Something Unexpected by Vi Keeland
CHAPTER 32
Beck
DAYS BLED INTO weeks and weeks into months. It had been eighty-four days since I’d seen Nora, since I’d heard her voice or even read a text from her. It still hadn’t gotten any easier. But my loss was two-fold, Gram and Nora. Sometimes I forgot that Gram was gone. Only for a split second—like when Maddie did or said something I knew Gram would enjoy and I thought I should call and tell her. But then it would hit me, and I’d remember.
Every time, it left my insides feeling hollow in a way that couldn’t be filled—no matter how much I buried myself in work or in the bottle when I finally got home in the middle of the night.
Then there was Nora, who had a grip on my heart so tight it felt like I should see a cardiologist. I’d moved on from being mad at her for leaving. Now I was just mad at the world in general.
My brother popped into my office. He had the strap to his leather bag slung diagonally over his chest, with the satchel resting behind him.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. “Early even for you, isn’t it?”
He strolled in and leaned on the back of one of my guest chairs. “Heading to the printer.”
I nodded. “Have a good night.”
My brother didn’t take the hint. He never did. Jake tilted his head. “You should come with me tonight.”
My brow raised. “Come where?”
“For drinks. I’m meeting a few of my buddies from college. Ryan and Big Ed. Remember them?”
Vaguely.I shook my head. “Thanks. But I have a lot of work to do.”
“You’ve been working eighteen hours a day since you got back from your trip upstate. You have to be caught up by now.”
“It’s a busy time.”
Jake made a face that said bullshit. “One drink.”
“I don’t think so.”
He sighed and pulled something from his back pocket. “I didn’t want to have to do this. But you’re leaving me no choice.” Jake extended an unmarked envelope over my desk.
“What’s this?”
“A note from Gram.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know those letters she left each of us?”
I nodded.
“Well, mine had one in it for you. She instructed me to give it to you if I felt it was necessary.”
“What’s it say?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t open it.”
I tore open the envelope. Seeing Gram’s slanty handwriting brought that hollow feeling to my chest again. The note was only a paragraph long.
My dearest Beckham,
Get your head out of your ass. If you’re reading this letter, it’s because you’ve been moping around, working too much, and probably drinking too much. In my seventy-eight years, I thought I’d learned all the lessons I needed to learn. But it turned out there was one I wish I’d learned earlier: LIVE. Shit happens. Deals fall through. People die. We only get one life, so it can’t be wasted dwelling on the past. Suck it up and create a new future. No excuses. If you won’t do it for yourself, then do it for me.
I love you, you stubborn bastard.
Now get up and go do something stupid with your brother. He’s good at that.
Always, Gram
P.S. Seal this letter up and give it back to Jake. I have a feeling he’ll need to give it to you more than once.
I shook my head when I finished reading, but I was smiling. Even when she’s gone, she’s still busting my balls.
Jake stood waiting. “What’s it say?”
“It says she wants me to babysit your ass.” I stood and grabbed my jacket off the back of my seat. “Come on. Let’s go get drinks.”
***
All I wanted to do was go home and sleep, even after a gorgeous brunette sidled up to me at the bar and set her wine down.
“Hi. I’m Meghan.”
“Beck.” I nodded.
She tilted her head coyly. “Can I buy you a drink, Beck?”
I held up my full glass. “Got one. Thank you.”
The woman looked down at my left hand. “Married, but don’t wear a ring?”
I sipped my whiskey. “Nope.”
“Gay?”
“Definitely not.”
She frowned. “Oh…kay. Then it’s just me. I can take a hint.” She picked up her drink, and I realized I was being a jerk, so I stopped her from leaving.
“It’s definitely not you.” And it wasn’t. She was petite with a tan complexion, big blue eyes, full lips, and loads of dangerous curves. “You’re beautiful.”
She turned back with a smile. “Thank you. That helps my bruised ego, a little anyway.” Meghan sipped her wine. “I’m not usually the type of person who walks up to a guy in a bar. It tends to give him the wrong idea. But you look sad, so I figured what the hell.”
“I’m sorry. It’s been a rough go lately.”
She leaned her elbows on the bar. “Recent breakup?”
I wasn’t sure I’d ever had Nora to define what happened between us as a breakup. Yet I nodded. “Yeah.”
“What happened?”
No way in hell was I telling anyone about Nora’s illness. So I told half the truth, the part that wouldn’t cause me to bawl like a baby. “She moved to California.”
Meghan nodded. “Long distance is hard. My ex-husband tried it with his mistress. But eventually it got to be too much, so he packed his shit and moved to Miami.” She winked, and I smiled.
“Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about. Our marriage was over anyway. But thank you.” Meghan sighed. “My breakup was two years ago. How about yours?”
“Eighty-four days.”
She arched a brow. “Not that you’re counting?”
I smiled. “Right.”
My brother Jake walked over. He perked up when he got a look at Meghan.
He slung one arm around my neck and extended his hand. “Hi. I’m the non-brooding brother, Jake. What’s your name?”
Meghan chuckled and shook. “Meghan. It’s nice to meet you, Jake.” She looked to me. “I didn’t realize you were here with anyone. Let me guess, he dragged you out?”
My lip curled. “Something like that.”
Not long after we arrived, Jake and his buddies had joined a table of ladies who looked like they might still be in college. I’d declined to join them, hoping I could sneak out soon. I figured I’d complied with Gram’s guilt-trip-letter request long enough.
“We’re going down the block to The Next to go dancing,” Jake said to Meghan. “Why don’t you two come?”
Meghan’s face was pensive. “I’m going to guess your brother isn’t up for that?”
Jake slapped my chest. “Of course he is. Aren’t you, Becksy boy?”
“Not really, Jakesy boy.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be such a party-pooper all the time. Remember the letter…”
I heard Gram’s voice in my head. “Cut the shit and go. Stop acting like a spoilsport.We only get one life. Don’t waste it dwelling on the past. Suck it up and create a new future.”
Fuck. I sighed. “Fine.”
“Now that’s not any way to invite your new friend, Meghan, is it, big bro?”
Meghan’s eyes sparkled. She was enjoying the interaction between me and Jake.
“Would you like to join us at some stupid club with my pain-in-the-ass brother?”
She grinned. “That sounds wonderful.”
Ten minutes later, I was at a nightclub. The house music was so loud, I could barely hear myself think. Jake and his crew were already out on the dance floor, while Meghan stuck with me at the bar.
I pointed to the band of idiots and leaned in, but I still had to yell. “Go dance with them!”
“Will you come too?” she yelled back.
“Not enough alcohol in me to get my ass out there.”
She smirked and raised her hand to the bartender. “Let’s fix that!”
Meghan ordered shots called mind erasers. While the name sounded nefarious, they tasted like nothing but sweet coffee. Though after three, I wondered if maybe I should slow down. I liked to sip a whiskey, but I didn’t usually do shots or drink three drinks in one evening.
“What’s in those things?” I pointed to the empty shot glass.
“Vodka, coffee liquor, and a bit of club soda. They’re delicious, right?”
“Tasted good. But I think I’m starting to feel it. I’m not really a hard drinker.”
She smiled. “Does that mean you’re ready to dance?”
My initial reaction was to decline, but why the fuck not? What’s one dance? So I nodded and took her hand. “Fuck it, let’s go.”
One dance turned into two, and two turned into more than an hour. Meghan and I were both laughing and sweaty by the time we got off.
“You got moves, brooder,” she said.
“So do you.” I smiled.
We’d grinded a bit out on the dance floor, but when we weren’t out there anymore and she pushed her tits up against me, it felt different.
“I’ve always found that men who can dance are really good in bed.” Meghan’s tongue peeked out, and she ran it along her top lip. She really was sexy as shit.
“Oh yeah?”
She wrapped her arms around my neck. “You’re fun when you loosen up. But I also kind of like the brooding side of you. Why don’t we get out of here? I know you’re not emotionally available, but I like you. It doesn’t have to be more than a fun night.”
An offer like that from a woman who looked like Meghan was nearly impossible to turn down. Six months ago, we would have been dancing in the sheets by now. And I wanted to want to fuck her. But it would have felt like I was cheating. It was dumb of course, because Nora wasn’t even talking to me anymore. I had no idea what the hell she was doing out there in California. For all I knew, she was back to picking up Tinder dates for a one-night stand. But I still couldn’t do it.
I took Meghan’s hand and lifted it to my mouth for a kiss. “You’re incredible. And if I wasn’t still hung up on someone, I’d feel like I hit the lottery.” I shook my head. “But I just can’t.”
“Wow.” Meghan smiled. “This is the first time I’ve ever been turned down.”
“I’m sure it is. And I’m also sure I’m a fucking idiot and will probably regret it.” I kissed her cheek. “But I’m going home.”
“It was nice to meet you, Beck.”
“You too.” I’d walked a few steps when Meghan yelled my name. I turned.
“If you’re up for it then, I’ll meet you back here three months from today.”
I smiled. “Take care, Meghan.”
A little while later, I climbed into bed. I’d just shut my eyes when my cell rang from the nightstand. It was one in the morning, so I figured it was probably Jake, busting my chops because I’d left without saying goodbye. Rather than getting guilt tripped again, I turned over and ignored it. But when it rang a second time, I grabbed it.
The number wasn’t local, so I swiped to answer.
“This better be important,” I said.
“Hi. Uhhh…is this Beck Cross?”
“It is. Who’s this?”
“My name is William Sutton.”
I sprang upright, my entire body on high alert. “What happened? Is Nora okay?”
There was a painful few seconds of silence where my heart stopped beating.
“She’s in the ICU. I wasn’t supposed to call you unless…” He paused again. “But I think she needs you.”
I jumped out of bed and yanked on my pants. “Where is she?”
“At Cedars-Sinai, in LA.”
“Will you stay with her until I get there? I’m not sure how fast I can get a flight, but I’m heading to the airport now.”
“I’m not going anywhere, son. I’ll see you whenever you arrive.”
