CHAPTER FOUR

 

The evening wears on and I’m almost asleep when there’s a knock on my door. I look at the clock, seeing it’s only seven.

It’s probably Aiden, wanting me to bake him some over the top cake so he can pretend he made it and impress one of the many girls he’s always trying to hook up with.

Apparently, a guy who can cook is a keeper.

It’s just a shame Aiden can’t be kept. My mum would probably worry less if he settled down.

After I’d got home earlier and had my shower, I’d baked double my weight in cookies and curled up on the sofa with a blanket and binge-watched the Hallmark channel.

Roxy had cuddled into me, her weight welcome as she’d kept me warm. Now, her head pops up from my thighs and she jumps’ off the sofa, before rushing to the door, barking.

I’m in my pyjamas; a long-sleeved blue top with lace lining the edge near my breasts, and a white pair of shorts, scattered with printed blue stars, that barely cover my arse. The only reason I didn’t put on my wool bottoms was because of my awesome socks. They’re knitted in a light and dark shade of blue, and the insides are white. The tops flip over, showing off the white wool, and are finished with a blue bow. They’re the only pair I have now, but no doubt family and friends will start adding to my collection, buying them for me every chance they get.

They’re normally my reading socks.

Yes, it’s lame, but that’s what they’re called.

I love being snuggled in them while I sit and read my Kindle.

It’s my sister’s fault. She started the trend. Her addiction to these socks is ridiculous, but totally necessary.

Another knock on the door and I get up. My family see me dressed like this when they pop by unannounced, so it doesn’t bother me. I don’t think to check the peephole, so I’m startled when I find Beau standing there, leant against the doorframe, looking freshly showered and dressed, holding a bag of takeout. I hadn’t been expecting him until later.

“Do you like Indian?”

My nerves ease and my racing heart calms down at his easy smile.

“Depends. Where did you buy it?”

He scrunches his face up at that. “Masala Spice.”

I relax. “Then come on in. What are you waiting for?”

“Um, why was that important?” he asks, stepping inside.

“Because, the Indian down the road has given everyone I know food poisoning. Trust me, it’s disgusting.”

“Ah.” He grins and walks into the kitchen, where he drops the bag on the kitchen side. When he turns, it’s like he sees me for the first time. His eyes rake over my bare legs, down to my socks, which come up to my knees. He grins, his eyes sparkling. “Nice socks.”

I blush under his scrutiny, wishing I had something to cover up. The only thing close by is an old and tatty, knitted cardigan; but it’s long and great for curling up with on the sofa. So, I quickly step back, not wanting to turn and flash my arse, and put it on.

He grins at me, before grabbing some plates out of the cupboard. I clear my throat. “What made you stop by?”

He shrugs, and I don’t think he’s going to answer me, but he does, “I’m hungry and you promised cookies. It’s boring eating alone. I also ordered too much food.”

“Okay.” I didn’t really need an explanation. I like his company. It’s why I don’t argue. Plus, it’s a win-win for me. I get him and free food. What more could a girl ask for?

 

 

*** *** ***

 

It’s late and Beau is still here. I’d flicked off the Hallmark channel hours ago and put on One Tree Hill, starting from the beginning.

“You’re telling me he crushed so hard on that P girl, yet he ends up with Brooke? Not that I’m arguing—she’s hot—but I’m confused. Why’s he dating her when he likes the other one?”

“Because he secretly loves her but fears rejection. Brooke is easy―no pun intended,” I tell him when he grins, his eyebrow arched. “She doesn’t scare him the way Peyton does.”

He shrugs and flicks his gaze over to me. “Still don’t get it. Love isn’t meant to be easy. It’s meant to be scary, fulfilling and… What?”

I giggle. “Nothing. You just seem to have a strong opinion on the subject.”

“You teasing me?” he asks, a grin tugging at his lips.

God, will I ever stop swooning over his smile? Nope, don’t think I will.

“Maybe a little. My favourite couple is Hayley and Nathan,” I comment absently, looking back at the screen.

“And they get married in another season?” he asks, genuinely interested.

“Yeah.” I smile big, turning in my seat. “It’s so romantic. She’s a virgin and has always promised herself she’d wait for marriage before sleeping with someone. And Nathan… Even though he’s a little bit of a d-i-c-k. in some episodes, he never pressures her—well, there’s a scene where I think he’s slyly pushing. He kind of stops kissing her because he doesn’t want to pressure her.” I roll my eyes at that. “But deep down, I think he actually believes he’s helping, though to me, it just seemed he was putting more pressure on her.” When Beau gives me a funny look, one I can’t quite figure out, I stop. “What?”

“You really love this show, huh?”

My face aches from smiling so much. “Yeah. But it’s more than that. I love the relationships. They’re real. And Hayley and Nathan go through so much, but always manage to find their way back to each other. I also like they got married, tying themselves to one another forever before getting intimate.”

“You want to get married?”

My heart drops and my smile falls. “I did. Always have. But after this stuff with Noah, I’m not sure I ever want to date again.”

His smile falls now, his eyes gentle. “Not everyone is like Noah, Faith. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

He reaches out for my hand, and I let him. I notice him shift closer, his eyes staring intently into mine.

He opens his mouth to say something, when a thundering knock on the door has us both jumping apart.

“What the fuck?”

My heart pounds and my gaze flashes to the door. “Who is it?”

He looks at me, raising an eyebrow. “I’ll go see. Wait here.”

Like hell.

The door isn’t that far away, so I’ll be able to see whoever it is from here, but if it’s someone coming back for me, I’d rather be standing next to Beau. He looks like he could pick up a truck if he was angry enough.

“Can I help you?” he asks.

“Who the fuck are you?”

I groan and rush over to the door. “Dad! What are you doing here?”

“Who’s this punk?” Uncle Max pipes in, barging in past Beau and stepping into the flat.

“Dad?” I call, looking around Beau to find my dad staring him down. “Dad!”

He looks over at me, his expression softening. “We came to see you. We have, um… some information.” He eyes Beau again distastefully.

“Hey, sis, who’s this punk?” Aiden asks as he steps in and walks straight over to the counter, where my baked goods are. “Cookies. Awesome.”

“Hey, Faith. We wanted to come for moral support. Just know, we’re pissed we weren’t invited.” Mark, my eldest brother, walks in and kisses me on the cheek, before following Aiden over to the cookies.

“Invited?” I ask as Malik and Dad walk in next.

I notice Dad’s knuckles are red, dried blood caking his skin. “Oh, my gosh, what happened? Are you okay? Where’s Mum?”

Max laughs and I turn and glare at him, as I hear Beau shut the door. He stands in front of it, his arms crossed. That’s when I remember he’s a cop and it’s clear my dad has gotten into a scuffle.

“He,” Dad points to Max, “had Liam find out who this Noah kid is, and we went to pay him a visit. Unfortunately, your stuff wasn’t there, and neither was he. According to his buddy, he’s left town. Don’t worry, we’ll find him.”

My heart races as my gaze shoots to Beau, then Dad. “Um, Dad, this is Beau Johnson, the new officer working my case, the one I told you about.” I widen my eyes, giving him the look, but he seems undisturbed.

“I mean… we gave him a good talking to and told him, once we find his little friend, we’ll be going straight to the police,” Max quickly adds.

Aiden outright laughs, jumping up on my counter. “This should be fun.”

“You gonna say something?” Dad asks Beau, giving him a death glare.

God, why did we open the door?

“Dad!” I scold, before looking to Beau. “Ignore him.”

But Beau doesn’t look at me, he just stares at my father a second longer, both locked in this weird macho showdown, before nodding. “Depends, give me his address so I can go pay a visit and I won’t report what I’ve heard and witnessed. Maybe I could find out more.”

“Crooked cop?” Aiden asks, bouncing from his perch on my counter.

I roll my eyes at my brother. “No, so he can go question him.”

“Shut up.”

“No, you shut up,” I snap.

“I said it first.” He grins triumphantly.

“Jesus, are you two…?” Max asks, looking at Beau and I.

My cheeks heat with embarrassment at acting so childish in front of Beau. When I turn my gaze his way, I see he’s smiling, his head ducked a little.

As if feeling my attention, he raises it and gives me a wink before turning to my dad again. “Address?”

Dad nods and turns to Malik. “Go on.”

I watch Malik eye Beau before speaking, “What are you doing here? I don’t think eating and watching chick flicks is a part of your job.”

Beau doesn’t miss a beat. “No, it’s not, but she’s not just a case, she’s my neighbour. A neighbour who, I might add, was left to walk home in the dark, and then stepped into a blackout. She was so scared that she nearly fell down the stairs and ended up twisting her ankle. She was also left to paint her own flat.” He raises his eyebrow at Malik, waiting for him to answer, and I fall back in shame.

I’d told everyone I’d tripped walking Roxy, which was believable since she mostly walks me. It also got them to give her extra walks for me while my ankle still ached.

I’d also lied and told them Nina and her mum had helped me paint, so I didn’t have much to do.

All eyes turn to me, every pair of them narrowed in anger. “Come again?” Dad asks.

“Um…”

“I told you to hold off on the painting until I could come round to help,” Mark snaps, straightening his spine from his position on the floor, where he’s been petting Roxy.

“What the fuck? I even offered to do it for a chocolate cake,” Aiden pipes in.

“Girl, you’re in a world of shit. When did you start doing shit on your own? This is a family; we help each other out,” Malik grunts.

“I, um…” I start, looking around sheepishly.

Max looks up from his phone, grinning. “Your aunts and cousins are gonna be pissed. You’re hiding too much shit from us.” His phone beeps and he grin spreads wider. “Oh, your mum is so pissed. She won’t be taking in any more strays while you find them homes.”

Dad grunts at that. He’s never liked the fact Mum always helped me out when it came to animals. We only had so much space for strays at the vets, and unfortunately, most older animals find it harder to be homed. We usually make an ad in a paper or get friends to hassle parents. My sister, Lily, has two cats. One only has one eye and the other has three legs.

“She wouldn’t,” I gasp, wondering what I’m going to do with the three small rabbits that had been brought in last week. They’ve got two more weeks at the shelter, but after that, we either have to put them down or send them to a bigger shelter. It’s not in my nature to put a healthy animal down. It’s not why I became a vet.

“Oh, she would.” Max laughs and puts his phone away.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you guys to keep worrying or force me to move back home. And I certainly didn’t want Mark stinking up my sofa. I’m twenty-five, not five. You guys worry over us girls more than is necessary.”

“Because we love you,” Dad growls, his expression filled with hurt and annoyance.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him, tears filling my eyes at the disappointment in his.

“Look, I didn’t mean to get her into shit. I just wanted you to know I’m not here to fuck her over.” He holds his hands out, speaking slowly to calm the situation.

“Or fuck her,” Max snaps. “Cause cop or not, I’ll break your legs. We’ve already had a pregnancy scare.”

Oh, my god.

He did not just say that.

I can’t even look at Beau. I’m dying of shame and ready to call Hayden, to get him back for doing this to me. If there’s one thing Max can’t control in his life, it’s his wild daughter. She also loves getting him back for all the embarrassing shit he pulls on us.

“Noted.” He walks over to Malik, no doubt getting Noah’s address, as Dad walks over to me and pulls me into his arms.

“Squirt, you need to stop doing this to me. I’m old. You need to be open with us. I thought you could tell us anything.”

Hearing the hurt in his voice is painful. “I really am sorry, Dad. More than you’ll ever know. I just didn’t want you worrying even more over me. I promise to keep you informed… on important stuff,” I tell him, eyeing Beau.

His gaze flicks there too, and his shoulder sag. “Is he—are you two…” He rubs the back of his neck, trying to look anywhere but at me.

I want to giggle at his expression, but I’m mortified over where he’s going with the conversation. Heat spreads up my neck and I feel like my face is on fire.

“No, Dad, we, um… we—we’re neighbours,” I stutter out.

He sags in relief. “If he, you know, touches you,” he begins, pointing to my body, “remember what I taught you.”

I roll my eyes, giggling. “Dad, I’m twenty-five. I’m not a teenager anymore.”

“It still counts. If he makes a move, punch or knee him in the balls. Just don’t… you know, touch them,” he says, blushing.

I groan and close my eyes, before looking at him. “Dad, please shut up, or I’m calling Mum and telling her you’re the reason she was never chosen to volunteer for school events.”

He snorts. “He was eyeing your mum’s arse. She was wearing a wedding ring.”

“He was a teacher asking if she’d volunteer for the wild camp. You scared him so badly he pissed himself.”

“You said you’d take it to your grave,” he growls.

I smile sweetly. “And I will. If you stop interfering in that department. It’s awkward as hell.”

“It’s kept you a virgin for twenty-five years,” he yells, then stops short, his eyes wide and horrified as he breathes deeply.

I drop my head, utterly ashamed when it echoes around my walls.

“Well, this got awkward real quick. Let’s go before you blurt out more shit,” Max says, slapping Malik on the shoulder.

“Good going, Dad,” Mark snaps.

I do love my brother.

“Yeah, we really didn’t need to know that shit, but it’s good to know we don’t have to kill anyone… yet,” Aiden adds, narrowing his eyes on Beau.

I can’t even look at him.

If there was any chance of him being interested in me, it just died with Dad’s proclamation of my virginity.

And meeting only a quarter of my family.

“Sorry,” Dad grumbles, sounding sincere.

“Please, just go. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

He nods, looking tense, like he doesn’t want to go with things so awkward. He leans down and kisses me on my forehead.

“It was nice meeting ya,” Max says, and I turn to find him talking to Beau.

“Yeah, at least you didn’t scream at me.” Beau chuckles at the memory. I blush, knowing he’s referring to me and how we met.

They all look confused, but Uncle Max takes it in stride and shrugs. “I’m only a screamer with the wife.” With a wink, he walks out, patting Beau on the shoulder before he passes.

Beau chuckles under his breath, shaking his head as they all pile out.

I grab my brother’s jacket, pulling him back inside as he goes to leave. “Put them back. Now!”

“Put what back?” Aiden asks innocently.

I roll my eyes at him. “My cookies. Now, Aiden, otherwise I’ll never bake you a cake again.”

He rears back, hand to chest as he feigns being hurt. “You wouldn’t?”

“Oh, I would. They’re Beau’s cookies.”

Aiden turns, glaring daggers at Beau, before stomping over to the counter and putting my plate—hidden under his top—back. “I won’t forget this,” he snaps at Beau, who doesn’t even blink.

He follows Max out. Malik walks past next, rubbing my hair like I’m five again. Next is Mark, who leans down for a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug.

When it’s just me, my dad and Beau, I start to feel uncomfortable again. The air is tense.

“If you hurt her, I’ll do more than break your legs.”

“Dad, we’re just friends,” I yell, pushing him towards the door.

“Understood,” Beau grunts, not even correcting my dad on our non-relationship.

Dad stops me from pushing him out even more and pulls me into a hug. “I’ll find your necklace. But if I don’t, you won’t need it. You have me, baby girl, and always will. My love for you grows stronger every day. Necklace or not, nothing can change that.”

My eyes burn with unshed tears. “I know. I love you too.”

He holds me a bit longer before pulling back. “Let’s not tell your mum about the teacher, or me blurting out you’re a—you know,” he tells me, his voice low. “Or about tonight at all. She doesn’t need to know.”

“I make no promises. Now go, before you put your foot in your mouth. Again.”

He nods before giving me one last kiss and walking down the stairs. I shut my door, plastering myself against it, and close my eyes.

It’s only when I remember I have company do I open them, smiling sheepishly at Beau. He’s moved over to the counter and is leaning against it as he watches me in amusement.

“I’m sorry about my family. They can be a little… crazy and full on.”

He shrugs. “It’s fine. They seem like good people, and they love you.”

“They are. The best.” Then I remember why they showed up in the first place. “Are you going to report what you heard tonight?”

He grins, shaking his head. “Any respectable father would protect their daughter.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” I reply hesitantly.

He runs a hand down my hair, lingering near my shoulder, where he coils a piece around his finger. I shudder and step closer—a subconscious movement.

“I’m not on duty, Faith. Plus, I heard nothing. I’ll just say a tip came in with this address.”

He steps back but takes my hand and pulls me over to the couch.

I still can’t believe how comfortable I am with him, how it doesn’t feel like we met only a few days ago. Everything with him seems to flow easily.

“Now, come on, I want to see if there’s going to be a catfight between Brooke and Peyton.”

I laugh and fall down on the sofa next to him, not even tensing when he pulls me into his side.