Page 40 of Home Brewed (The Perfect Cup #1)

“Well, he was insanely drunk and came and verbally and physically attacked me while I was on a date, so…” I sigh, hoping I don’t get slapped for anything I’m about to say.

There’s not exactly any way this can go well.

“I’m not sure what you want me to do. I have pictures of the bruises he left on my arm when I tr ied to leave in order to diffuse the situation.

” I am a freaking saint for keeping it together up until this point.

“You were on a date?! You whore ! Going behind his back with his boss! Yes, Justin already told me about your little indiscretion. I can’t believe I ever let a slut like you into my home.

You were never good enough for him! And now he’s crying, absolutely broken, living in my basement because you kicked him out and got him FIRED !

I should sue the pants off of you, missy! ”

I weigh the pros and cons of being a dick for a moment before I decide that I officially do not care what this woman thinks of me.

“You know what? You need to get your facts straight for once, Kathy,” I’ve never spoken to her like this, and she’s visibly taken aback.

“One, Justin cheated on me , not the other way around. I caught him fucking his coworker in our bed while I was supposed to be at work. Then he told me it’s been going on for years.

Marie can confirm that for you, so I have no regrets about kicking him out of an apartment he wasn’t even on the lease for or paying for.

” She tries to cut me off so I talk over her, “Two, she wasn’t even technically his coworker because he got himself fired a month before that even happened for being a massive creep to customers and staff, and his boss is right in there if you need to confirm that.

” I fling my hand towards the window and watch some of her rage deflate, “And three, he got himself arrested for public intoxication and making threats towards me, after which he was promptly released and destroyed every single item in my apartment. I have NOTHING ! So, if you want to be a massive bitch, as usual, FINE, just have the common fucking decency to not do it around me!”

Kathy is staring at me silently, mouth gaping, and I’m huffing and puffing as the cold air freezes my lungs after my tirade.

The bell on the diner door jingles as Beck makes his way over to us, a bag of takeout and our drinks in hand.

I can see him assess the situation, trying to determine if he needs to intervene.

Personally, I feel fantastic. That might be the most cathartic experience I’ve ever had .

“Everything okay here?” Beck asks, subtly placing himself between the two of us.

“Yup! Kathy was just leaving,” I say dismissively, pulling open the door and returning to my warm pocket of existence, closing out Kathy and her negative bullshit.

She’s not going to get a goodbye out of me, and honestly, I hope she has a terrible day.

Beck shrugs, gives her a nod, and walks around to get into the driver’s seat.

Kathy, still looking stunned, turns and runs to her car, peeling off loudly.

I hope her coworker inside saw everything.

I wonder if there’s security footage I could have?

I’m not usually petty, but it’s a nice indulgence to be a dick to her after everything she’s put me through and said to me over the years. I refuse to feel bad about it.

“So…” Beck looks at me questioningly, “Who was that?”

“Justin’s mom. We were just getting some closure.” I give him a shit-eating grin, knowing I won’t be giving him more details. She wasn’t going to take up one more moment of my time.

“Fair enough.” He goes to buckle himself in, then quickly leans over the console to kiss me silly before pulling back. “You look like you feel better.”

“I do, babe. I really do.”

“You said what to her?!” screams Nessa over dinner, cackling that signature laugh of hers.

It’s a little scary if you’re not expecting it.

We’re all seated in a booth at a local Italian place, Nessa, James, Beck, me, and Nessa’s friend, Beth, who apparently also dated James.

It’s an odd dynamic, but they aren’t making it weird, so I won’t either.

Stella was invited too, but she had a family emergency and had to cancel at the last minute.

She’s almost as new to this friend group as I am.

I can already tell that she’ll fit in with these folks like it was made for her.

As soon as she has a day where she doesn’t work, she can actually come meet them.

“It wasn’t that bad,” I mumble into my wine, knowing full well it was, in fact, that bad. Beck is staring at me like I’m a whole new person in his eyes, and maybe with a bit of respect? It was nice to fight my own battle and win.

“Not to be that person, but it definitely sounded that bad,” pipes in Beth.

She’s got dark blonde curly hair that goes almost to her waist, and deep brown eyes that pull you in.

It’s odd for someone so tall to look so delicate.

She seems sweet enough to give you a toothache, so she’s not at all intimidating.

She’s the Canadian version of a Southern belle.

I’m already picturing her in hoop skirts, drawling out little bless your hearts.

Beck just snorts into his drink, not coming to my defense. Not that he needs to. I didn’t elaborate any more about the conversation I’d had with Kathy, but when he brought up at dinner that I’d run into her, Nessa was relentless until I spilled the beans.

I excuse myself to the bathroom, feeling a little too in the spotlight, and sneak out of the booth. I’m drying my hands at the sink when Nessa comes in, a knowing smile painting her face.

“So, not to be annoying, but you guys are so freaking cute!” She’s nearly shaking with excitement, like a chihuahua, or a sugar loaded kid. I flick water from my hands onto her. “Ew! That better be sink water!” I roll my eyes at her implication.

“For real, you guys are adorable!” She wraps her tiny frame around me in a hug. “It makes me happy to see you both happy, that’s all.” I tear up a little at that. Even knowing that this might end in a few short weeks, I’m really happy for the moment.

“I hope it lasts,” I say truthfully. I don’t want to be a downer. The reality is that most things don’t last, I’m going to have to enjoy this while it does .

“Hazel…” Nessa looks at me in the mirror pensively, “I don’t want to say too much, but I’ve never seen Beck act so twitterpated. I’ve never seen him so bright, or happy, or… in love .” She’s not teasing now, and it’s a little alarming. Earnestness is not what I’ve come to expect from her.

“ Love? There’s no way he’s in love with me, maybe infatuated, I’ll give him that. It’s been what, two months? You can’t fall in love that fast.”

“Maybe so, but he has.” She’s so matter of fact about it.

The truth of it coils inside me, nesting, making itself at home.

I want to be afraid, even though I know she’s right.

He has been showing me how he feels, and that feeling isn’t just infatuation.

“I’m not the only person who sees it either.

Stella has mentioned your little shenanigans at work.

” She pumps her eyebrows twice, suggestively.

When I look at myself in the mirror, I’m as pink as my outfit, a matching set with a flowy skirt that Beck had picked out for me, with a matching wrap top that leaves a small sliver of skin exposed on my waist. I have no illusions as to why he bought this one for me, and I feel really pretty in it, so I’m not exactly mad.

When I had thrown on some light makeup and put a few waves into my hair, Beck had gaped at me like I was ready to walk the red carpet.

Nothing about what he feels was hidden in the way he looked at me.

I’m pretty sure my eyes said the same thing to him.

Maybe I need to let go of the paranoia that he’s just going to drop me. That maybe he’s using me. Even if that was somehow how this all started, it’s clearly not like that for him now.

“Maybe you’re right,” I finally admit to her.

“Let’s grab lunch tomorrow and we can pull your head out of wherever you’ve lost it, okay?” Nessa doesn’t say anything else but walks into another stall as I finish drying my hands and go back to the table. Beck notices me as I approach and his gaze softens, taking me in.

Yeah, he’s getting laid tonight.