Cherries & Cuts

Chapter 6

Beth sighed as she walked into the living room, trying to stay out of the way of the television as she put beers down for the men, trying not to keep Daryl's eyes for too long as she put his down. They hadn't gotten to say more than two words to each other since they'd shown up. They'd gone right to church and she'd had to come home and start getting things ready after running errands and now she was in the middle of dinner. They all thanked her before she headed back to the kitchen to check on everything. She wasn't sure if she was going to need all of the food she was making, but if the Charming Sons were anything like the Valley Springs ones then those boys could eat.

She checked the steaks she had in the broiler before turning around, planning on setting the table. She gasped and jumped, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Chibs standing there, leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed over his big chest. "Christ Chibs, you nearly gave me a heart attack." She moved to the cupboard where they kept the dishes and started pulling out enough.

"Sorry, darlin' didn't mean to." He walked over and took the small stack of plates from her, carrying them over to the table.

"Can I get you something?" she asked as she started to set the table. If anyone could say one thing about Beth Greene it was that she was the best damn host anyone had seen.

She could feel Chibs watching her ass he moved back to the stove. "Actually, there is." He walked over, his boots loud as they fell against the floor. Beth bit her lip glancing at him. She wasn't going to lie, Chibs scared her a bit. "Whatever is going on between you and Daryl needs to end."

Beth's world stopped as her heart jumped into her throat. How the hell had Chibs found out? "I don't know what you're talking about?"

"Don't even try princess, Daryl's already told me." He sighed and leaned against the counter. "He's like a brother to me. I don't want o see his cut get taken because he couldn't keep his dick in his pants."

Beth frowned, slowly stirring one of the pots. She didn't want to see that either. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to get hurt. "What are you going to do?"

"Nothing, as long as one of you ends it, soon."

Beth watched Chibs leave the kitchen. He was right, and she knew that. She'd known from the second she'd seen the cut on his back that she should have stayed away. She never should have given him her number. She never should have gone to dinner with him. She never should have had phone sex with him. Chibs was right. They couldn't keep this up forever; someone was bounds to find out sooner or later. Hell, Chibs knew and that was already one too many.

Besides, it wasn't like they were together. They never could be. He was going to go back to Charming once they'd helped her daddy deal with his Mayan problem. She'd never see him again. Chibs was right, someone was going to get hurt if this didn't end, most likely the two of them. She was just going to have to put a stop to it. Her mind made up and food on the table, Beth called the boys in for dinner.

…

Daryl wasn't entirely sure what was going on. Beth wouldn't look at him, wouldn't talk to him. At first he'd thought maybe she was just trying to protect their secret, but she wasn't answering his text messages either. He watched her go to bed hours ago, hoping maybe she'd text him once she was in her room, but he still got nothing. He was lying in bed, trying to wrack his brain for a reason.

That's when he remembered Chibs disappearing at one point before dinner. Daryl swore and scrubbed his hands over his face. He was going to kill that son of a bitch. He had no right talking to Beth. Daryl sighed, staring up at the ceiling. Chibs had done the right thing, even if Daryl didn't like it. He sighed and rolled over, staring at the wall separating him from Beth. He wanted to say goodbye but he knew that wasn't going to happen.

He pulled the covers over him and stared at his phone. God, he wished things were different. Wished he could just hold her, talk to her, but he couldn't. He was from Charming and she was the daughter of the Valley Springs president. He shook his head, a cynical smile on his lips. They were like a fucking modern day MC Romeo and Juliet.