“You didn’t know?” My brother tilts his head to the facet.

“I had no thought.” I sigh. “You two are nonetheless shut, I take it?”

“Yeah, we’re.”

I look my brother proper within the eye. “You’ll be able to’t inform him what I went via, Clayton. I don’t need him to know.”

My household received the extraordinarily watered-down model of occasions, however I’m positive they’re sensible sufficient to fill within the gaps. Permitting anybody to witness my disgrace was laborious sufficient to abdomen… however for some purpose, the considered Beck realizing what occurred—what I put up with for too a few years—makes it a lot worse.

Clay opens the door to his truck and hops on the operating board. “It’s not my story to inform, Pres. The identical goes for the demons he’s residing with.”

As I watch my brother drive away, I can’t assist however replay our dialog in my head. The concept that Beckett Armstrong remains to be in love with me in any case these years is ludicrous. It’s been twelve years. I’m in all probability nothing extra to him than a woman he used to know. But… a part of me can’t assist however surprise whether it is attainable. As a result of the factor is… that very same a part of me is aware of I by no means stopped loving him. That after I walked away from this ranch all these years in the past, he was holding a bit of my coronary heart that I by no means received again.

Chapter Seventeen

Presley

– Age 18

“Oh, honey, you look stunning!”

“Thanks, Mother,” I say.

My senior promenade is tonight. I received’t be partaking within the post-prom bonfire/drink fest that every one of our buddies shall be at, although. I satisfied Beck to maintain the being pregnant a secret till after commencement. Neither one among us are huge partiers, however we’ve undoubtedly had some alcohol throughout get-togethers and such. Since I don’t need to clarify why I’m not consuming, we’ve prevented these forms of gatherings. I’m lucky that I’ve had minimal morning illness, so I haven’t raised suspicion in that respect both. I do know will probably be a shock, particularly to my dad and mom, as a result of I waited so lengthy to inform them. Name me loopy, however I simply needed to get via commencement feeling like a highschool scholar, not a mom-to-be.

“That costume seems completely excellent on you. I’m glad you went with it.”

She doesn’t know that I selected this costume as a result of the eggplant coloration and layered chiffon disguise imperfections properly. Or, in my case, a small child bump.

I contact up my pink lip gloss. “Thanks, Mother. Beck ought to be right here any minute, so get your digicam prepared.”

Her eyes mild up as she grabs her Nikon off the desk. “I can’t consider that is the final time I get to do that! How are you about to graduate highschool already?”

Or turn into a mother.

“Hey?” Beckett calls from the opposite room.

“In right here!” I say.

I flip as my mom gasps, and I do the identical. Beck by no means fails to take my breath away, however holy hell, Beck in a tux is an impressive sight. I can really feel my pores and skin heating as my eyes journey over his purposely messy hair to his broad shoulders right down to his toes. Then I do it another time in reverse. These rattling being pregnant hormones aren’t serving to both. I assumed I used to be dangerous earlier than, however all I need to do recently is have intercourse. In fact, Beck doesn’t appear to thoughts, and it’s not like I would like to fret about getting pregnant, proper?

“Hey.” He smirks, clearly selecting up on my ill-timed arousal.

“Hey.” I smile. “You look unbelievable.”

He steps into me and grabs my hand. “You’re beautiful, Pres.” He turns to my mother. “Hey, Mrs. J.”

She smiles. “Hey, Beckett. You two are so beautiful! Go on over by the hearth so I can get some footage.”

We take care of my mom’s exuberance for an excellent twenty minutes earlier than she lastly lets us out the door. Once we get to highschool, we stroll straight to the gymnasium. Navy and gold balloons float via the air, and fairy lights are twinkling from each obtainable floor. It’s spectacular what dimmed lighting and some decorations can do to fully rework an area.

“Wow, the promenade committee did a wonderful job.”

Beck jerks his head towards the dance flooring. “Care to bounce?”

“I’d like to.” I smile. “However I assumed you didn’t dance.”

He smiles. “For you, I dance. Simply don’t be mad if I sometimes step in your toes.”

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