Guilt pricked at me as I thought of the call earlier with my cousin. She had been so kind and concerned, but I had been awkward and stilted. No matter how hard I tried to let my walls down around her, I couldn’t seem to do it.
A knock sounded at my door.
“Come in.”
Beckett poked his head in. “Are you ditching me?”
I must’ve looked ridiculous, standing there with my arms wrapped around myself, frozen in time. “No. I was just thinking.”
Beckett moved into my space, grabbing the comforter and a few pillows off my bed. “About?”
“Everly.”
He led me out towards the landing. “She’s worried?”
“She always worries about me. I’m not sure how to ease her mind.”
Beckett tossed the bedding onto the shorter side of the couch. “Time. It’s the only thing that works. Time and her seeing you living your life.”
I sank onto the sectional, arranging the pillows and pulling the comforter around me. “Is that how you feel about Shiloh?”
Beckett flicked off the light. There was still a glow from the almost full moon outside, and it cast a golden warmth over his features as he slid onto his side of the couch. “Somewhat. It’s hard to see her struggle. It’s in all of our instincts to try to fix it.”
“But you can’t.”
Beckett turned onto his side. Our feet almost touched in the V of the couch. “No, we can’t. I think it’s stifling for her that we try.”
“I know how that feels.”
Beckett stilled. “Do I make you feel that way?”
“No.” It was the simple truth. “You make me feel…” I struggled to find the right words. “Accepted. But you challenge me at the same time. You think I can do more than anyone else does.”
“You can do anything.”
My mouth curved. “You really believe that, don’t you?”
The blue of Beckett’s eyes was barely discernable in the low light, yet it pinned me to the spot. “Addie, you made it through hell and came out the other side. You’re fighting for everything you want, even when it can feel impossibly hard. There’s no doubt in my mind that you can do whatever you set your mind to. I’m just glad you’re letting me come along for the ride.”
I poured the cheese onto the scrambled eggs and stirred. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this kind of buzz of energy in my body. Even glimpsing the boarded-up window and burned floor as I’d come downstairs this morning couldn’t douse it.
I’d slept better than I ever had before, and I hoped Beckett had, too. He’d still been softly snoring when the sun’s rays had pulled me from sleep. I lifted the eggs off the stove and divided them between two tortillas. I added bacon, black beans, and some pico de gallo.
Beckett’s epic shopping trips meant that I’d been able to be a little more adventurous in the kitchen. When I’d lived with my father, he’d wanted the same ten meals over and over again. Now, I was getting to stretch my culinary wings.
Today, that was breakfast burritos. I’d seen a recipe for them in a library book I’d checked out and had wanted to try them ever since. I tried the wrapping technique outlined in the book, but I was by no means an expert.
“What are you cooking? And please tell me I can have some.”
I grinned down at the plates. “Breakfast burritos.”
Beckett came up behind me, peering over my shoulder. “You are an actual angel from heaven, aren’t you?”
“I’d wait to try them before you say that. I’ve never made them before.” I carried the plates to the breakfast nook, setting them down.
“Everything you make is delicious.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and joined me at the table.
“Thank you.” The warmth of his praise spread through me. I’d never gotten kind words when I cooked for my father and his ranch hands. The best I could’ve hoped for was a grunt.