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I start to disconnect and lose grip on reality when I hear the door open. I can’t tell if I’m alone or not; it’s just the panic.
“Get everyone out,” Beckett says from somewhere around me.
“Got it,” Ace says
“Turn the lights down,” Beckett says, gently pulling me into his lap. I curl into him as I cry, and he holds me tightly as he sits on the floor. The room dims, and he kisses my head before sitting me up to take my face between his hands.
“I’m sorry,” I whimper. “I don’t know… I tried to… I didn’t…”
“Shhh, Sia. Just breathe,” Beckett says gently. “I am so sorry that we scared you.”
“It just… I don’t know what happened. Everything was fine. And then she…”
“Mason and I have a history that we need to work out. It’s complicated, but it shouldn’t affect you,” Beckett says. “He and I will talk through that and find a middle ground somewhere so we can get along and avoid situations like that.”
“Why would she hug both of you knowing it would cause problems?” I sniff.
“I don’t know,” Beckett admits. “But I swear to you right now, Mason and I will talk through this. It’s been a long time coming.”
“Why?” I ask.
“Because you are more important than any stupid choice he and I have made,” Beckett says. “We will make it work, and you won’t have to see that again. Okay?”
“Bella talked to her, apparently,” Mason says. I turn and look at my brother, and he looks absolutely heartbroken. I get up and go to him, letting him hug me. “I’m sorry, Sierra. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there.”
“It’s okay,” I whisper.
“It’s not,” he says, sitting back to look at me. “We all watched you drift away, and no one stopped it. You needed help, and no one was there for you. I’ll spend the rest of my life apologizing if that means I never have to see you scared of me again.”
“I just need you two to be friends,” I say quietly. “I’m not saying pretend, but… I can’t have you two fighting.”
“We will,” Mason says. “Not like either of us are going to be fucking with her now anyway.”
“Amen to that,” Beckett mutters.
“You both fucked Kate?” I ask, and Mason nods. “Surely you two aren’t that fucking stupid.”
“Ow, Sia. Damn,” Mason laughs.
“Kate loves attention. She fucking thrives on drama. She’s always been like that,” I say. “You two seriously fought over a bitch that hardly fills out a bra?”
“Alright, that one stung a little,” Beckett chuckles before stepping forward and offering his hand to Mason. “For Sierra?”
“For Sierra,” Mason says, shaking his hand.
“Now, maybe next time, make sure you aren’t both fucking the same chick,” I say.
“Yeah… we will literally never sleep with the same woman again,” Mason says, glancing at Beckett. “But he sure does have good taste in women.”
I get the feeling Mason means something completely different than what he actually says. Beckett seems to understand it, too, because neither of them laughs. Whatever passes between them lasts only a second before it's gone, and I decide not to dig for a meaning that clearly isn't mine to know.
“Is it okay if I go shower?” I ask Beckett.
“You don’t have to ask, Sierra,” Beckett reminds me. “We will be here. Just let us know if you need anything.”
Chapter Eight
Beckett
