by Tessa Frank
“Pretty sure we’re in for a night of it.” Now that I’ve stopped trying to be perfect, I let the illusion drop like a flaming turd.
Becca leans against the opposite wall, hand still over her mouth. She laughs. “Goodness this is bad.”
I march forward into the office, straight toward the window. “We’re gonna need to keep these open.”
I hear Becca yell as she heads in the other direction, “Cross flow. I’ll open the window in the kitchen.”
Yes, ladies and gents, I’m falling for this girl. She’s sticking around through my farts and all. Sign of a true keeper.
15
Becca
Hadley sends me a glare over the rim of her glass. We’re sitting in the newest Vietnamese place in Brentwood. Thankfully, it's decent with a pho soup that’s going a long way after last night’s food reaction. I can’t believe Henry and I spent the better part of our awake moments comparing toots. Who does that?
“What? It’s delicious.” I sip more bubble milk tea. It’s all about delaying. Plus, I really like the bubble milk tea. Addictive in the best way.
“Right.” Hadley sniffs. “It looks disgusting. What’s that blobby stuff at the bottom?”
“The bubbles.” I stir with my straw. “They’re really large tapioca balls.”
“Gross.” Hadley shivers. She’s always hated tapioca. I shrug, avoiding her eye. “Are you going to tell me or not?” Hadley is not buying this. She’s known me too long.
“Tell you what?” Not that I can’t keep stalling. Sure, it’s pointless, but I’m not sure what I want to admit to. If I say one thing, it’ll lead to a whole lot more. Hadley has a way of pulling the details out.
Hadley sighs, dramatically. I take another sip, averting my eyes from the display of irritation. “I know you’re seeing him again. Just own up already.”
I turn back, plastering innocence all over my face. Hadley flicks water on me. “Hey.”
Hadley leans forward over the table. “I saw you kissing him in the park this morning. This morning.” I say those last two words with a finger tapping the table. Hadley shifts back, a smug look on her face. “Spill.”
“It’s not what you think,” I say, only for Hadley to interrupt with, “Oh, it’s exactly what I think. The two of you finally hooked up.” She looks me up and down. “How was it?”
I don’t answer. Not out loud. My face and the rampant blush stealing over it says enough all by itself.
“Right.” Hadley sips her water. “I knew you two would get back together. Good for you.”
I smile. It’s fake though. Sure Henry and I are “together” in an intimate way, except for last night but…
“Ok. What is going on? Why aren’t you blabbing away about how great he is or something?”
I sigh, stabbing the spoon into the veggie pho with a sudden lack of interest. “Because I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“You mean other than Henry?”
I raise my eyes to Hadley’s. “I don’t want to mess this up. I’m…” I gulp, shocked that I almost said it out loud.
“Oh, man, Becca. I didn’t realize it was that serious for you.” Hadley moves her drink away, focusing in on me. “Does Henry know?”
“Of course he doesn’t know.” I have to lower my voice. I nearly shouted that. “That’s not the sort of thing you just announce. Especially right after…”
“Agree to disagree there.” Hadley smirks at me. “That’s exactly the sort of thing I want to hear right after…”
“Exactly my point. You—“ I point at her for emphasis. “—want to hear it. I want to hear it. But that doesn’t mean it's a good idea to say it to him.”
Hadley frowns. “I see your point.” Her head tilts. “How bad is it?”
I cradle my head in my hands. “I’m trying to figure out a way to stay here.”
“You’re keeping your father’s house! That’s great…” And Hadley’s off on a tangent about how doing that will show my love and devotion to Henry.
I don’t believe it for a second. It doesn’t matter to Hadley though. She might have a few points. I make mental notes, which I quickly forget. I know what I need to do first. Find a new place to live because I’m selling Dad’s house no matter what Hadley thinks. Second, figure out if this thing with Henry can last. I hate feeling this insecure and out of sorts. At least the job interview went well.
16
Henry
“Why do you have interview notes in your bag?” I ask, pulling the papers out.
Becca yanks them back, stuffing them into her bag, and zipping it shut. “Just checking around.”
“I see.” I don’t. I feel cold in places I should be feeling warm — like my freaking heart. Is she getting ready to leave again?
Becca shifts beside me on the sofa in Alicia’s front room. It’s also my bed, but I’m beyond tired of sleeping on it. The few nights I’ve spent with Becca have been plagued because I don’t want to be in her father’s house either. He might not be there, but it feels like he’s watching me defile his daughter anyway. That type of thought ruins the mood.
“I’m thinking of getting a place of my own,” I announce, realizing as I say it that I don’t want it to be a place of my own. I want a place for us. I want Becca to be mine. I’m a Marine and I’m failing at telling the woman I’ve been in love with forever that I want to be with her. This situation isn’t helping my manhood. If I keep thinking this way, I’ll end up with performance issues.
“I think that’s a good idea.” Becca looks around the apartment. “Not that Alicia’s place isn’t nice and all.”
“Oh, it’s plenty nice.” I place a hand on Becca’s hip, pushing her down into the couch until I’m on top of her. I love it when she grins. “It’s just small and lacking—“
“Don’t you even think about doing that with her on my couch!” Alicia screeches, flying into the room to whack me on the head. “That is totally gross.”
“—privacy.” I sit back up, rubbing the sore spot on my head.
“I see what you mean.” Becca laughs.
“Well, I don’t but both of you keep your clothes on.” Alicia signals that she’s watching us.
Becca opens her bag, pulling out her laptop. “I guess maybe I can help you search for a place.”
In what feels like the blink of an eye, my sister and Becca are scrolling through rentals. I’m fielding questions I don’t know all the answers to. When Becca suggests we go look at a few, I readily agree. Here’s hoping I can figure out which place she’d like and then if she’d want to live there with me.
17
Becca
“Thank you very much. I look forward to it.” I hang up the phone, hope coursing through me. I never thought this would be an option, but the local high school seems willing to work with me. If I swing this, I won’t have to move for work.
Now I have another call to make, an uncomfortable one, before I meet Henry to look at a rental house he’s insisting on seeing. It’s way too big for just him by himself. The nerves of what that might mean, along with dread at calling my boss, make me feel sick to my stomach.
I lurch to my feet when it hits me that I actually need to get to the bathroom. Gagging over the toilet, all I can think is that this is going to make a disaster of today.
18
Henry
Becca is pale when she arrives at the rental house. “You ok?” I ask, tugging her close to kiss the top of her head.
“Rough morning.” She pushes her hair back, lifting it off her neck. “Job stuff. I’ll be fine.”
“Right.” If the realtor hadn’t arrived right then, I would have pressed her.
We wander through the house, a little thing set back from the road with plenty of yard space. It’s more than a potential rental to me. I called the realtor and asked if it was for sale too. The realtor said the owner would consider selling. That’s at least a step in the right direction.
Now that I’m working for Devon, I’
ve got an actual income coming in. Holding Becca’s hand in mine as we look in each room, I know who I want to spend it with.
“What do you think?” the chipper realtor asks when we step back into the entryway.
“It’s really nice,” Becca replies, a genuine smile gracing her face. All traces of the paleness of earlier gone. “I like it.” She looks up at me, her thumb sliding along the back of my hand. “What about you?”
“I think it's perfect.”
“Excellent. I’ll get the paperwork ready then.”
“How soon will it be available?” I’m thinking ahead now. If Becca likes this place, I will move mountains to get it. The sooner, the better.
The realtor looks at her phone. “By month’s end?”
That rise at the end of it turns an answer into a question. I nod, glad I’d made a point of telling her that buying would be a surprise for my girlfriend. “I think that’ll work. Should I come by your office to sign later this week?”
“I’ll call with all the details.” We all shake hands and then the realtor heads off, leaving Becca and I alone on the edge of the road to gaze back at the house.
“It really is a great place, Henry. So close to your new job.”
“Yep.”
“How’d you even find it? It’s not in the paper or online?”
“Drove past it yesterday.”
“Ah.”
She seems distracted. “Everything ok? You were pale earlier.”
Becca smiles up at me, all bright and open. I release a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. “Yep. Just got a lot of juggling right now with the estate sale and my job.”
Right. Her job. Wariness stabs in my gut. “Gotta leave soon?”
“Nope.”
And I’m hoping this smile isn’t covering for a lie. I don’t want Becca leaving ever, but she hasn’t said that she’s staying.
19
Becca
Tessa’s Gossip Column
Dear readers, this reporter has it on good authority that Henry Sanchez is buying a house! Will our own Becca Fisher be moving in with him?
Today’s the day of the auction and this reporter will be there. I need to know what teenage Becca’s room looks like.
The last week flew by with near constant packing and a few final write-ups to finish out the job I gave notice to. It’s a leap on my part since I’m still waiting to hear the high school’s completed timeline. I plan to make it work, regardless of how tight. I’ve met rough deadlines before. Since I want to stay in Brentwood proper or one of the nearby communities, this is the best way forward.
Two emails arrive as the estate people knock on the door. I barely have time to look them over. What I see makes me smile. “Yes!”
Without thinking, I hit forward. “I’ve got amazing news,” I type into the body of the email to Hadley and Henry. “You’re both going to love it.” Then it’s sent and I’m busy helping the estate guys move items out on to the tables.
“Most people aren’t this happy about an estate sale,” one guy comments.
“I got a job offer I’d been hoping for right before you arrived.” I can’t stop smiling.
“Awesome for you.” The guy, barely more than a teenager, offers me a fist bump. Totally taking that.
I can’t wait to see Hadley and Henry’s faces. I’m so glad I decided not to get their hopes up before receiving the offer. Best day ever.
20
Henry
I’m on the tail of my truck eating lunch when Devon calls. “Hey, man.” I shift to hold the phone to my ear. “What’s up?”
Devon sighs. “Drove through town. See Becca’s selling her dad’s place.”
I swallow. “She’s having an estate sale,” I confirm. “It’s not news.”
“Even the house? I’ve never heard of selling the house at auction. Is that a thing?”
Devon’s rarely this nosey. “Why’re you driving through town? I thought you were already training.” Now that he’s asking, I’m also questioning the house selling by auction. That seems odd.
Devon sniffs. “Claire.” There’s a lot in that single word.
“Oh. I see.”
“Yeah. Well…” Devon changes the topic to farm stuff. We spend the next ten minutes on that. Devon’s turning out to be more hands on than I expected. Then again, he’s got more than one reason to be involved. Or want to be involved. I wonder if he’ll stay interested if things with Claire don’t work out.
As soon as I get off the phone with Devon, I text Becca to ask how it’s going. While I’m waiting for her reply, I see an email she forwarded me. I click it open.
My world goes red.
Then I see black.
If she thinks I will love this, then she’s in for a real eye opener. I slam the truck door shut and put it into gear. This will not happen to me again. Becca can’t really be walking away to some job. Not again. I refuse to believe it.
And, if she is, then she will know what I really think of her before she goes.
21
Becca
The estate auction is in full swing. The sheer number of people milling about my dad’s yard and through the house is mortifying. And a little gratifying, if I’m honest.
Hadley stands next to me. “Looks like this sale will get rid of everything else.”
I roll my shoulders. They’re stiff from more than one reason. “I hope so. I’m going to sell the house.”
Hadley’s hand tightens around her coffee suddenly. The heavy paper cup collapses.
“Wow. I didn’t think you’d be this surprised.” I grab a kitchen towel off the nearby table and offer it to her.
Her voice is cool when she says, “I guess I thought you’d changed your mind and were staying.”
A grin splashes across my face. “Oh, I fully plan on staying. I—“
My words cut off when I see Henry’s truck hop the curve and pull into the yard. The black look on his face scares me as he stalks forward.
“Henry…” I reach for him.
He slashes a hand through the air, ending with his finger pointing straight at my chest. “That’s your big surprise? You’re leaving. Again.” He slams his hands through his hair, leaving half of it standing straight up. “I can’t believe I fell for it.”
My mouth drops open, but words don’t come out. I can barely breathe. I thought he’d be happy.
Henry’s glare is steady. His fingers shake, but his eyes bore into me. I’ve never been so scared in my life. “I wish I’d never met you.”
The anger rolling off of him is palpable. Even the people here for the sale have stopped to watch the show. “Don’t ever come back.”
Henry spins on his heel, stalking away as fast as he arrived. My body is frozen by the tree, my mind in a panic. I can see everything happening around me, yet I can’t respond to any of it.
“You forwarded the email about Spain,” Hadley says, her voice sounding so very far away.
“No!”
They all think I’m planning to leave. That’s my first realization. The second is even more important, chilling in its horror.
22
Henry
I am never trusting a female again. Not ever. All the boys in my unit who got burned by their wives dumping them while they served had it right. It’s past time I learned.
I push my fist against my chest and the gaping metaphorical wound that’s oozing out. The pressure doesn’t help. Not even a little.
“I’m not leaving.”
I hear Becca’s yell right before the sounds of footfalls reach my ears. I spin. Becca skids to a stop all of three feet away from me. Her eyes are wild, panicked. She rubs her hands down the thighs of her jeans. “I’m not leaving,” she says again, panting. “I just can’t stay there.”
I follow the direction her finger points. Her father’s place. My eyes snap back to Becca when she starts talking, the words tumbling over each other because she’s trying to get them out fast.
“I
can’t live there, Henry. It’s got too many memories, and not good ones. I have to sell it. But selling it doesn’t mean I’m leaving. I’m not leaving?”
“Then why’d you forward that email?” I don’t know why those are the first words out of my mouth. My heart’s picking up speed, but I can’t take that first step yet. Reading that email, knowing this auction was happening, knowing that Becca had been planning all of it the entire time I’d been falling for her, keeps me one step back. And three feet away.
Becca waves her hand around. “It was an accident. I forwarded the wrong email.”
I want to believe her. I can’t. I step back, turning toward the truck.
Becca dashes forward to stand between me and my truck. “You’re right. I wasn’t going to stay. Not when I first came back. I thought Dad was my only tie to Brentwood.” I watch as she pulls on her braid, unconsciously taking the tie out. “But I didn’t have anything to go to either. Traveling, never putting down roots, sucks. I want a place of my own.”
My breath sticks in my chest. My finger tips tingle. Is she going to say what I want to hear? I can’t quite bring myself to believe it might actually happen.
“I want to stay wherever you are, Henry. I want to be with you. I love you.”
Those words are glorious. My heart takes flight. I reach for her, hands wrapping around her upper arms.
“I just can’t stay there.” Becca nods at the house behind me. I step forward, halting when I see the tears on her face. “Please tell me you understand,” she begs, tears making a path down her cheeks. “I have to sell it, Henry. I can’t live there and be with you and I want to be with you more than anything.”
