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For Zoey, I could do it. I needed to.
Chapter Three
BECKETT
“Damn it!” I let my head drop back.
The bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds above filled my field of vision. Why was I such an idiot when it came to Wren? Since the moment we met, I’d felt an explosive combination of lust and anger toward her.
The control I’d come to rely on in my personal and business life made a hasty exit around that infuriating woman. Even knowing how much I needed her on my side, I still fucked up today.
I was so wrapped up in getting Zo’s costume figured out and trying to be super dad I didn’t let her know I’d be late. It was entirely my fault. She had every right to be angry with me. And instead of apologizing and groveling at her feet, I was a complete asshole.
I should have called her. I had every intention of doing just that. After I got off the phone with Frank, Lila called to check in with me. Then I figured I’d call once I grabbed Zoey’s costume, but my daughter insisted she come along, and I didn’t want to call Wren when Zoey might overhear. Especially since I wasn’t sure what Wren’s reaction to me might be. No matter howIfelt about her, Zoey loved her teacher. Then, after dropping Zoey off at home, I got wrapped up in a business call that had ended seconds before I arrived at the school parking lot.
I climbed into my car, slamming my palm on the steering wheel. Today was a shit day. I wanted nothing more than to skip the Halloween party tonight. I’d avoided Grayson at the office this week, but there was no way I could do that in a space as small as the bakery. I missed my friend but didn’t know how to let go of this anger that continued to grow. Grayson’s betrayal ran deep. The day he pulled together the last minute board meeting and convinced them to rehabilitate versus demolish the building Wren and Ruby lived in still sent a frisson of rage through me. We were tight. Our business and our relationship should have come first.
My life was unraveling and I didn’t know how to keep it together.
A ding from my phone indicated I had a text. I almost didn’t read it when I saw who it was from,
Grayson
We wanted to know if you and Zoey will be at the party tonight.
Beckett
I promised Zoey we’d go.
Grayson
Good.
Dots popped up on my screen, letting me know Grayson was typing again, went away, then came back.
Grayson
You know you can’t ignore me forever. We have to eventually talk about what happened.
He’d been sending me messages like this all week.
Beckett
I know.
Grayson
I meant it when I said I’m here for you.
I wanted to let go of my anger at Grayson. We’d been best friends since we were kids, but his move could have jeopardized my being able to stay in Rhode Island. Our business could have faced backlash after breaking our contract with the tech company that had planned to lease the building we’d purchased. We still might. I was in the process of handling it now.
Grayson
I won’t push you. Not yet. We made a blood pact to be friends forever. I'm not letting you back out on it.
After seeing it in a movie, he and I had been stupid ten-year-olds and decided we needed to cement our friendship that way.
It had fucking hurt.