Her hands moved rhythmically over his back. She pressed against him. “Rave, can we just start over? I made a stupid, horrible mistake with Barry. And I realized, I love you.”
The air left his lungs. A punch to the gut would have been better. A fist to the face. A kick to the ribs. This, this was what pain was made of. The mix—anger, regret, frustration—all making an explosive cocktail. “Ashley.”
She smiled up at him, feigning innocence and exuding hope.
“I’m with someone else.”
Her hands dropped to her sides. Her face hardened. “Break up with her. We’re here now. We’re your family.”
“You’re the one who pushed me away, Ash. You forced me to stay away from Daniel. So, don’t think for one second that you can walk right back into my life like that never happened.” He reached out and cuffed his hands around her wrists. Rave leaned so close to her face, she barely had room to blink. “You gutted me that day.” The words were a growl. They came from deep inside his soul, and they left no room for argument.
Understanding dawned. She’d burned a bridge that could never be rebuilt. Her gaze shot to Daniel, her eyes welling with tears. “What are we going to do?” She said it to the air, to the house, to anyone and everything except Rave.
He released her wrists. “I’ll give you enough money to get back to Tampa.” It broke his heart to say it because the idea of having Daniel close by was a temptation he could barely resist.
She shook her head, hopelessly. “No. I walked out on my job to come here. There’s nothing for us there anymore. Nicole’s gone, working on that stupid yacht.” She sank into a nearby chair. Her hands were trembling as she wound them together. “We’re alone. Daniel and I, we’re completely alone in the world.”
Rave clenched his teeth until they ached. How many times had his mother told him that they were alone in the world? Of all the things he feared, having Daniel grow up like that topped the list. Without her sister, Ashley really had no one.
He’d regret this—he knew that already. “Look, Barton is a nice town. Good for raising a child. Ashley, if you’ve already rented a place, you might as well give it a chance. Stay for a while, see how things work out.”
Hope filled her features again.
He needed to squelch it. “But you and I—we will never be a couple again. You need to understand that. I know you didn’t spend the money I gave you on rent. I know you left town with Barry and went to the Keys.”
“You don’t understand,” she said, rushing toward him.
He held a hand up to stop her. He’d not get sucked into her lies again. “It doesn’t matter. Even if the trip was strictly platonic, and you didn’t use my money. It made me realize I didn’t love you. It also made me realize I was already falling for the girl I met here.” Most of that was true. He hadn’t really known Becca long enough to have fallen for her then, but he’d instinctually known she was a cliff, and he was about to take the dive. Even now, he was still falling.
“You’re—in love with her?”
This was what Ashley needed to hear to back off. To know there was no way he’d get back together with her. “Head over heels.” If she’ll even have me after learning you’re here.
Ashley combed her fingers through her long blonde hair. “I’m scared, Rave. I don’t know if I can do this on my own. I’ve always had your help. And Nicole’s.”
He moved to the spot where she sat on a worn armchair. “You’re not alone, Ash. You know I love Daniel. I’ll keep him while you’re at work. But it’s important that you know my commitment is to him.”
She looked crushed. But Ash was strong, iron strong, and she wouldn’t stay in a state of defeat for long. He’d derailed her plan, sure. But there was a bright spot in all of it. She’d get the help she needed from Rave. And with any luck, Rave could keep Becca.
“Mommy, can we get ice cream now?” Daniel’s head rested on Bullet’s stomach. The dog was in his glory, with a small companion giving him heaps of attention.
Her shoulders hunched forward. “I’ve been promising him we’d take him for ice cream.”
Rave scrubbed his hands through his hair, an attempt to calm the zinging nerve endings in his system. All it accomplished was messing up his hair. He faced Daniel. “Sure, Rock Star. We can go get ice cream.”
CHAPTER 12
From the story Becca got from Alexandra, who’d heard it from Buck who heard it from Tommie, Rave and some mystery girl were at the ice cream shop on the other side of the square. Becca was working, so right now, she couldn’t be bothered with gossip like this. Still, her skin went clammy, and her hands started trembling. She should have known not to fall for a guy so soon after having a broken heart. All the pieces weren’t fully healed, and that made the blow that much worse.
Alexandra took the stack of dirty dessert plates and mugs from her hand. “Go see what’s going on,” she said with little emotion in her voice, though her eyes were filled with compassion.
Becca shrugged. “I don’t own him. We’re not married.”
Alexandra set the dishes aside and took Becca by the hand. She led her into the small, hot kitchen. “You’re falling for him, Bec. And he’s a guy with a lot on his plate right now. He needs you. And you need him. Don’t let some other girl steal your happy ever after.”
Becca stared up at the ceiling. Is that what Rave was? Could he be? She considered the possibility of him as her happy ever after. They were light and life to each other, that was certain. But forever? She didn’t know. Forever had always seemed so far away. And with the thought of him sharing an ice cream cone with another girl, forever seemed like a lonely, desolate place. She stripped off her apron and tossed it to Alexandra. “Be right back.”
Alexandra gleamed with pride. “Take your time, sweetheart. I’ll hold down the fort.”
By the time Becca jogged from Sustenance across the courtyard to Mel’s Ice Cream Shop, a bead of sweat from the blazing sun above trickled down her spine. Another appeared on her temple. She brushed at it, splitting her thoughts between how she could effectively break up with him and at the same time give him a chance to explain. This was madness, she decided. Breakup. That was the answer. But when she rounded the corner and saw the beautiful blonde sitting beside Rave, all she felt was jealousy. It raked over her head and clawed down her shoulders. Her teeth clamped down, her hands clenched.
Just as she prepared to turn on her heel and not give him the satisfaction of knowing what she’d seen, a little boy appeared at their tableside. His hair was blond, his face smeared with mint-green ice cream. He hugged Rave and carried his cup and spoon to the trash, then disappeared on the other side of the table.
This had to be Daniel. And that meant the young woman beside Rave was Ashley, the one who’d broken his heart.
The strangest sense of both defeat and calm washed over her. Her gaze dropped to the concrete and stayed there. A breeze blew the scent of freshly baked waffle cones in her direction, and though waffle cones were her favorite, the sugary, almost nutty scent left her feeling nauseated. Something prickled across her shoulders, and Becca knew she needed to get out of there quickly . . . before Rave turned and noticed her. Without glancing up again—after all, she didn’t need to, the image of the pseudo–happy little family was seared into her mind—Becca turned to leave.
Rave’s voice stopped her in her tracks. “Becca!” He was coming over. She could hear his footfalls and the lilt and fall of her name as he jogged to her.
She straightened, checking her armor, and turned around.
He reached her and took hold of her forearm. Rave glanced over his shoulder. “This probably looks bad.”
She bit into her cheek. “Is that Daniel? He’s a beautiful little boy, Rave.”
Rave nodded but didn’t release her. “I didn’t know they were coming. She’s planning on staying here.”
Becca bristled.
“I mean, not with me. I told her about you. I told her that she and I were over
. Really over. For-good over.”
Becca’s skin was on fire. “I get it.” But when she looked at the pretty blonde, the girl whose smile was too sweet, whose eyes were too understanding, Becca knew that Ashley was willing to battle to the death for Rave.
“Bec, I know this is a lot to ask, but will you come over and meet Daniel?”
Stake her claim? No. She wasn’t like that. She couldn’t very well go meet Daniel with a pure heart. It would be about marking her territory for Ashley to see. She was shaking her head when the girl rose and started toward them. Becca pulled to get away, but Rave held on.
When he realized his mother was moving, Daniel made his way toward Rave and Becca. “I’m sticky, Rave.” Daniel touched the tips of his fingers to his thumb.
Ashley smiled, stopped at Rave’s side, and cocked a hip. Her blue eyes were kind at first glance, but Becca could see the boiling lava just below the surface. “Hi.”
It was all too friendly. Becca wasn’t used to games. She didn’t play well. And she was certain Ashley was an expert.
“Hi,” she forced out through a tension-filled throat. “I’m Becca.”
Daniel bent down and flattened his hand on her cowboy boots. “I like your boots. Mommy says it’s too hot where we live for cowboy boots, but I want them anyway. I’m Daniel.”
She couldn’t help but like the grinning little boy. Becca dropped to her haunches, where she could look him in the eye. “It’s nice to meet you, Daniel. I’m Becca.”
“Are you the Becky Rave said he loves? He told Mommy that when my ice cream was melting.”
The ground shifted, and Becca fell off her haunches and onto her butt. A rock bit into her left cheek. Heat snaked up her throat. He’d told them he loved her.
Ashley’s voice was tight when she said, “Daniel and I have moved here. It’s really important to me that Daniel has a relationship with Rave. If this is home for Rave, then this is home for us.” She scooped Daniel into her arms. “Maybe we can go buy you some cowboy boots now, Daniel. I’m sure Rave will know where to go.”
But Rave wasn’t paying attention to Ashley. He dropped to his knees and angled Becca’s chin up so she had to look at him. “I’m sorry you found out this way,” he whispered.
Found out which part? That his gorgeous ex and her irresistible son were there or the fact that he loved . . . loved . . . loved Becca? She leaned closer to him, ignoring the pain in her left butt cheek. “We don’t know each other enough to be in love,” she hissed.
Rave’s eyes sparkled. “Then deny it.” A half grin, that sexy smile. Dear God, strike me dead right now. Her hands closed in the gravel. She couldn’t. She could neither deny nor quantify what she felt for Rave. It was without explanation.
Above them, Ashley grew impatient, like a prize racing horse, stomping at the ground to be turned loose and angry that no one cared enough to open the gate. Her irritation was palpable.
Except Rave didn’t seem to notice. His eyes and focus were on Becca. Completely and utterly on Becca, which meant there was not even an ounce of attention going to Ashley.
Becca shouldn’t like that, but God help her, she did. She liked that Rave was oblivious to everything else. Everyone else. Right now, Ashley didn’t exist. And the emotions that passed between Becca and Rave were intensified by his single-minded focus. A swirl of emotions blasted her. She thought of when she’d said a final good-bye to Michael. How she’d felt seeing all the posts of him hanging out with other girls at frat parties, the beach bash they’d had on the campus lawn, girls in bikinis hanging all over him posing for pictures. It had hurt so much. Too much because it wasn’t just the betrayal. It was a life she’d never get to live. Her choice, of course. It had been her choice to stay behind and help her family, but seeing a world she’d never know unfold through the photos splayed across a buffet of social media sites had left her empty. It was all too big, and it hurt too deeply. And then summer had come, and they’d picked up where they left off. But then he went back to school, and once again she had to relive the same hurts.
Gravel stuck to her palms as she shifted to put her hands on her lap. She and Rave must look like quite a spectacle right now, her sitting cockeyed on the ground, him on his knees before her. She’d known no one like Rave throughout her lifetime. He was . . . different. Hiding the stars in his gaze and a lifetime of hurt he refused to unleash because that would be weak. Still, she should say something. “Rave, this is—”
He reached out and grabbed her hand, bits of gravel transferring to him. His touch stopped her words. “I know. It’s danger close.”
Becca blinked. How’d he know that’s what she was going to say? It had been weeks ago that Tuck had told them about danger close.
Rave turned her hand over in his and brushed the bits of gravel from it. He dropped a kiss in the center of her palm.
Above them, she heard a frustrated huff from Ashley, who then spun on her heel and walked back to the ice cream shop’s outdoor table.
“Please, Becca.” The world was in his voice. Promise, hope, all the things a girl could want rounding out the words and making them seem as real and absolute as the rocks she sat on.
She was shaking her head. She hadn’t even realized it until she watched the horror skate over Rave’s features. His grip on her hand tightened. “Don’t answer now,” he pleaded. “Meet me later. Think it over, Bec. I know what I’m asking. I know it’s insensitive and unfair. But I’ve lost so many people in my life, and I’ve been able to move on each time, but I don’t think I can lose you.”
Did she really mean that much to him already? She knew she did. Because Rave was a unique human being, able to give all he had to those he loved. She’d never met anyone like him, and that alone should terrify her. But it didn’t. It made her feel privileged to know him. “I’ll meet you later.”
A smile of relief spread across his face. He reached for her other hand and pulled them both to a standing position. They were nose to nose when he said, “Come to my house tonight. Seven. Promise me you’ll be there.”
“I will.”
He leaned in and kissed her forehead. And somehow that light brush of soft lips against her flesh felt more intimate than if she were standing there naked.
Rave turned her by the shoulders and—carefully—dusted the gravel from her backside. Her face flushed, heat streaking to her cheeks. “I’m usually pretty sturdy. I didn’t mean to fall off my boots.” When Daniel told me you loved me.
He gently guided her so that they were eye to eye again. “I’ll catch you.”
Rave had picked at his dinner, too nervous to eat a full meal.
“He sure is a good-lookin’ boy,” Tuck said to Rave as they cleared the dinner plates. They’d started eating earlier in the evening because some of Tuck’s meds couldn’t be taken on an empty stomach.
When he’d returned home, Tuck had been full of questions. Yes, Ashley is staying. No, there’s no chance we will reconcile. Yes, I’m thrilled to have Daniel here. But the one question he couldn’t answer was, how does Becca feel about all of this? When he told Tuck she’d be there later to discuss things, Tuck had told him he’d better make it a good night.
Tuck had scratched his head and asked if Rave knew anything about boats. He did. He’d had a friend who worked at the marina, and the one big perk was taking the rental boats out when it wasn’t busy. So Tuck showed him around the dock that sat on the edge of his property. The boat was an older-model runabout, but it was in good repair. Apparently, the neighbor who shared the dock kept it up and seaworthy. Or in this case, lakeworthy. Rave had a map that would lead him to a cove where Tuck used to take Millie for romantic evenings.
Rave had hit the grocery store and grabbed a picnic basket of things for them to nibble on. For Rave, this was going to be either the night that began what he hoped to be a deeper, more exclusive relationship, or it would be the last night they’d be together. Either way, he’d resolved to make it special. Memories, he’d learned, were the
cornerstones of life. A person could survive almost anything if the memories they kept in their hearts were good. Sometimes memories were all you had.
Becca arrived right on time, and her being there—and all that rested on the decisions she’d make tonight—worked its way through his body like a sudden illness. She kissed Tuck’s cheek when she entered the house and told him he looked handsome.
Tuck hooked his thumbs in the bib overalls he wore and preened. He’d been staunch with Ashley’s disingenuous compliments, but with Becca, he was putty. When Tuck slipped into the kitchen to give her and Rave a chance to say hello, Becca’s eyes lit. “Guess what?” She dropped her voice and stepped closer to Rave, who tried—unsuccessfully—to pay attention to her words rather than the sensation coursing through him. She’d dressed for a date. A good sign. Her torso was covered in a soft black summer dress, and her signature boots were on her feet. Her hair was different. She’d curled it or something, since the long locks were twisted and twined, like they could set their own course, and the world would follow. He supposed the sun and wind prayed for a chance to invade those long, beautiful strands. He certainly did.
Becca came closer. She smelled like strawberries and cream. “Rave, I heard from the mayor. It’s a go. All of it. Pastor Keith has agreed to head the committee—but only if you won’t. He wasn’t sure if you wanted more or less control.”
It took a few moments for it to sink in. The memorial park was actually going to happen. That worked well with his evening plans, too, because he’d already intended to tell Tuck tonight. It was only right that Becca be there, and since he didn’t know what their future held, tonight might be the only chance. “It’s happening.” Those were the only words that formed, though his mind crackled with thoughts.
“It’s happening,” she confirmed.
Without meaning to, he grabbed her in his arms and spun her around.
She laughed and gave him a hug before pushing away from him. “Something else.”
When she headed for the front door, an unrealistic rush of panic gripped his chest. But she only stepped out for a moment and reentered carrying a round tube. “I know I probably shouldn’t have done this, but I gave your drawing to Ellen Kirsch.”
Something Like Family Page 16