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“It’s up to you. Just to give you a heads up, the private box is pretty isolated, but it has a great view of the ice.” Leave it to Ana to discreetly let Beckett know the situation. “And you’d have to leave soon to make it on time.”
I sent him a questioning glance, and he replied with a barely perceptible nod.
“Okay, I’ll take them. Thanks, Ana.”
“No problem. I’ll email you the tickets right now.” She headed out the door and then poked her head back in. “And don’t worry about dinner. There’ll be some food in the box too.”
“Ana, wait! How will we know which one is your sister?” I asked.
She grinned, pride lit up her pretty features. “Oh you can’t miss her. She’s an aerialist skater. Okay, I’ve got to run, but I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
Zoey squealed and started gathering her things. “Come on, Ms. Winter. We don’t want to be late.”
Beckett drew closer to me. “Why don’t I follow you home, and then we can take my car.”
Butterflies swooped in my stomach. “Okay. Do you think your mom might want to go?”
“If she’s free, I’m sure she’d love to.” He leaned in closer to whisper in my ear. “Being out with the two of us tonight in public is a lot. Are you sure you want to add my mom to the mix?”
“It’ll be okay, right?” I’d been so preoccupied with Beckett during Sunday dinner at the Wolfe’s I hadn’t had much of a chance to talk to her. Now I wished I had.
“It will be. Check your phone.” He tapped out a message on his phone and then put it in his pocket. “Are you both ready to leave?”
“I am!” Zoey said, hopping from one foot to the other.
She was the best. “I just need to grab my purse.” I opened my desk drawer and took out my purse and discreetly checked my phone.
Beckett
She’s going to have questions about us. What do you want me to tell her?
Wren
Maybe just say we’re friends.
The disappointed look that crossed his face disappeared quickly. He tapped out another message.
Beckett
It’s okay. I’m not trying to push you.
He edged closer to me as we walked the halls, but was conscious of not getting too close. A steady stream of chatter escaped Zoey’s mouth as we continued on our path side by side. It didn’t help that my nerves were firing from the moment we left my classroom. My stomach twisted painfully. Choosing to go out in public after what happened at Newport Creamery with Virginia London was a massive deal for me.
I checked over my shoulder a few times just to make sure no one else in the hall saw us. It didn’t matter that if someone did see us they’d assume we were just walking out at the same time; just being together could be perceived as a transgression. And they’d be right.
I suddenly felt hot. I dug through my purse for my bottle of water. The heat had either been turned on full blast or my body was giving me hot flashes.
Grateful that I’d thought to throw the bottle in my purse, I chugged the liquid and let out a breath to calm myself down. If people weren’t suspicious already, my behavior might tip them off.
Beckett narrowed his eyes, silently asking me if I was okay.
I nodded and gave him a smile of reassurance that I knew fell flat.
Zoey’s monologue was the only thing keeping me sane. A small part of me wondered if sneaking around was worth it. I immediately squashed that thought. This thing between Beckett and me, while unexpected, was not something I was ready to give up on just yet.
I tuned back into what Zoey was saying, nodding or making a few sounds to let her know I was actively listening. At one point, she was talking so fast she’d stopped taking breaths in between each word and I grew concerned. Until she sucked in a big gulp of air, and continued to tell us about the business she and her friends wanted to start. It was good she didn’t expect much of an answer from either of us, and I was able to keep my stress from her.
Beckett waited until I’d gotten in my car before shepherding Zoey to theirs. He called me as we turned out of the parking lot and onto the main road.