Chapter 1

Bethany

Bethany turned and looked around the tiny garage, boxes piled high on both sides of her. There was no way they were going to be able to get her mother's place fully loaded up by nightfall. Why in the hell the woman would want to was the question. She had gotten a wild hair that everything needed to be moved out of the old house and put into storage before the wedding three days away.

Letting out a long sigh, Bethany pushed her chestnut hair back, the messy bun at the back of her head not doing its job at all. Her mother walked in from the front of the garage, a few cars having stopped to see if they were having a garage sale.

"Go call Matt and Kent. Someone wants the washer and dryer."

"Mom. We should just donate all of this stuff. There's no reason to sell it."

"I am donating it. Go get them, sweet girl."

Turning, Bethany checked her phone for the tenth time within the hour. Damon was at the office, holding down the fort so the rest of them could help pack. He was the only one she wanted to see, the idea of her mother getting married suddenly weighing heavily on her.

Kent was a great guy, but her real father was too when they first got married. Her mother deserved the best. Bethany hoped this time that's what she was getting. Her new stepfather had been nothing but kind and giving, but everyone knew that even hell had recruiting days. Hopefully, things would be different this time.

She opened the door to the small two-bedroom house and stuck her head inside. "Hey, guys. Someone wants the washer and dryer. Come help us load it for them."

Closing the door, she pulled her phone from her pocket and let out a groan. "Mom, I need to change and get up to the college. I have to get in a few hours with Dr. Tarrington today."

"I thought you told him you were working yesterday instead."

"I did, but school starts next week and the mess he gave me to work through yesterday didn't get entirely done. I don't want to leave him in a lurch. I need him on my side for the next year."

"Then get going." Her mom walked toward her, a smile on her pretty face.

The guys walked into the garage, Matt making caveman noises, as if they were the only reason the washer and dryer were able to get loaded. Bethany looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes playfully.

"The men-folk are here now. Let's get something done." Matt smirked as Kent popped him in the chest.

"Which car, baby?" Kent glanced at Bethany's mom, her cheeks turning a rose color.

"The green truck with the open tailgate." She walked toward them. "We can help too."

"Heck no, you're not. You get hurt and who will marry my dad? Stand down, Karen. We've got this." Matt kissed his biceps, one at a time, before moving toward the washer. Bethany leaned against the wall closest to her. Matt was so different than Damon, and yet they had a friendship that permeated the air around them every time she had seen them together. The longing for Damon to be there with her rolled over her again.

The guys lifted the washing machine with ease and walked out toward the waiting truck as Bethany's mom moved to stand beside her. Glancing over, she realized her mom had tears in her eyes.

"Hey, you okay?" Bethany wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tugged her close.

"Yes. I just don't deserve Kent. He's far better of a person than me, Bethany."

"That's not true." Bethany pulled her mom into a hug, resting her cheek on the same shoulder that she had for the last twenty-two years. "He's a good man, but you're a great woman."

"You're a little biased."

"Damn straight I am." Bethany moved back and reached up, wiping at her mom's tears. How Damon would harbor hate against his own mom was understandable but so painful to think about. Bethany wouldn't have survived the trauma of all her birth father put them through if her mom hadn't been the rock she was. Damon's past hurts were different, but just as life-altering.

"Watch your mouth." Her mom pulled back as a smile spread across her face. "I'm so excited about leaving tomorrow, but I'm scared too."

"Of the flight? I'll be on the plane with you." Bethany reached up and tugged her hair down, working on redoing it.

"No. Of not being who Kent needs me to be. He's got all his shit together, and I feel like the hot mess express on a good day." Her mom chuckled and wiped a few more tears, turning so her back was to the guys as they walked back in. Matt continued to tout their greatness as Bethany shook her head at him, enjoying the sound of his laughter.

"Watch your language." She turned back to her mom, softly squeezing the older woman's shoulders. "Kent loves you just the way you are. He doesn't need you to be him. Just be yourself, and everything will work out, mom."

"I love you, little girl."

"I love you too. I need to get up to the college." Bethany released her mom and ran her hands over her shirt. "The college is closed right now, and I'm not even sure if Dr. Tarrington is up there. Does this look too bad to just drop by for an hour or so? Should I get dressed up?"

Her mom reached out and brushed her hand down Bethany's back. "Change into a blouse instead of this t-shirt, and you should be good to go. Your jeans aren't dirty. Before you go, tell me how the situation with your friends is going."

Bethany's best friend and roommate, Krista, had gone off the deep end a few days earlier, attacking their other best friend, Jake, and leaving him for dead. It was still a mystery as to what would lead Krista to react so violently to Jake turning her down. It had to be a combination of being off her medication combined with having her heart broken. It seemed to be the most likely reason.

"Jake is going home on Monday. His parents are with him now. He's doing better, just shaken up. I haven't spoken to Krista in a few days. I'm not sure what I would say if I did. I went to see her a few days ago, but she just sat there, staring at me." Bethany shrugged. Sadness rolled over her, and the need to drown in Damon's affection washed over her again.

"That's disturbing." Her mom shivered and patted her arm. "Get going, and we'll see you at Kent's tonight for dinner."

Bethany walked into the house to get her keys. A single red rose sat in a tall glass vase with a small note attached to it just beside her purse. She picked it up and smiled. Kent had left it for her mother. It simply read, "Three days until my life is complete. Thank you for saying yes."

Tears filled her eyes as she stood there. She and Damon were on the road to building their relationship, the lust having blossomed into love for both of them, but they had a long road to hoe. He wasn't trusting, and she was beyond fearful that he would find someone better, more worthy of his time.

She laid the card back down and picked up her keys. Bethany patted her phone in her pocket and walked back out to say her goodbyes. Matt lifted her off the ground with his big bear hug just before she reached the car.

"You excited?" He put her down and bounced on the balls of his feet. He was much too big of a guy to pull off goofy, but he was doing it somehow.

"I sure am. We're still set for Saturday afternoon on the beach for the ceremony, right?"

"Yep, but we should have time to explore and play around when we get there."

"That sounds great." Bethany pulled her phone out as it buzzed.

"I'm still not sure Erica going with us is a good idea." Matt's smile slid from his handsome face. His blond hair was a mess, but it was most days. "Just seems odd that she's going to be there. I think they have her rooming with you."

"I'll beat her off of you. No reason to be worried." Bethany lifted the phone to her ear, lifting her finger to tell Matt to hold up a second. It was Damon. "Hey, baby. Work going okay?"

"My father isn't answering his phone. Can you please tell him to fucking answer me?" His voice was tight. The fact that he hadn't greeted her at all was concerning, but something was off.

"I'll just give him my phone. Hold on a second." Bethany walked back toward the house, half-expecting Damon to say something - anything to her. Nothing.

She handed the phone to Kent as her heart contracted painfully. Forcing a tight smile, she moved back a little to give him a bit of privacy. "It's Damon. He's been trying to get a hold of you."

Work in progress. Work in progress.

"Oh. Thanks." Kent took the phone and smiled down at her. Bethany half-expected him to turn and walk away to keep the conversation private. They were soon to be a family, but most people needed a sense of privacy on the phone. Not Kent.

"Hey. What's going on?"

Bethany could hear Damon's mumbles, but she wasn't able to make them out. From the look on Kent's face, something wasn't right.

"All right, well, we can take care of it when we get back next week." He paused. "No. You're coming with us in the morning, son. I don't want to do this without you."

Bethany wrapped her arms around herself, her hopes of walking on the beach with him and making love with the windows open dying slowly. It was supposed to be a time for the two of them to learn each other better. Damon had promised he would open up on the trip. He just needed to get away from everything familiar so he could dive in deeper with her. They needed this getaway - almost more than her mom did.

"All right. Do what you can and just get out there by Saturday afternoon. We won't start without you." Kent paused again, looking at the ground and running his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. "All right. We'll see you late tonight. Maybe we can figure something out to work through the situation faster. I know. All right."

Kent handed the phone back to Bethany, a sad smile on his handsome face. "Looks like that damn Zarpeth audit we looked at in Seattle isn't as straight forward as we hoped."

"That's not good." Bethany lifted the phone to her ear as she waved to them. "Hey."

Nothing. He had already hung up. She let out a soft sigh as tears filled her eyes. Matt had gone into the house from what she could tell. She was grateful not to have to explain herself. She was being a tit-baby. Plain and simple. Getting in the car, she rolled down the windows and pulled out of the driveway, having effectively dodged her family.

"You couldn't say two words to me?" she mumbled to the empty hot air in the car.

Everything had changed and yet nothing had.