Page 71 of Always Beth
She nods eagerly and despite all my reservations, there’s no way I can deny her this.
‘One last sleepover, please?’
One last sleepover.I smile weakly as I realise how final that sounds. ‘I’ll take the couch, she can have my bed.’
Clasping her hands together, I don’t think I’ve seen her this excited in forever. It’s a fleeting reminder of how things were when we were younger and all inseparable. She hurries into the kitchen, and I hear the clink of bottles and know it’s going to be a heavy night. I bite my lip to avoid becoming a broken record about her drinking. As far as I know, chemotherapy and alcohol do not mix, yet here she is knocking it back without a care in the world.
‘Thank you, I love you,’ she mouths. She heads back out into the garden and I begin to wonder how long it will be until she tells Grace why she really invited her here. I know what Lauren means to Grace, I just don’t know how she’s going to handle it.
* * *
It’s been hours since the crying stopped.
Agreeing for Grace to stay was the right thing to do, there’s no way she could have drove home in the state that she was. I stare into the darkness, tossing on the couch for what seems like the millionth time tonight. For some strange reason, Dick has kept me company and I’d actually be pleased, if it wasn’t for the little shit snoring right next to my ear. The creak of the bottom stair draws my attention out into the hall, but I can barely make out through my tiredness, which of them it is. Propping myself up on my elbows, I wait for my eyes to adjust to the moonlight peeking through the curtain. The sound of running water and the clink of glass travels from the kitchen and it could be either of them, judging by the amount they put away last night. The sound of footsteps makes me hold my breath as she comes into view.
Grace.
I suddenly struggle to find my voice.
‘Are you awake?’
‘Yeah,’ I croak.
‘You sound as bad as me and you weren’t drinking.’
I nod and as she steps forward, I can see that despite going to bed hours ago, she hasn’t stopped crying.
‘Are you okay?’ I ask.
She shrugs at the question and I can’t blame her, how could she possibly be okay. I know that better than anyone.
‘Are you?’
I shake my head in response, the one thing I can be right now is honest.
‘Thank you for letting me stay, I appreciate it, and thanks for your bed.’
‘No problem.’
She laughs and I’m immediately flooded with memories of how happy this cottage used to be when we were younger. ‘What’s funny?’
‘Your bed…it still creaks.’
Images flicker through my mind, but that’s all they are now, memories. Too much time has passed for me to have anything but platonic feelings towards her now. If we can somehow salvage a friendship after all this time and everything that’s happened, it will at least be something in the wake of Lauren’s diagnosis. ‘Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about a creaking bed too much these days.’
Her expression is full of regret and something tells me that even though I might have let go of the past, it might be proving more difficult for her.
‘Night, James.’
Alone again, I fall back on the couch next to the sound of Dick’s snoring. Closing my eyes only brings me one image, the same image I get every time I try to sleep, because ever since London, falling asleep without her has been harder than I ever imagined. It’s no coincidence that I felt nothing when I saw Grace or when she stirred memories of us in bed, it’s because of Beth. Despite letting her go, my mind craves her just as much as my body and the more time that passes, it’s clear that this feeling isn’t going to go away.
ChapterNineteen
Beth
‘Ijust thought you’d like this crumble. I mean, I made two so I thought you’d like it.’ Clutching the pie dish whilst trying to manoeuvre Poppy’s lead, I rehearse my speech for the umpteenth time.
Who makes two crumbles when they live alone? Unless they purposefully made said crumble for someone else, so they could find an excuse to see them. I navigate along the path and my heart begins to pound. Does he even like crumble? Who doesn’t like crumble? Raising my hand to the door, I inhale deeply as I prepare to knock. The door slowly opens and I freeze with my hand mid-air, confused by the sight before me. Her long blonde hair trails down her back and her dark lashes are full and shape her closed eyes perfectly.
