"Becks?"
"The one and only," Becca confirmed, ducking out from beneath the weight of Jay's arm around her shoulders, and only hesitating a moment before accepting the sensation of Nate's arms tugging her into an embrace, instead. For a moment, she was almost paralyzed by the sudden sting of tears at the backs of her eyes, her teeth digging into her lower lip as she fought against the memory of sobbing against a younger Nate's shoulder after a failed attempt at copying Jay's efforts to climb the neighbor's tree resulted in an almost immediate fall, and a fractured arm to boot. She remembered wanting to mimic her brothers in nearly every respect, just as much as she remembered Nate never seeming to mind, sometimes even aiding in her efforts, much to Jay's, and their parents' chagrin. But of course she could hardly afford to become too distracted by such thoughts now, her jaw tightening as she resisted the urge to fist her hands in the back of Nate's shirt, choosing instead to pull back just as he broke the momentary silence between them with an inquiry she honestly should have seen coming from a mile away.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Around."
"Around?" Nate repeated, the incredulity that was so apparent in his expression forcing Becca to avert her eyes, pulling away from him, and turning towards the sofa to perch on the arm instead, "That's all you've got?"
"That a problem?" Becca retorted, folding her arms across her chest, and trying to ignore the regret that clenched itself around her chest at resorting to bravado to keep both of her brother's at arm's length when all she really wanted to do was run to them with her problems like she always had before. But she couldn't drag them into her mess this time. Not when they already had so many other things on their plate.
She knew she needed to be the girl her father raised her to be, now. Not a quitter.
A fighter.
"No. It's not a problem."
"Good."
"How long are you staying?"
"I'm not-I don't need to stay, Nate."
"You can," Nate pressed, somehow managing to convey true sincerity even in spite of the fact that he had not said it outright. Once again, Becca was forced to recognize how her brother could manage to say so much in so few words. But in spite of the slight lump in her throat in response to the thought of being beholden to Nate and Jay at all, Becca found she lacked the wherewithal to deny the offer outright, instead opting for silence even though she knew a remark like the one Jay made next would be coming her way, all along.
"Think her not saying anything means yes, little bro."
"Actually, it means I was thinking. I understand if you're not familiar with the process."
"Oh, there she is," Jay laughed, once again moving to stand at Becca's side, and snaking his arm around her shoulders to pull her into a one-armed embrace for the second time that day, "Was wondering when you were going to take the bait."
"Maybe you shouldn't be wondering too much. Might end up in over your head."
"Not a chance, Becks. Not a chance."
"Suit yourself," Becca quipped, using her current vantage point to nudge Jay between the ribs with her elbow, and then ducking away as he almost immediately moved to retaliate.
"Still hitting a man when he's not expecting it, I see."
"Leave her alone, Jay. Maybe she just doesn't want you hanging all over her all the time," Nate suggested, one corner of his mouth twitching up into a smile as Becca nodded almost immediately in response, and turned towards Jay to back him up.
"He's right, you know. Not every girl likes that sort of thing."
"Maybe you should do your big brother a favor and tell him what you do like, then."
"A drink might be nice."
"Nate, is she trying to steal our alcohol?"
"It seems like it, yeah."
"You both know you're happy to share," Becca said, flopping down onto the sofa cushions instead of remaining perched on the arm, and quirking a brow at Jay, in particular, before crossing her arms over her chest and goading him again, "Tequila?"
"If the lady desires it."
"The lady does."
"Well then, your wish is my command," Jay agreed, the obviously over-done bow he managed as he turned to head into the kitchen prompting Becca to laugh, while Nate moved to sit beside her on the sofa, his arm brushing against her own as he spoke after ensuring their older brother was no longer in hearing range.
"Dad know you're back yet?"
"No," Becca replied, frowning as she averted her gaze to where her fingers were picking at a stray thread on her jeans, and biting into her lower lip for a moment before going on, "Not so sure he'd want to."
"I kind of think he would," Nate countered, aware of the look Becca sent his way in response, and yet choosing to ignore it altogether in favor of persisting, "When was the last time you two even saw each other?"
"Probably a year ago."
"Just like Jay, then."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. No fights in that time, either."
"Wow," Becca exhaled, momentarily distracted from her own troubles in light of what Nate was telling her, though somehow, she wasn't all that surprised that Alvey had somehow found a way to cut Jay off at the knees given the tension that had always been on and off b between them, "How's he handling that?"
"How do you think?"
Pursing her lips as she gathered exactly what it must have been like for her brother to be barred from the gym, and for a year to boot, Becca slumped back against the sofa cushions, her head lolling back until it thudded gently against the wall behind her. An exhausted sigh escaped not long after, her gaze focusing on the ceiling tiles despite being fully aware of Nate's curious gaze watching her, whether she wanted him to or not. And although she was still somewhat appreciative of the fact that it seemed she had not been the only one on their father's shit list, Becca still hated the idea of either of her brothers being estranged from the man who had taught them all he knew.
With a mother more often than not in the wind, Alvey was essentially all they had, outside of one another.
They ought to be able to count on him, but apparently that was not always going to be the case.
Doing as best she could to shake herself from those thoughts, however, Becca diverted her attention back to Jay as he entered with two glasses, and a bottle of tequila in tow, her expression turning curious as she watched him set the paraphernalia on the table before the sofa, and leaned forward to place both elbows upon her knees.
"Last I checked, there were three of us here, Jay."
"Nate, here, can't drink. Someone has a big fight in four days."
"Technically, three and a half, now," Nate corrected, watching as Jay poured the glasses nearly to the brim with tequila, and nudged one towards Becca while simultaneously taking a sip of the remaining glass for himself, "Empty calories are a no-go."
"How much do you need to cut?"
"Twenty."
"Ouch," Becca winced, throwing back the tequila in just a few gulps, and regarding her brother's with a raised brow as soon as she realized they were eyeing her with what appeared to be a combination of suspicion and amusement, and hurried to amend her apparently suspicious rapid-fire drinking with a ready quip, "What? I was drinking for two. Solidarity with Nate and all that."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
"It's true!"
"Okay. I'll make you a deal, then," Jay began, eyeing Becca with a devious grin, and reaching for the bottle of tequila to pour her another drink before going on, "I'll ignore the downing tequila like a fish thing if you promise me one thing in return."
"What's that?"
"You're staying with me and Nate for as long as you need. No questions asked."
Though she was not entirely prepared to believe that Jay would not eventually break that promise of avoiding any questions as to her reasons for coming here to begin with, Becca would have been a fool to pretend that a place to lie low was not exactly what she needed…
If nothing else, maybe being with at least a portion of her family again would give her the fortitude she needed to move on.
…
Groaning as the sound of a blender whirring to life effectively dragged her back to the waking world whether she wanted to be there or not, Becca ran a hand across groggy features, and forced herself up on an elbow to squint half-heartedly at the clock beside her bed. Another groan escaped as she realized the time, her body slumping backwards until she was on her back against the mattress, her arms splayed out on either side of her torso.
07:30 AM.
This was just inhumane…
With the blender echoing in her ears, though, Becca knew it would be highly unlikely for her to fall asleep again, her body shifting until she could swing her feet over the edge of the bed, and place her feet flat beneath her on the floor. Forcing herself to stand, she shuffled towards the door, opening it and padding down the hall towards the kitchen while one hand lifted to cover her mouth in a yawn. In next to no time at all, she came to lean against the doorframe, watching Nate as he poured the contents of the blender into a glass and took a sip in the same motion. And although she still wanted to grouse about being woken so early, Becca resisted, instead sending her brother a tired smile as he looked her way, her arms folding across her chest as she fought against another yawn, and Nate took her silence as leave to speak, himself.
"You want one?"
"I'm good, thanks."
"Okay," Nate relented, moving to take a seat at the small table, and finding himself rather more than pleased that it was not long before Becca was moving to do the same, "I'm headed to the gym in a bit, if you want to come with."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Becca disagreed, dragging her fingers through her hair to get it away from her face, while she simultaneously leaned forward to place her elbows upon the table, the fingers of her free hand picking at the edge of the placemat before her as she attempted to elaborate as best she could, "You know how he gets about distractions before a fight."
"You're not a distraction, Becks."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
"You're not," Nate pressed, ignoring his sister's skeptical expression, and taking another sip of the beverage he held before going on, "You're my sister. I want you there."
"To do what, exactly?"
"I don't know. Maybe-maybe help me convince Dad to let Jay start training again?"
"Wow. Nothing like pinning all of your hopes on me when you shouldn't be," Becca teased, nudging Nate's shin with her bare toes, and smiling a bit as she realized the soft gust of air that escaped him was, in all likelihood, a laugh, "What makes you think I can help you, there?"
"If he's going to listen to anyone, it's got to be you."
"Maybe a few years ago. Not so much, right now."
"What exactly drove you two apart?"
"Would you believe me if I said I couldn't pinpoint the exact moment?"
"I'd say it sounded familiar," Nate acknowledged, leaning back until the chair he occupied balanced on two legs, his gaze drifting towards the small photograph attached by two magnets to the refrigerator door, and managing another soft laugh in response, "You know that picture was probably the last time all four of us were together?"
"I remember," Becca said, allowing her own gaze to drift towards the picture in question, and hoping the pang of guilt that ate away at her would not make itself known in her expression, "Dad's birthday?"
"Yours, actually."
"Oh."
"I think he'll be happier to see you than you think," Nate encouraged, aware of Becca's apparent apprehension, and nudging her shin beneath the table as she had done to him mere moments ago, "Unless you've started selling crank, or running a prostitution ring."
"Damn, you've got me. How'd you figure it out?"
"Lucky guess."
"Well, I haven't done any of that. At least not yet, anyway," Becca assured, shifting just a bit in the chair she occupied, and frowning at the thought that Nate may very well be right, whether she wanted to own up to that fact or not, "We didn't exactly part on good terms, Nate. That's why I haven't really been around."
"I think there's more to it than that."
"Really?"
"Jay's not the only one that can read the room, you know," Nate shrugged, downing the last of his smoothie and pushing back from the table to carry the now empty glass over toward the sink, "I think I know you better than you're giving me credit for."
"Wow. Who turned you into a philosopher?"
"I'm being serious, Becks."
"I know. I do," Becca admitted, hating herself for the lingering fear that had her hesitating over the prospect of facing her father, and yet finding that she was entirely incapable of overcoming it, entirely, regardless, "What if I-what if I came to the fight, instead? I'd still be there for you, and maybe Dad would be in a better mood. You know. If you win."
"Right. Put all the pressure on me," Nate quipped, unable to entirely resist the grin that tugged the corners of his mouth up in a smile, no matter how he could recognize that something more than just the prospect of seeing Alvey again was holding her back, "I'll take that deal. You'd better not back out, though."
"Come on, Nate, it's me," Becca began, moving to stand, herself, and following after Nate until she could lean against the counter while he rinsed the glass he had been drinking from.
"When have I ever done a thing like that?"
Whether she really wanted to or not, it seemed Becca would eventually have to face her father, and she could only hope that a victory for Nate would perhaps make him more receptive, in the long run.
…
Hey there, lovelies! And welcome to chapter two in Becca's tale! I can honestly say this one kind of caught me by surprise, especially since I appear to have been on a Magnificent Seven kick prior to this point in the week. But hopefully none of you mind that little development too much? I know Becks and Ryan haven't come face to face yet, but I promise next chapter they will!
As always, my heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you that has taken the time to read, follow, favorite and review this story thus far (and special thanks to phoward for such a lovely review last time around, AND for being so patient with all of my random ideas!) I truly do appreciate the support, and I hope everyone enjoys this installment as much as the last!
Until next time, my darlings…
MOMM