Blackout: A Romance Anthology

by Stephanie St. Klaire

  CHAPTER 11

  Beckett

  The light through the windows slowly started to fade as the sun went down. The power still hadn’t come back on, but lying in bed, Jen draped over my chest, I realized I didn’t care. The longer the blackout went on for, the more time I had with her.

  By this point, both of our phones had died, so even if we could contact someone, we had no way to reach them. But again, neither of us seemed assed about it. We’d gone down to the shops and stocked up on whatever food we could find, as well as candles that now lit the room in a soft glow.

  “How much longer do you this will last?” Jen asked while tracing small circles on my chest with her fingertip. “Surely this can’t go on forever, right?”

  I wasn’t sure if she meant the blackout or us, so to be safe, I went with the first option. “Nah, they’ll get it straightened out. The authorities are working on it, so it shouldn’t be much longer.”

  While downstairs, we’d learned that it was localized, affecting only Vegas, which had given us hope that this wasn’t the apocalypse. It also made me feel better that I didn’t have to worry too much about zombies.

  “I bet the airport will be a nightmare when this is all over.”

  I groaned, having refused to think about my trip home while spending the day with Jen. Maybe it was all the sex we’d had in the last ten hours, or the intensity of the orgasms she gave as she sucked me dry, but there was a lump in my chest that wouldn’t ease anytime the topic of going home came up. “You should come home with me.”

  She laughed and pulled her head back, my bicep cradled in the nape of her neck while she peered at me. “You’re kidding right?”

  “Not in the slightest.”

  Her smile waned and the creases along her brow deepened. “That’s ridiculous, Beckett. Why the hell would I go to England with you?”

  “To get out of Vegas. See the world. All the reasons I listed last night.”

  “Did you forget all the reasons I listed as to why that wouldn’t be a good idea?”

  I trailed my finger along the outer edges of her face, stopping at her chin before meeting her gaze once more. “You said you don’t have anywhere to go because you don’t have anyone to go to…or anyone to go with you. Well, you can’t say that anymore, because you have me. We’re friends, right?”

  “That wasn’t my only reason.”

  Rolling her over, I held myself above her and caged her in between my arms. “You’re right, that wasn’t. You also mentioned money and what you would do for work. If you come with me, travel the world with me, you won’t have to worry about any of that.”

  “We don’t know each other well enough for that to even make sense.”

  “That’s the beauty of it, Jenny…we can get to know each other. And what better way than traveling, seeing the sights and actually living?” In the midst of trying to convince her, I’d succeeded in exciting myself to the point that if she didn’t agree, I’d be more than bothered.

  After a deep inhale, she released a sigh, her eyes full of sorrow and disappointment. “That all sounds amazing in theory, it really does, but it’s not practical. You have to work, I’ll have to work—I can’t live off you—so we’d end up spending all our time surviving instead of living.”

  “I will work. I told you I travel a lot. My job takes me away for for weeks at a time, all over the world. And you could work if you wanted; I’m sure there are ways to earn money that won’t require you to put down roots anywhere. My mates’ birds do it all the time. Oh!” Excited, I sat up on my knees and snapped like I’d just discovered the cure for hunger. “The other women…you’d get on with them great, so you wouldn’t have only me.”

  “Wanna know what would make this easier for me to picture? If I understood what the hell it is that you do. A flunker…fudger…whatever it is. For all I know, it’s a fancy British term for pimp. No matter how badly I’d love to travel the world, I don’t care to do it as a prostitute.”

  With a smile burning so hot that my cheeks ached, I fell forward, catching myself over her. Then I kissed her, hard enough to express the intensity of my passion yet gentle enough that it wouldn’t strip us naked again before we finished this conversation.

  “It’s a flanker, love. And it’s a position in rugby.”

  She blinked at me, though it was unclear if she were confused or in disbelief.

  “I play rugby…professionally. It’s like your football, except better…obviously.”

  That at least got her to roll her eyes. We’d spent less than twenty-four hours together, and she’d already caught on to my love of country—well, more accurately put, my need to express how much greater England is than America, and how we used to own them.

  A soft giggle curled her swollen lips as she shook her head incredulously. “Are you being serious? It’s so hard to tell. Are you saying you’re a professional athlete?” She ran her hands up my arms, over my shoulders, before linking her fingers at the back of my neck. “That would certainly explain your body.”

  “Yes, Jenny. That’s what I’m saying—I am a professional athlete. Does that change your mind?” My heart stuttered for a moment at the possibility of her decision being made solely based on my career and what it could do for her.

  Which was an asinine thought. My career was the reason she’d be able to leave Vegas and travel with me. It was the selling point I’d given while trying to convince her to come to England. But there was a very big difference between my using it as a reason, and that being the only reason she said yes. In the end, I wanted her to agree to come with me because it was what she wanted to do, not because of what I could offer.

  “That all sounds really fancy and whatnot, Beckett…but let’s not forget that we don’t know each other. Yes, we’ve talked about a lot, and I’ve told you things I haven’t shared with anyone else, but no one in their right mind would run off with someone after only learning a handful of facts and memories about the person.”

  My heartbeat returned to normal—aside from the anxiety of having to get on a plane and go home alone. “You told me last night that I should start healing, and to do that, I need to begin to move on. And I told you that the only way I could do that is if I had a companion.”

  “And you can’t find one of those in England?”

  I sat back on my haunches and pulled her up by her arms until I had her practically sitting on my lap. The faint candlelight cast an ethereal glow over her soft features, and it reminded me of how she looked with wings.

  “Not anyone worth a damn.” With her face in my hands, I carried on. “The truth is, Jen…opening up to you has been effortless, and ever since my wife, I haven’t been able to do that with anyone. Not my family, not any of my mates, and certainly not with birds who are only after one thing. I told you I needed a friend, and I’m convinced you could be that person for me. And let’s be honest, the sex is hot.”

  “Yes, the sex is very hot; I can’t deny that. And it’d be a lie if I said I don’t feel the same about opening up to you. But seriously, Beckett? You’re talking about me uprooting my whole life to be your constant companion—sex or no sex, that’s insane.”

  “No, I don’t mean it like that. While yes, you’d be helping me out, don’t forget that you’ll be getting something as well. You’ll be getting out of this cage, breaking free from the shackles that have kept you a prisoner in Vegas. And you won’t have to worry about being alone. Think of it as two mates helping each other live a fuller, happier life.” I searched her bright eyes, hoping to get a glimpse into her thoughts so I could breathe again.

  She was quiet for too long, doing nothing but looking at me and taking shallow breaths. And then, she closed her eyes, bowed her head, and sighed. “And what’s going to happen when I run out of money? Or when you feel ready to date and end up falling in love?” She glanced up and met my stare. “What’ll happen then?”

  “Trust me, that won’t happen any time soon. It’s taken me two years to get t
o this point, so I think it’s safe to say you don’t have to worry about making other plans in the near future. And I thought we already discussed the financial aspect? Being with me will actually save you money—perks of being a jock.” I added a wink in the hopes it’d bring a smile to her face, which it did.

  “Have you thought this through? Or was it more of an impulsive idea that you threw out there to see where it went? Like, have you really given it enough consideration that you can confidently say all the what-ifs won’t come back to haunt us?”

  It was my turn to hesitate before responding, knowing the truth would prove her argument and lying to her was out of the question. After several moments, I realized I couldn’t hold off any longer and decided to give her my answer and see where it went.

  “No, I haven’t thought it out other than now while speaking to you about it. But that doesn’t mean it’s a fleeting idea. I like you, Jen. I fancy you, and I very much enjoy your company. The thought of walking away from the only person who’s been able to reach me feels wrong.” I dropped my forehead to hers and closed my eyes. “As far as the what-ifs are concerned…I don’t give a damn about any of them.”

  She softly cleared her throat and pulled her face away. “The idea of going with you sounds great…but it’s not realistic. I have a lease, a house full of furniture, a job; I have bills and responsibilities that I can’t just walk away from.”

  “You had all those things when your ex asked you to leave with him…and you allowed them to stop you. Don’t make the same mistake twice. Maybe this is your second chance.” I ran the pad of my thumb over her cheekbone and whispered, “I’ve opened the cage. Now it’s up to you if you want to remain inside, or if you want to fly away like the free bird that you are.”

  “And I have to decide that now?”

  “No.” I kissed her, leaning forward until I had her on her back, my body between her legs. “There are no time restraints, Jen. Whenever you have an answer is fine by me, just as long as you promise not to allow the fear of change to sway your mind.”

  Her eyes glistened in the flickering light from next to her bed, but my attention was pulled away from them when an easy, subtle smile curled her lips. “What’s your last name?” she asked in a shy, playful tone.

  “Jones.”

  She pressed her lips together and tugged them to one side as she hummed in dramatic thought. Then she said, “Beckett Jones, I’m Jennifer Casey. It’s nice to meet you.”

  EPILOGUE

  Jen

  Deciding to leave my whole life behind to travel the world was one thing—hell, I couldn’t decide to leave nothing behind to live in a small town with the man I thought I’d marry. But to do all that with a guy I’d spent one day with was insane.

  Apparently, I needed a special jacket and a padded room.

  Because I was insane.

  The blackout had lasted exactly twenty-four hours. Rumors and conspiracies had floated around, but in the end, we never learned the truth. The news reports claimed it was a technical issue, which no one really bought. Whether it was a government project gone wrong or aliens, it didn’t matter, because if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have had the incredible opportunity to travel the world with my best friend.

  “So you had no idea how well-known Beckett is when you got here?” Emily, the newest member of my tribe, asked.

  One of the things I made sure to do was hang out with the girls—the wives and girlfriends of Beckett’s teammates—as often as I could. This was the first time in my life I felt like I belonged somewhere, like I had people to turn to. I hadn’t felt lonely in two years, ever since leaving Vegas, and it was the most amazing feeling.

  “Not at all.” I could tell by the way she gawked that she wanted the whole story. So, I set my glass down to give it to her. Although, I never started at the beginning. The only ones who knew anything about the cage, the blackout, and the hotel room were the women who’d welcomed me in with open arms as soon as I stepped off the plane. “When he talked about it, he made it seem so much…less. Plus, being a woman from Vegas, I honestly didn’t have a clue how popular rugby was.”

  “When did you find out?”

  “While waiting for our bags at the airport.” I laughed every time I thought about that day. “People kept looking at us, but I assumed they were looking at me. But then a few guys came over and started chatting him up. It didn’t take long to get my first taste at Beckett Jones in character.”

  Emily’s eyes widened, probably in shock of how clueless I was. “What’d you do?”

  “Contemplated going back home.”

  “Did you really? Why?”

  I glanced to the side and twisted my earring as I returned my thoughts to where they had been that day. “Well, I already felt awkward going to another country with a man I hardly knew. It’s not like we were in love—we were two people who enjoyed each other’s company. I wanted out of Vegas, and he wanted someone to keep him company while traveling with the team. In my head, I was coming here with someone as lonely as I was. Being approached by random strangers didn’t seem lonely to me.”

  The girls started their murmurs, and I had to wave them off.

  “Clearly, I realize now that the number of people around you, or how many strangers know your name and face, doesn’t mean you can’t feel alone. But at the time, standing in the airport just after landing, that’s how I felt. And it made me want to buy a ticket home. After all, I didn’t owe Beckett anything.”

  “Well, we’re glad you stayed around.” Abby winked while raising her glass of wine.

  “Me too, obviously.” I rolled my eyes and giggled. “I gained an amazing group of women with you guys, and Beckett ended up being just the friend I needed. I’m incredibly lucky to have him as my best friend, someone I never have to try to be perfect for.”

  Liz tsked and said, “You should feel lucky…not every girl gets to marry her best friend.”

  My cheeks burned as my smile took over, and for the billionth time, I glanced down at the diamond ring on my finger…the one Beckett put there last night.

  “That’s not fair. I wanted to hear the whole story,” Emily whined playfully.

  I turned my smile her way and said, “The story doesn’t matter; it’s the moral that’s the important part. And the moral of my story is…any man who can truly see you in the dark is a man worth holding onto.”

  Just then, my phone rang, the tune of “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd playing through the speakers. “Hi, my love. We were just talking about you.”

  ABOUT LEDDY HARPER

  Leddy Harper had to use her imagination often as a child: she grew up the only girl in a family full of boys. At fourteen, she decided to use that imagination to write her first book, and she never stopped. She often calls writing her therapy, using it to deal with issues through the eyes of her characters.

  Harper is now a mother of three girls, making her husband the only man in a house full of females. She published her first book to encourage her children to go after whatever they want, to inspire them to love what they do and do it well, and to teach them what it means to overcome their fears.

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  BOOKS BY LEDDY HARPER

  Home No More

  My Biggest Mistake

  Falling to Pieces

  Take Your Time

  Beautiful Boy

  Eminent Love

  Resuscitate Me

  Lust

  Silenced

  Dane

  I Do(n’t)

  The Roommate ‘dis’Agreement

  Love Rerouted

  Kiss My Ash

  The (Half) Truth

  The Reality of Wright and Wrong

  The (Secret) Baby

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