Just One Scandal (The Kingston Family 2)

“I know,” she said sadly.

“Hey, are you sure you can take care of him? Otherwise I can stay,” he offered, but he clearly was hoping he didn’t have to. He had one foot out the door already.

She smiled. “I’ll be fine. Besides, I owe him.”

Tripp laughed at that. “Okay, if you need anything, give one of us a call. Got your phone?”

She nodded. “It’s in the family room. I’ll get it for you.”

He typed his number into her cell and left.

Chloe leaned against the door and sighed. She didn’t know what kind of night she had ahead of her, if Beck would just sleep it off or wake up in the middle of the night. The one thing she was sure of was he wouldn’t make a fool of himself the way she had the night of her non-wedding.

After setting the alarm, she headed back to the bedroom to take care of him.

Chapter Eleven

Beck’s head pounded like someone played the drums inside his skull. Groaning, he rolled over, immediately regretting the motion. What the fuck had he done last night?

He blinked and his bedroom came into focus. “Thank God.” He wasn’t in a stranger’s bed. Given how he felt this morning and how little he remembered about the evening before, he counted himself damned lucky.

As he lay there contemplating how he’d manage to get up for Advil and water, the events of yesterday came back to him, and he remembered his father’s surgery. He reached for the nightstand, where he always kept his phone, and the pounding in his head stopped him. “Shit.”

“You’re up?” Chloe’s familiar voice asked.

“Barely.” He couldn’t even open his eyes to face her, the throbbing was so bad.

“Here. I have Advil I found in your bathroom and a glass of orange juice. Think you can sit up and take them?”

“Yeah. I’ll manage.” He inched his head up and pushed himself up until he was leaning back against the headboard. He peeled his eyes open and met her worried gaze.

“You didn’t move once Tripp got you onto the bed,” she said, holding out the pills and glass. “Here.”

He realized he was still in his clothes from yesterday. A glance told him so was she. Accepting the medication, he swallowed both with the juice, drinking slowly, because his stomach was doing somersaults and he didn’t want to throw up.

“Thanks,” he said, handing her back the glass. She placed it on a tissue on his nightstand. “How’s my father?”

Though he’d needed time alone, getting drunk was fucking stupid because he had no idea how his dad was doing after surgery. Jesus, he was so pissed at himself.

She swallowed hard, obviously worried about his reaction.

“Just tell me,” he said, then, catching his angry, misdirected tone, modulated his voice. “Please.”

“Well, I’m not sure what you processed yesterday, but despite the change in stages, they’re very optimistic. And before you say another word, everyone in your family is on board with the news they heard.” She lowered herself onto the bed and sat beside him. “Everyone hopes you’ll come to feel the same way. Your dad needs your support, not worrying about you because you’re upset about him.”

He nodded. “I know. I was an ass.”

She sighed. “No, you were upset and it’s understandable. Now you had your night, pull it together and go visit him,” she said.

He grinned at her no-nonsense tone.

“What’s so funny?”

“Our roles have reversed. You’re taking care of me.” If only he didn’t like it so much.

She looked at him warily. “That’s what you do when you love someone, Beck.”

He stared at her in shock, waiting for her to take back her words, but she didn’t. She stared at him, that damaging phrase dangling between them.

“Chloe, no.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Oh? You’re going to tell me what I can and can’t feel? I have enough of that with my brothers.”

He swallowed hard, but his mouth was dry like cotton and his lips almost stuck together. “You don’t love me, Chloe.” If he said it enough times, maybe he’d convince her. Then this panic running through his veins would disappear and they could go back to the way things had been before.

“You can’t tell me what I feel,” she repeated, rising to her feet. Arms wrapped around herself, he saw how much he’d hurt her, but he had to make her understand.

“Chloe, I rescued you after you were rejected by your fiancé. We had fun together. I was there to cheer you on and watch as you started to rebuild your life. But I was just the right guy at the right time to make you feel good. But that’s not love. It’s rebound.”

She stared at him with tears in her eyes. “Good to know how you feel, Beck. You realize that even if you aren’t in love with me, if you keep pushing people away, you’re facing a pretty lonely life.” She turned and walked out, pulling the door shut behind her.