Page 80 of Suddenly Beck

‘Thanks,’ she laughs. ‘I’ve never had a pair of flip flops before.’

‘You’re as bad as Nat.’ Beck shakes his head. ‘So… Lunch? Georgie mentioned tacos.’

‘You know, you’re really building my hopes up here. I hope I’m not going to be disappointed,’ Pia says as I sling my arm around her neck, and the three of us head up to Sully’s.

‘No, they really are that good,’ Beck replies.

‘We’ll see,’ Pia hums noncommittedly. ‘You didn’t have to try his first attempt at omelettes.’

‘I was nine,’ I protest.

‘Yeah?’ She raises her brows. ‘You weren’t the one throwing up for twelve hours straight.’

‘How was I to know the eggs were off.’ I wince.

‘Hmm,’ she hums suspiciously as we climb the steps to the restaurant, dusting the sand off her feet and slipping the flip flops on.

I watch as she pulls open the door and collides with a large male body. I’m about to rush forward to catch her, when I see two firm arms wrap around her to steady her, and then a familiar voice speaks.

‘Are you okay?’ Reed asks her as she blinks up at him.

For an long uncomfortable moment, she just stares at him mutely. ‘Um, y…yes, thank you.’ She clears her throat as she stands and smooths down her dress.

‘Pia.’ I step closer. ‘This is Reed, Beck’s older brother. Reed this is my sister, Pia.’

‘It’s nice to meet you.’ He takes her hand as they continue to stare at each other.

‘Awkward.’ Beck mouths to me, and I snort.

‘Uh, guys,’ I cough. ‘You’re blocking the doorway.’

They both blink and move aside as a little old couple shuffle out, sending them a knowing look.

‘Tacos,’ I say loudly, clapping my hands together to break the heavy tension and hustle Pia into the restaurant.

‘Weren’t you just leaving?’ I hear Beck say to his brother.

‘I can stay for a while.’ Reed’s quiet calm voice rumbles behind us.

‘Mel!’ I call across the restaurant. ‘Come meet my sister, Pia. Pia this is Beck’s mum.’

Mel sweeps over and hugs Pia warmly. ‘It’s lovely to meet you, sweetheart.’

‘Cornish people seem to be very huggy,’ Pia whispers to me.

‘Go with it.’ I laugh. ‘Seriously, you get used to it.’

‘Come, come.’ Mel ushers us all over to a large round table. ‘It’s a family reunion, so it’s on the house.’

It’s the perfect afternoon, surrounded by the people I enjoy most in the world, and as the icing on the cake, I now have my sister back. I sit watching her chat animatedly to the others with a small indulgent smile as she devours the tacos.

We talk and laugh, and I love seeing Pia smile. I didn’t realise how much of her had dimmed since she married that prick, Avery. I want to ask her about it, but I can’t. Having her back is so new, I don’t want to give her a reason to back off again.

But I don’t miss the way Reed watches her with calm, patient eyes, that remind me so much of Beck. Nor did I miss the way his gaze flicked to her platinum wedding band. I also don’t miss the way her eyes keep straying in his direction, or the pretty pink blush on her cheeks. Eventually, Reed’s phone rings, and he gets up and heads outside to take it as one of the waitress’s head over.

‘Nat, there’s a car outside for a Sophia Hamilton,’ she tells me.

‘That’s me.’ Pia nods.