouth to hers, wanting to taste her lips again. She quickly weaves her fingers through my hair as our tongues lap one another.This. Kissing her feels so intimate. And I never want to take it for granted. I pick up speed just a little, unable to hold back the groans that fall from my mouth. Beck pulls back from our kiss, taking my right hand and placing it against her breast. I flinch slightly at the sensation of her skin brushing against my scarred hand. She quickly withdraws her hand, concern filling her eyes. I almost catch her lips forming the wordsI’m sorry. I shake my head and focus on how her breasts sit beneath the fabric. Gently, I squeeze and run my thumb over the peak of her nipple. Small, needy moans escape her lips.
I can feel pressure building in my lower stomach as I continue sliding in and out of her. I could feel this way with her forever. How could it be better than this with anyone but her? My mouth falls open as I pick up my pace. Beck’s eyes slam shut as she grips the armrest on either side of her head. I can feel my undoing reaching its peak—until a loud buzzing interrupts my thoughts. I jerk my head toward the coffee table, seeing an incoming call on Beck’s phone. My eyes catch the time at the top of the screen…11:00 p.m. Panic and fear slam into my chest all at once. I shut my eyes tight, desperately trying to regain my composure, but the crackling of fire and piercing screams echo in my ears while my skin feels like it’s on fire. Voices tear through my thoughts, brimming with bitter fury.You did this! It’s all your fault!My insides blaze with a searing heat, my blood feels like molten lava, scorching everything in its path. Guilt and shame cut into me like shards of glass, and thick black smoke fills my lungs, suffocating me slowly.
“Ezra! What’s wrong?” My eyes snap open at the sudden voice, blinking furiously to clear my vision. The sound of my heavy panting fills the room as I take in my surroundings. I slowly realize that I’m in the living room. A sharp pain shoots through my right arm, and my blurry gaze lands on a small hand gripping it tightly. It’s Beck, lying beneath me, her expression mortified. Sweat trickles down my temple as I glance back at her hand, her nails digging into my scars. My chest feels heavy, making it hard to breathe. I quickly jerk away from her grasp, tumbling off the couch and landing on the floor. Panic sets in as I scramble to my feet and stagger toward the bathroom, using the walls for support.
I throw the bathroom door open and collapse onto the cold tile on all fours. Desperately, I crawl to the toilet, barely lifting the lid before I start to vomit uncontrollably. I heave and retch until there’s nothing left inside but a hollow emptiness and overwhelming dread. Exhaustion washes over me, and I slide down from the toilet, lying flat on the floor. It takes every ounce of strength I have to reach up and slam the door shut. Curling into a fetal position, I feel the chill of the tile against my bare thigh. A faint, pained whimper escapes my lips, and I can’t hold back the hot tears streaming from my eyes.
A light tap on the door interrupts the silence, followed by Beck’s concerned voice. “Ezra…are you…are you okay?” I can tellshe’s been crying. I try to respond, opening my wobbly mouth to form words, but nothing comes out; just the loud voices in my head drown me out.MURDERER!! YOU KILLED THEM!I slam my eyes shut, clasping my hands over my ears, my fingernails digging into my scalp and surely drawing blood. I bite down hard, sharp pains shooting through my jaw from the force. I did this. I caused all of this chaos, all for what? Just to get my dick wet? It cost two lives. My bottom lip quivers at the realization.I hate myself…I hate every part of me.
Chapter Fourteen
I powered down the work computer after finalizing our monthly bar profit margins, feeling a sense of relief as I wrap up another cycle of figures. As always, Beck has ensured that our inventory operations ran as smoothly as possible. Her attention to detail has always played a crucial role in making my part of the job manageable, and I genuinely appreciate her for that. Beck’s ability to handle chaotic situations with such calmness is a trait that sets her apart—something I’ve found difficult to envision in my role with Blake, considering he’s always hated math. He thrives in the lively atmosphere of the bar, where his outgoing personality is well-suited to engaging with customers and managing the fast-paced environment. I believe he’s exactly where he wants to be. Together, we’ve created a balance that keeps this place running smoothly.
I walk through the double doors that lead out to the bar and spot Blake off to the side, mixing up some drinks. He glances over his shoulder and asks, “You done for the night?” I nod in response. He fills a metal shaker, turning back to me with a raised eyebrow. “Have you talked to Beck today?”
I crack my neck, watching him work on another drink. “No, not since yesterday at the lake.”
A wry smile creeps across his face as he shakes his head. “So, I guess you two hadthe talk, huh?”
I lean against the counter, crossing my arms. “Yeah, something like that.”
Blake lets out a scoff. “A man of few words...So now that that’s out of the way, when do you plan on telling B about her?” He motions toward the bar area behind him. I quickly turn my head in the direction he’s looking.There she is.Raina is sitting in the same booth from the first night I laid eyes on her. My gaze shifts to the person seated directly across from her, and my brows furrow as a wave of heat rushes over me. I never thought I’d have to see Dipshit again.
I trail behind Blake as he distributes the drinks he mixed at the bar. “How long have they been here?” I ask, curiosity creeping in.
He chuckles softly, “Honestly, I’m not sure…maybe around thirty minutes. I figured you’d caught them on the cameras.” I brush aside his comment and fix my gaze on her, silently wishing she’d look up and see the irritation etched on my face, but she remains oblivious. My hands flex at my sides, tension building inside me. In a moment of impatience, I pull out my phone and find her contact.
