Page 51 of Three Months Yesterday

Standing here, in the comfort of Beckett’s arms, I’m struck by the realization that I can’t remember the last time I was held like this—close with no expectation of anything else and no rush to be somewhere else.

Meadow moves back to us, nudging her nose at my sweater pocket once more. I laugh and release one side of Beckett’s sweater so I can stroke her muzzle.

“I don’t have anything else for you, sweet girl.”

“Let’s go for a ride,” Beckett blurts, causing me to pull away slightly to see his face.

“What?”

“Let’s go for a ride,” he repeats. “I don’t think I’ve seen you take either of them for a ride all week. I’m sure they need to stretch their legs.”

“Do you know how to ride?” My voice is coated in disbelief.

Maybe that’s not fair, but he’s the one who said he was following in my lead when he met the horses.

Beckett chuckles and smooths a piece of hair behind my ear, a twinkle in his eye. “I know the basics, so you’ll have to go easy on me, but I can ride.”

“How?”

“Still haven’t looked me up? Not even to hear my music?” His eyes bounce between mine, amazement painted across his features.

How many people have let him down, not following through on the things they’ve told him? How many people have used him for what he can do or provide for them?

“No. But I won’t lie and say I haven’t been tempted,” I tell him honestly.

I won’t be one of the people who lies or cheats him in any way. He deserves more people in his life who appreciate him for the person he is—not the fame he brings.

His smile brightens his entire face as his eyes meet mine and I’m glad I gave him the truth instead of hiding it.

“You have my permission to look me up. At the very least, I’d appreciate if you listened to some of my music so you can be prepared to hide your mortification if you ever hear me in real life,” he teases.

Laughing, I push at his chest and shake my head. “Mortification?” I scoff. “Beckett Stone, are you looking for an ego boost?”

“Who? Me? Never.”

My cheeks hurt as the smile stretches across my lips, and I melt farther into Beckett’s embrace.

There’s no doubt Beckett knows I’ve been avoiding him, and yet the way he teases me like the last week never happened—like we’re picking up right where we left off—feels natural, as if we’ve been in each other’s lives for far longer than two weeks.

I know there’s still so much for us to talk about, but like Beckett said, we’ve got time. There’s no need for us to figure everything out right now.

Instead, I’m just going to stop thinking about the what-ifs and focus on what’s actually happening in the moment.

“Come on.” Beckett frames my face and presses a quick kiss to my forehead. “Remind me how to saddle a horse and let’s go for a ride.”

I can’t deny Aiden’s warning has been floating through my mind nonstop. I want to say I’d never hurt anyone, let alone Madison, but the truth is that while it’d never be intentional, it could still happen. Especially after what happened last week at my apartment in New York.

Part of me knows I avoided Madison just as much as she avoided me this week. It’s the voice I don’t like listening to, but it’s also the most honest side.

If I were smarter—stronger—I’d leave town. Maybe not forever, but at least until the situation with my stalker’s resolved. The problem is I’m not strong enough. Not to walk away from the music flowing through my veins and not to walk away from my growing feelings for Madison.

How can I walk away from something that takes me back to a time where life felt exciting and new? Like a kid just finishing high school, having their whole life before them, and finally getting to go off and start experiencing everything it has to offer.

It’s like I died in that accident, only instead of my soul leaving my body and going to heaven or hell, I got trapped in limbo, moving through life on autopilot. But somehow I’ve been zapped back to life and have full control over everything I do again.

I don’t want to give that up, and even more, I don’t want to give up the place—or person—that had the magic touch.

Watching Madison let loose and enjoy the afternoon has been just as rejuvenating for me as it’s clearly been for her. The joy seeping from every inch of her being is infectious.