“Honestly, if you want to see your mother, you have every right to. She’s your mother, of course she wants to see you. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t live so close.”
“I’m scared, Nicky.” She turned her wide, dark eyes on him. “I don’t know what I’ll do if she rejects me.”
“At least you’ll know and can stop wondering.”
“Good point. All the wondering is making me insane.”
“And I’ll go with you if you want a buffer.”
“Would you?” She visibly relaxed.
“Of course, Wylds. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll go find her, and I’ll be there for you every step of the way.”
“Thanks, Nicky.” She slid off her stool and came around behind the counter to hug him. “You’re the best.”
“When do you want to go?” He glanced down at her, not wanting to push her into anything she wasn’t ready for.
“Tomorrow? Before I lose my nerve?”
“Perfect timing. I’m off tomorrow with nothing to do.”
“You know, I wish my brother would get his head out of his butt and see what’s right in front of him. You’re so good for him, Nicky.”
8
Beckett
Beads pressed into Beckett’s face as he shifted against the uncomfortable beaded pillow he’d passed out on after leaving his apartment late at night to find his cousin. A groan sounded. Was that him?
Someone hammered nails into his head, causing a pulsing pain. Or maybe that was just his hangover.
“Wake up, Beckett.” Sky’s voice was too loud.
Pressing a hand over each ear, he squeezed his eyes shut.
“Oh, for God’s sake.” She wrapped long fingers around his ankle and pulled with a surprising amount of strength.
Becks held tight to the pillow as his body slid to the floor. “Go away, Sky.” He cracked one eye open. “How are you upright?”
She’d had just as much to drink, if not more, as he had the night before.
Hands on hips, she stared down at him. “Because I’m not a lightweight who gets drunk on three beers.”
“I don’t get drunk on three beers,” he grumbled.
“Could have fooled me, dinkus.” Anyone who saw Becks and Sky together would assume they’d known each other their entire lives. They were more like siblings than cousins, yet they’d only known each other for three years.
A year before moving to Nashville, this crazy girl messaged Becks online, claiming to be related to him as the daughter of his deadbeat mom’s sister. It wasn’t until Becks asked his father about having an aunt out there that he’d learned the truth.
When his mom chose drugs over her own kids, his dad cut Becks and Wylder off from anything having to do with her. But now, here he was in Nashville passing out on his cousin’s couch. He owed her more than he could ever repay. Without Sky, he wouldn’t have had a hope of a career in country music.
“I’m going to be sick.” He picked himself off the floor and ran to the bathroom, making it just before the contents of his stomach emptied into the toilet.
After cleaning himself up, he emerged feeling much better. In the kitchen, Sky handed him some kind of concoction she’d made that looked no better than the grossness that had just spewed out of him. “I’m not drinking that.”
“Don’t be a baby. This is my hangover cure.” She shoved the glass at him. “Take it.”
With a sigh, he accepted the drink, gagging as he sniffed it.
“Hold your nose while you drink it.”
He did as she said, but it didn’t help. The foul liquid slithered down his throat, and he breathed deeply to keep from hurling again. Once he’d finished it, he bent over the sink, shoveling water into his mouth with his hands.
“What are you? An animal?” Sky hid a laugh behind her hand.
Becks only eyed her suspiciously as she looked anywhere but at him. “That wasn’t a hangover drink, was it?”
Her eyes widened in innocence. “Well…no.” She laughed. “I kind of just wanted to see if you’d drink it.”
“You’re an asshole.” He took a hand towel from the counter and snapped it at her.
She shrieked. “You are feeling better though, right?”
She had a point. He’d forgotten his hangover. But he hadn’t forgotten the night that led to his drinking. Sky had been surprised when he showed up on her doorstep late. She’d never been one to turn him away when he needed her though or one to ask questions before he was ready.
He caught her staring at him and sighed. “If I’m going to spill my guts, are you at least going to make me breakfast?”
She shook her head. “You’re helpless, dude. My toaster is on the counter. Bagels are in the fridge. Have at it.”
He eyed the appliance of death. “I’ll just eat the bagel cold.” He opened the fridge, pretending like he didn’t see her smirk. Yes, Beckett Anderson, rising star, burned even toast.
He paid a meal service to deliver things with explicit instructions that took very little preparation, and even those sat mostly unused in his freezer in favor of either takeout or stealth attacks on whatever Nari and Avery were eating.
“How are you still alive?” Sky smiled, patting his cheek. “This face won’t get you everywhere in life.”
He shrugged, taking a bite of his cold bagel and pretending it tasted just as good as a toasted one slathered in cream cheese.
Hiking herself up to sit on the counter, Sky waited for him to speak.
“I think I messed up.”
She gave him a ”no shit” look. “What did you do to the poor guy?”
“I mean this entire thing was a mistake. Sky, I’m lying to my fans. Do you know how sleazy that makes me feel? Who does this?”
“I don’t think you had much of a choice. The label made that pretty clear. Your fans would have blasted you for that kiss if we didn’t play this right.”
“There’s always a choice, Sky. Always. Nicky deserves better than this.”
“Ah, so this is about you feeling sorry for the kid.”
“He isn’t a kid.” He definitely didn’t kiss like one. Becks threw his half-eaten bagel in the trash, turning his back on his cousin.
“No, I guess he’s not. At least, not with a body like that.”
Becks’ face turned red as he whirled to face her. “Don’t talk about him like that.”
A smile slid across her face. “Ah…I see.” She jumped off the counter.
“See what?”
“You care about him.”
“Of course, I care about him. He’s Nicky.”
“No, I mean you care about him.”
Becks’ eyes widened at her insinuation. “That’s ridiculous.” But was it?
She strolled into the living room where her laptop sat on the coffee table. Lifting it up, she perched it on one hand while typing with the other before spinning it so the screen faced Becks.
A picture loaded, one he hadn’t wanted to see. The kiss. It had already hit the gossip blogs. Nicky looked like he’d been caught by surprise, but Becks’ eyes were closed, his face calm.
“You kissed him.” Sky set the computer down. “Again.”
“Like I said, I screwed up.” And then Nicky kissed him. That was the kiss he couldn’t get out of his mind because it hadn’t been for the cameras, no one but them.
“It’s only a screwup depending on what happens next.” She sat on the arm of the couch and looked up at him. “Okay, cuz, I love you more than I thought I would when I first reached out three years ago. You’re kind of my only family now other than my mom. But can I be honest for a moment?”
“When are you ever not?”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Gee, thanks. You always say the nicest things.”
She laughed at that. “Come on, dude, you’re the most un-observant person I’ve ever known. You were with Sofie for over a year, and you never even took her out to dinner.”
“It wasn’t like that with
us.” His defenses rose.
“It was for her. But Sofie, being who she is, forgave you for your blindness because you may be a fool, but you’re just about the most lovable fool I’ve ever known.”
“I feel like there may have been a compliment in there, but…” He spread his hands wide.
“What did Nicky do after you kissed him?”
Becks scratched his cheek. “He got pretty angry with me.” And then kissed the heck out of him.
She nodded as if there was some big secret in those words he should be seeing. “For God’s sake, Beckett, the kid has feelings for you.”
Becks stumbled back. “No way. It’s Nicky.” They’d known each other for years. Becks would have noticed. Right? “Sky, none of this is real. We’re just pretending. He’s Avery’s brother.” Yet something in what she said rang true.
“And I’m guessing you’ve always treated him like Avery’s brother instead of his own person.”
Becks thought back on the accusations Nicky had flung at him. He hadn’t spoken to him after leaving Twin Rivers. But surely, Nicky knew he cared about him just as much as he did Avery. Maybe more.
Lord, maybe more.
“I need to go, Sky.”
“Brush your teeth,” she called after him. “Your breath smells like vomit.”
By the time Becks made it back to his apartment building, rain pounded into the pavement and his just-out-of-bed hair had turned into drowned-rat hair.
The glass doors swung shut behind him, and he stepped in front of the row of elevators. The center one slid open, revealing a tired-looking Nari.
Disappointment shone in her eyes when she looked at him. “If you’re looking for Nicky, he left.”
“He left?” He said the words as if he couldn’t comprehend their meaning.
She sighed. “Yeah, last night. It’s too much for him, Becks. You know Nicky. He’s not meant for the spotlight.”
“I need to find him.”
“No.” She took his hand, imploring him with her eyes. “Please, Becks. For my sake and for Nicky’s, promise me you’ll leave him alone. At least for now. Give him space. He’s moving to Nashville soon. You’ll get your chance to make it up to him and show him you can be a good friend. He doesn’t really see that right now.”
Blowing out a heavy breath, Becks rubbed his eyes. It was probably for the best. “You’re right. You always are.”
She smiled. “Go get some dry clothes on, and hurry. I’m going across the street for coffee, but we’re due at the studio soon.” She glanced at her watch. “We have to lay down the new single. Maybe if the music is good enough, the label won’t care your fake boyfriend is gone.”
He moved to step around her into the elevator.
“Oh, and Becks?”
“Yeah?”
“We’ve been asked to perform at a political rally at the Central City Hotel next week.”
Becks shrugged. He’d perform wherever the label told him to perform. He didn’t understand much about politics, but to him, it was always about the music. “We’ll be ready.”
The elevator doors shut, cutting them off from each other. When he exited on his floor, he found Avery striding toward him, fury in his eyes.
Becks swallowed his anger. He didn’t get to be mad about Nicky when it was his fault.
Avery pushed him into the wall, his eyes blazing. “What did you do?”
“Avery…” Becks tried to push him off, but Avery had always been stronger than him.
“My brother left pretty damn fast. I know it was your fault. What did you do to him?”
“Nothing.”
Avery yanked him off the wall. When he released him, Becks stumbled back, rubbing his neck.
“I knew this wasn’t going to end well.” Avery slammed his fist into the wall. “Why him, Becks? If you needed some PR stunt, why couldn’t you choose someone else?”
“Because he’s Nicky.” That was the only explanation he had. Nicky was special, always had been. Becks thought he’d kissed him at the concert because Nicky needed him. But what if Becks was the one who needed Nicky?
“Exactly.” Avery deflated as all the anger left him. “He’s Nicky. Fragile.”
Nicky’s words came back to him. He didn’t need someone to save him. “He’s not fragile, Avery. You and I always treated him like he was, but I’m starting to think he’s the strongest of us all.” He’d had the strength to walk away from their arrangement. Something Becks wasn’t sure he had.
Avery ran a hand through his hair. “Do you realize what this entire ploy has done to him? He’s had to pretend to be dating the guy he’s crushed on for years, the one he always knew he couldn’t have. You’re straight, Becks.”
Becks was beginning to think it was a lot more complicated than that, but his mind caught on one word. “Nicky was crushing on me? Even back in high school?” The thought spread warmth through him.
“More than crushing. I think you were the first guy he ever had real feelings for. I’ll be so dead if he knows I ever told you this.” He paused. “Why are you smiling like that?”
Becks hadn’t realized a massive grin stretched across his face. Nicky had feelings for him when they were younger. His smile fell as he realized those were no doubt gone after last night.
“Look.” Avery rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry I got mad at you. You’re my best friend. But I’ll never stop looking out for Nicky.”
“I won’t either. He’s my family too.”
“Then stop messing with him. He doesn’t need his feelings for you to return.”
Before he could respond, Nari appeared at the end of the hall juggling two coffee cups. “Didn’t I tell you to hurry, Becks. Go change already, you look like a drowned rat.”
He nodded, unlocking his apartment before slipping in and changing as quickly as he could.
When he stepped back into the hall, Avery had Nari pressed against the wall as he kissed her. The Becks thing to do would have been to make gagging noises or interrupt in some other obnoxious way. But as he looked at them, he realized, for the first time, he wanted what they had.
He’d spent years dating multiple women, finding a connection with none. It never bothered him until that moment.
Nari broke away from Avery with a sheepish expression. She tried and failed to hide her smile as she looked back over her shoulder at Avery. He sent her a wink.
Nari looped her arm through Becks’, giving him a look that said she knew every thought tumbling through his mind.
But if she did, she’d probably never look at him the same way again.
Because when Becks pictured kissing someone in the halls of their building, it was Nicky he saw.
9
Nicky
“Are you sure about this, Wylder? You look a little green.” Nicky studied his friend out of the corner of his eye. Parking a few streets over from their destination, he took her hand to get her attention.
“What-I’m-fine,” she said in a rush.
“No, you aren’t, and that’s okay. You want to go home? Try again another day?”
“Oh, hell no. I’m not doing this twice.” She took a deep breath. “I just… I don’t know what to say.”
“Did you call her?”
“No, um, I was afraid she’d hang up on me. I really just wanted a chance to see her. So I have a clear memory of what she looks like. If she doesn’t want to talk to me, that’s okay.”
“Then let’s do this.” Nicky pulled out of his parking spot and followed the GPS directions for the last few turns to the tiny house where Wylder’s mom lived. “At any point when you want to go, you just say the word and we’re out.”
Wylder’s hand shot out and grabbed his, clutching so hard her nails pressed into his palm. “Thank you for being here.” Her voice seemed so small. Not at all the pillar of strength she normally was.
“I’m always here for you, Wylds.” He squeezed her hand back, waiting for her to choose when she was ready to get out
of the car.
“What if she’s not here?”
“Then we’ll come back later.”
Wylder nodded, brushing her long blond dreadlocks over her shoulder. “She’s probably at work. We’ll just check real quick and then maybe go get some lunch or coffee or something,” she babbled, reaching for the door handle.
When she stepped out, Nicky rushed around to the passenger door to her side. Her dark eyes grew wide and terrified for just a moment before she took another deep breath and crossed the gravel drive to the front porch. Nicky followed, so proud of her for doing this on her own. She didn’t need him, but he was happy to be here for her. She’d been there for him a thousand times before.
Catching a glimpse of herself in the polished window panes of the front door, Wylder brushed a hand over her dreadlocks. “I should have cut these a long time ago.”
“No way, you’re not Wylder without your dreads. She’s not going to judge you. She’s going to love you, and she’s going to be so proud of you.”
“And what if she’s not?”
“Then you haven’t missed a damn thing not having her as a mother.”
“Right.” Wylder nodded. “And I have the most amazing mom I could ask for at home. I just want to know where I come from.” She stood taller, reaching to knock on the door.
“Just a minute,” someone called from inside. “Be right there.”
Wylder turned determined eyes toward Nicky. “Here goes nothing,” she whispered just as the door opened.
“Sorry, I was just making some tea.” Sadie Anderson opened the door, holding a steaming mug in one hand. The second she laid eyes on her daughter, the mug slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor. “Wylder?” Her eyes misted. “It can’t be.” Her hands fluttered nervously to her throat. “In my head, you’re still five years old. But look at you.” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “All grown up and so beautiful.”
“Hi…Sadie…Mom,” Wylder said, struggling to contain her emotions. “You’re just as pretty as I remember.”
“You remember me?” Sadie scrambled to pick up the pieces of the broken mug.
Dating Him: The Series Page 9
