Just One Scandal (The Kingston Family 2)

Chloe stood by the refrigerator. “I know I’m a guest, but I’d like to be useful and not take advantage of Beck’s hospitality. Can I get you something to eat or drink?” she asked Drew. “Let’s see what we have.” She opened the door and glanced inside.

“Chloe doesn’t have to serve you,” Beck said.

“I don’t mind.” She turned to face him and he shook his head.

“My brothers can get their own food or drink, but they didn’t come here to eat. Now that you’ve met my new houseguest, maybe you can head home?” Beck suggested.

Tripp stepped up beside Chloe and glanced into the fridge, pulling out a can of Diet Coke and popping the top. “Actually, I spoke to Mom and Dad this morning, and I wanted to fill you guys in. So when Drew said he was coming by, I wanted to join him.”

Chloe glanced at each of them. “I’m going to go back to my room and give you all some privacy. I just came out to tell you that I ordered clothes to be delivered here later today. Everything in my suitcase is for a honeymoon.” She folded her arms across her chest and her cheeks flushed pink. “It was nice to meet you both. Today. When I’m not drunk. Never mind.” She spun on her heel and walked out fast.

“Well. I hope you’re happy. You’ve embarrassed her.” Beck scowled, knowing he was going to have to apologize to her later.

But Tripp had said he was here about their parents, and Beck’s gut had been telling him something was wrong. “Now what’s going on with Mom and Dad?” Beck asked, gesturing for them to follow him into the more comfortable family room.

They settled in and Drew spoke first. “Sorry I jumped to conclusions about Chloe. I just wanted to make sure this wasn’t some kind of setup by her brother.”

“You’re paranoid,” Beck muttered. “Chill out, be nice to her and you’re forgiven.” He glanced at Tripp. “Spill it.”

Tripp leaned forward in his seat on the couch. “I called this morning and pushed them for answers because Drew was right. Dad does look like he lost weight, and he didn’t eat much of his favorite meal.”

Tripp was the doctor in the family. If he was worried, then Beck’s concern was warranted. “So what did they say?” he asked, turning his hands into fists and gripping hard.

“Dad has a colonoscopy next week. They didn’t want to say anything and worry us. The good news is he just started feeling crappy. He hasn’t put anything off, so if they find something, it’s probably early stages.” He glanced at Drew, who nodded before pinning Beck with a steady stare. “You heard me, right?”

“Yeah. I heard you.” Beck had a tendency to jump to worst-case scenarios when it came to health scares.

The summer before Whitney passed away, they’d spent a lot of time together making her never-ending lists. Tripp hadn’t been able to handle it and hadn’t spent the same kind of time with her that Beck had, while Drew had been volunteering at the public defender’s office to boost his academic resume for his ultimate goal of law school. Leaving in the fall, less than a month after Whitney had died, hadn’t been easy.

“Snap out of it,” Tripp said. “We don’t know anything, so don’t go spiraling into all the horrible possibilities. Go with what we know, which is he’s having a test next week. That’s all.”

Beck braced his hands on his thighs and rose to his feet. “You’re right. And I’m fine.” No need to tell them he was worried sick. They probably already knew and felt the same way.

They hung out and talked for another half an hour before saying their goodbyes. Waiting until he knew they were gone and on their way, Beck called his parents to gauge for himself what was going on and how his dad was doing.

* * *

Chloe hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on Beck and his brothers earlier. Unable to take feeling confined to a bedroom, she’d headed back out to the main part of the loft when she’d heard their voices.

She hadn’t caught much. Just their concern about Beck letting Chloe stay here. Because she was a Kingston. Once again, she was curious about Linc and Beck’s history and wondered if, at some point, she’d be able to ask one of them about it. She didn’t take his brother’s concerns personally.

If she let a stranger move in with her, her siblings would hit the roof, and if one of them brought an unknown woman into their place to live, she’d freak out, too. She was just glad Beck had family he was close with, like she did. Who knew? Maybe at some point she’d get to know Tripp and Drew and even win them over. She had a ways to go considering her behavior last night, she thought, cringing at the reminder.