Page 25 of Heartsmashed
“In case you missed it,” I said, my voice cold even to my ears, “I stopped crying over you.”
“Ah, right. That guy?—”
“Beckett.”
“He’s not bad. Not really your type, though. What’d you do, hire him for the week?”
I could feel every ounce of rage that had taken me over since the second he walked out the door start to bubble up. It didn’t even matter that he’d guessed right; I’d never let him know he was close to the mark. “You just can’t believe I’d ever be happy without you, can you? I don’t even think you want me to be, or you wouldn’t be crashing my moms’ wedding.”
“I was invited.”
“Yeah, when we were together. Breakups usually mean you’re uninvited.”
“I’m Alec’s date. But you already know that.”
“What Iknowis that you’re not welcome here.”
“There you are.” Beckett’s voice was smooth as he moved in beside me, the heat of his body penetrating my jacket. He handed me a drink, his fingers brushing mine in a way that was not accidental. Then his hand came up to settle at the back of my neck so casually, though it felt anything but.
“Sorry it took so long,” he said, his mouth close enough to my ear that I felt his words like a soft caress.
“’S’okay,” I started, wanting to tell him he hadn’t missed anything but my realizing my ex-boyfriend was a dick.
But then Beckett dipped his head and brushed his lips just below my ear, pressing a soft kiss there, andoh. Ohfuck.
I didn’t know how I kept breathing, or how I kept a grip on my glass when my entire body suddenly turned to Jell-O.
“Mmm,” he murmured, his breath warm on my neck. “You smell so fucking good.”
My stomach did a dropkick, and I felt my eyes close, lost in whatever it was his touch was doing to me. But then I realized Peter was still standing there, watching this all unfold, and my eyes opened.
When Beckett pulled back, his hand stayed right where it was, and I didn’t miss how Peter’s expression had gone tight.
“Was there something you needed, Peter?” Beckett asked, then casually sipped on his drink.
“We were just catching up,” Peter said, his voice a little strained before he cleared his throat. “Alec’s waving me over, so…enjoy yourselves.”
“Oh, we will.” Beckett gave him a shit-eating smile, and Peter’s gaze traveled between the two of us again before he finally disappeared into the crowd.
I exhaled slowly, not even realizing I’d been holding my breath. “Holy shit.”
“Too much?” His hand was still at the back of my neck, and I swear his fingers were all that was holding me upright.
“No,” I said. “No, that was fucking perfect.”
Understatement of the century.
He hummed softly, like he’d expected the answer, and then his hand traveled down the length of my spine, sending shivers through my body.
“I’m sorry I didn’t interrupt sooner. It won’t happen again.”
“No, it…” I was so focused on his fingers and the way they disappeared as he pulled back that I couldn’t concentrate. “I, uh, I mean, it was fine. I think I realized something tonight, so…thank you.”
Beckett’s blue eyes searched mine, holding me captive in a way that made it impossible to look anywhere else. “What did you realize?”
I didn’t know if I could fully put it into words yet. I was still processing my conversation with Peter, but maybe it was just that I’d let him get under my skin in a room full of people that made me wonder if he didn’t bring out the worst in me.
“How about I tell you later?” I said. Peter was taking up too much of our night already, and I hadn’t even gotten around to seeing my family.
