Becca.
Four days passed without another word from Jas.
Our conversation weighed on my mind a lot, but I found myself busy doing other things to keep myself preoccupied, whether it was enjoying drinks and dinner with Allegra and Neal or simply even just taking ti for myself.
I had wondered if Miami was going to leave a nasty taste in my mouth, but in reality, it wasn’t. I simply had been too caught up in bullshit to have fun.
Walking down to the cafe near the apartnt building, I looked forward to the breakfast tea latte they offered and a blueberry muffin. I was an addict for caffeine, and considering I had been so preoccupied lately, my recurring headaches ended up resulting from no caffeine.
Sothing I would make up for by the cup full–or twenty.
As the door chid, I walked in to spot the usual bright, cheerful barista. “Becca... your usual sweetie?” she asked with a smile.
“Yes,” I laughed. “Am I that obvious?”
“Oh, sweetie, you are the only person I know that orders that drink.”
Raising my brows I gave a tight smile. “Well, people just don’t have good taste then.”
“Becca!” A familiar voice called out, and turning, I spotted Neal walking towards .
“What are you doing here?” He had left yesterday for so business, and I hadn’t expected that he would be back so soon.
I had honestly thought he was going back to New York and not sticking around Miami.
“Just got back an hour ago and needed a ‘pick up,’” he chuckled. “You too?”
Furrowing my brow in confusion, he gestured to the latte now sitting on the counter.
“Oh! Yes,” I giggled. “Sorry, not fully with it yet.”
“No problem. I know how that is. I’m exhausted and ready to go ho soon.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think you were coming back to Miami.” I took my muffin and latte and watched him follow to a small cafe table.
“I wasn’t going to, but I only had to go over to Tampa, so I drove. I will head out tomorrow night back to New York. Don’t worry though, I have a flight for you if you want?”
“Neal...” I laughed. “You don’t have to take care of , but thank you for the offer.”
Since everything with the gala, Neal had been very sweet. Always paying the bill and being more than helpful in giving information on places to live when I got back to school.
He was a really nice guy, and I was appreciative, but he confused .
There was sothing about him that was conflicting, but I tried to overlook it as him just simply being a very busy man with a good heart.
“I know I don’t have to, Rebecca. I just want to make sure you’re okay. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t help to look out for a pretty woman?”
“You’re sweet,” I replied, rolling my eyes.
A flash of light out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, and looking down, I noticed a text ssage ca through and frowned.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as my eyes t his briefly, and I forced a smile, shaking my head.
“Nothing, just a text from soone.”
“Are you not going to open it?” he asked. “I can leave if you want to.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s from Tally.”
His eyes widened as his lips ford an ‘O.’ “The she-devil herself. I have to say... she was very persistent at the gala to gain my favor.”
Having taken a sip of my drink when he said that, I snorted, and caused myself to choke as laughter escaped . “Oh, my god, yes. Too bad for her you bat for the other team.”
“Becca...” Neal smirked. “I’m not just into n.”
Speechless was sothing I never thought I would find myself with Neal. He was a straightforward person, and to hear him say this now surprised .
“What do you an? Allegra said you were gay.”
Laughter escaped him as he nodded, “Yes, I’m sure she did. However, that’s because I want her to think that. I like both n and won. I just don’t want her trying to throw won at so that I can settle down.”
“I’m sorry, I know this may be personal, but... don’t you want to settle down? Have kids and a huge family?” I asked him out of curiosity.
“Of course I do, one day. Right now, though, it wouldn’t be good because I’m always traveling for work. Partners don’t want soone who is always gone, and I refuse to put that burden on soone. So, if it happens one day, then it does. If not, then so be it.”
“That’s very considerate of you,” I replied after a mont of staring at him.
I had never heard a man say sothing sweet like that. He was taking his future spouse into consideration without ever knowing them.
“Considerate seems to be my middle na lately,” he chuckled as his eyes gazed at my phone again, watching it light up.
As much as I wanted to be drama free, I was very curious to know what Tally was saying, and rolling his eyes, he snatched my phone and opened it.
“Neal, what are you doing?” I said, trying to take my phone back, only to have him hold it out of reach.
“Look, you are obviously too nervous to see what she has to say, and the suspense is killing , so I will read it for you.”
“Oh, Jesus,” I laughed. “You’re just like your sister. I hope you know that.”
He was silent for a mont as he scrolled through the text, and then his eyes lifted to et mine. I wasn’t sure what the look was that he was giving , but slowly the corner of his lips turned up into a smirk.
“Seems the she-devil wants to et up with you to talk.” He held my phone out to .
“What?” I said with shock. “No way... what the hell would she want to talk about?”
Sure enough, looking at my phone, I couldn’t believe my eyes at the ssage.
‘Becca, I know things have been bad between us lately, but I want to et up and talk. My mom was out of line with how she acted, and I’m done with her bullshit. I’m sorry for flipping out, but it was a lot. I want us to be the way we were before. Will you et to talk?’
Reading the ssage a few tis, I sat there hesitant to believe what she was saying was honest. Tally was not the type of person to apologize, and even though she and I had once been close, we weren’t anymore.
“What are you going to do?” Neal asked with a concerned look upon his face.
“Honestly, I have no idea. I’m curious, but I know she tends to be full of shit, as well,” I replied, setting my phone down.
How was I supposed to even consider eting her with everything that had happened?
“You could always just go to see if she is being honest.... Either way, it can help you get closer. Of course, that is completely up to you.”
Neal had a point.
I was curious, and if I went, that ant I could gain closure on this issue between us. Even if I wasn’t entirely in the wrong. “Maybe I should.”
Picking up my phone, I took a deep breath and typed.
‘I’m surprised to hear from you. How do I know this isn’t a trap?’
It was the one thing I wasn’t certain of, and to be honest, I wouldn’t put it past her to do sothing like that. After a mont, the ssage turned from delivered to read.
‘Things changed, Becca, and I see now how f*cked up all this has been. My mom is crazy, and when she told about threatening you, I was done with her. It’s one thing to make comnts, but to ruin soone’s life over a man who doesn’t want you... it’s pathetic.’
“What’s she saying?” Neal said, causing to look up at him with a smile.
“She’s trying to convince that this isn’t a trap, and she thinks her mother’s ssed up,” I replied, causing him to smirk.
“She isn’t wrong about that. That woman is nuts.”
‘Fine. Where am I eting you? You’re ho?’
I was out of my mind for agreeing to this, and deep down, my stomach turned with anticipation. It was going to end badly. I just had that gut feeling, but if I was going to accept everything that had happened here this sumr, I had to do this.
I had to confront her and hash this out. At least then I wouldn’t have regrets.
‘No. I’m staying at the beach house. Dad and I needed ti apart. Will you et here tomorrow? We can have drinks and talk about everything.’
Drinks. When was there a ti when Tally didn’t drink?
Sighing, I replied. ‘See you then.’
“Well, that’s that. Guess I’m walking into hell tomorrow.”
I stood, and Neal joined as we grabbed our things and made our way outside of the cafe. “You’re doing the right thing,” he said, nudging with his shoulder.
“I’m glad you think so.” Before smiling, I chuckled, “I hope I don’t regret this.”
“At least this way you won’t regret not doing it,” he replied with a pointed look.
I loved the analogy he used to try and see the bright side of things. He may have had a point, but I was literally walking into what I said I wouldn’t.
“As much as I want to think positively about this, I can’t. I have known this girl since I was eleven, and she is anything but nice. Granted, we always had an understanding, but it still isn’t in her character to act like this.”
The last ti I had seen her act like this was our freshman year of college, and that was when lissa Ray had stolen Tally’s favorite dress and cut it up at a sorority party. That sa party, Tally screwed lissa’s long ti boyfriend in the pool in front of everyone.
Just to make a point that she can take anything from anyone.
Tally didn’t care what people thought about her, and she didn’t have many true friends.
I was the only one.... The others just wanted her for her money and connections.
“Life has a way of making things happen for a reason. Have so faith,” Neal said, glancing at . “If things get rough, you can leave with tomorrow night.”
“Oh, how romantic?” I said, rolling my eyes, causing us both to laugh.
However, I may just take him up on that offer if shit hits the fan.
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