Battling Beckett Read online

  BATTLING BECKETT

  T. CHRISTENSEN

  Copyright © 2019 by T. Christensen

  All rights reserved.

  This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the Author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This is a work of fiction. Names of characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination and do not represent any persons, living or dead. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers.

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  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Epilogue

  A Message from the author

  ───────────────

  Chapter 1

  ───────────────

  “Don’t talk to me and don’t tell anyone you know me.” Beckett Dawson’s cold demand scraped along her skin.

  Her soon-to-be stepbrother usually spoke to her in a cold monotone. The threatening edge was new and made the nervous knot in her stomach tighten. The rest of her body sat motionless in the passenger seat.

  Greer Smith’s head was lowered and her shoulder-length brown hair concealed the side of her face. Her first instinct was to bite back at him, but she took some breaths to quell that notion. She needed to think before she acted.

  “Did you hear me?”

  Beckett’s sneered question had her tightening her hands into fists. She snuck a glance at him out of the corner of her eye. His chiseled jaw was locked and his bronze eyes were hidden behind aviators, but she knew they were cold and indifferent—the same way he had looked at her for the past two weeks.

  She drew another breath, lifted her head to look out the windshield, and concentrated on making sure her reply was calm and steady. “Yes. We don’t know each other.”

  Beckett’s response was to turn the music up to a bass-pounding, windshield-shaking level. Greer slowly let out the breath she had been holding, relieved they were back to ignoring each other. ──

  The plan had been to have her mom, Vivian, take her to her new school. But Vivian’s new fiancé, David Dawson, stunned everyone in the kitchen last night when he overruled.

  “That is ridiculous. Beckett is already going there. He will take Greer.”

  David continued eating, like he hadn’t just dropped a bomb.

  Vivian and Greer’s eyes had widened at each other before they swung toward Beckett’s rigid body. Vivian then turned back to David.

  “I can take Greer. I really don’t mind, David.” Vivian hastily assured her fiancé.

  David looked up, seemingly oblivious to the tension at the table. He leaned toward Vivian and cupped her cheek with one hand. “Honey, your work is in the opposite direction. Beckett doesn’t mind.” He pinned Becket with a razor-sharp look. “Do you Beckett?”

  Now here Greer was in a supple, black leather, bucket seat with white stitching that was amazingly comfortable. She thought all car seats were treated the same, she was wrong. Too bad she wasn’t enjoying it.

  The barely veiled hostility radiating from Beckett had been present since she and her mom had moved in two weeks ago. Being in a truck, a place she was unable to escape, was excruciating. She hadn’t moved a muscle since she had reluctantly entered the gleaming, black pickup truck. The air, as usual between them, was thick, but inside the confines of the truck, it was stifling.

  Luckily, her after-school job at The Coffee Shack was within walking distance from her new school. And since Beckett had football there would be no forced ridesharing after school.

  They were a couple of blocks from the start of the lush, green Oak High School campus when Beckett pulled over to the curb and shut the music off. Looking straight ahead, he said in a deadly serious voice, “Get out.”

  Greer looked around the busy, city corner. “Seriously?”

  The aviator lenses turned in her direction and she saw her incredulous face reflected.

  “If we don’t know each other, how would I explain you getting out of my truck?”

  She didn’t mind walking, it wasn’t far. She was just stunned. Wordlessly, she undid her seat belt and slid out of the truck to the ground. As soon as the door clicked shut, the glimmering black Mercedes truck shot forward and was soon out of sight.

  He actually did it. He drove away and left her. Greer didn’t know why she was surprised, but she was. He had left without a backward glance. She slid the backpack she was holding over one of her shoulders and started the walk to her new, elite private high school.

  Ten minutes later Greer was admiring the awning the big, old oak trees formed along the drive up to the school’s wrought iron gates. A week ago, Greer and her mom had entered the imposing gates for the first time.

  They had both gotten out of the car in front of the administration building and slowly took in the private high school she would be attending. Greer had lived in New Hampshire her entire life, but obviously only knew the middle-class sights. What was before them, was straight out of a movie.

  If Greer didn’t know better, she would swear they were in London. The school had a distinct old royal feel. The sprawling, Tudor-style school had rustic red bricks, imposing arches, and intimidating doors. Ivy was clinging to the building and the grounds were covered in artistic bush sculptures, colorful flowers, sprawling oak trees, and lush green grass as far as the eye could see. Off in the distance, she could make out the shape of a football stadium and she had seen tennis courts as they drove by the oak trees lining the road. Greer couldn’t believe they were in Manchester, New Hampshire.

  She had turned, wide-eyed, to her mom and whispered, “How much is this costing?”

  Her mom’s awed look disappeared, replaced by determination. Vivian looked over the top of her white Honda Accord and declared.

  “That is my job to worry about. All you need to worry about is taking advantage of everything this school offers. Being able to list Oak High on a college application gives you a leg up on other candidates.”

  She knew she shouldn’t have asked the next question burning in her, but she had to know. Ever since she could remember, her mom had preached about the importance of taking care of herself. ‘Never depend on a man.’ And now a mere two weeks after announcing her engagement, they had moved into David’s mansion and they were at one of the top private schools in the country. “Is David paying for this?”

  Vivian Smith never broke her gaze from Greer’s. “No. David got you in. I am paying for it.”

&
nbsp; Her mom was a paralegal. Even with David paying all of the other expenses, Greer knew the tuition still had to be a stretch for her. “I don’t have to go here, Mom. I’ll be fine at Public.”

  Her mom’s expression lightened and filled with love. “I know you would be, but I want this for you.”

  Greer wasn’t sure she wanted it for herself. She had never been the new kid at school, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to start as a senior in high school.

  She knew this was important to her mom and Vivian was right. Going to this school would look good on her college applications. So, she pasted a smiled on her face and said, “Okay, let’s go make this official.”

  Now that the first day was upon her, the closer her feet took her to campus the more her nerves ratcheted up. With each step more and more groups of students appeared. The ball in her stomach was gradually working its way up her throat. Her heart was fluttering like a hummingbird and she felt like she had just run a marathon instead of walking a couple of blocks. It was like she was walking toward a death sentence instead of school.

  Heads started turning her way. She pretended to be oblivious and tightened her grip on the strap of her backpack. Conversations came to a halt as she approached and then resumed with hushed whispers as she passed. The school had an enrollment of 1,200 for grades 9-12, and she had a feeling someone new in their midst was rare.

  The further she walked the more she realized she already stuck out like a sore thumb. The pit of her stomach fell and she had to concentrate on regulating her breathing. The one thing she didn’t think she had to worry about was what was making her stand out.

  Oak High had uniforms, but hers did not look anything like the other girls. Greer had chosen the ‘A’ line black skirt that fell above her knees. She had worn simple black canvas shoes, with a white polo.

  Every other girl had a formfitting micro skirt. The only thing their skirts had in common was they were black. Some were so short, Greer wasn’t sure how they would be able to sit.

  Both girls and boys were required to wear a white shirt with a collar. She had apparently missed the footnote that the girls had to wear button-down, white, sheer silk shirts, with the ends tied. All of them had enough buttons undone to reveal a glimpse of the lacy, brightly colored bra they had on.

  Heels were the only shoes she saw. They might have been ankle boots, thigh-high boots, stilettos, or any other type of shoes with a heel, but definitely no canvas.

  Greer gratefully stepped through the door of the administration building and felt her shoulders gradually ease down from her ears. She lingered as long as possible in the office, grateful for the reprieve from the stares and whispers. She wasn’t stupid enough to think she was done being the center of attention. Not only was she new, she stuck out like a fake diamond.

  ««« »»»

  With each morning class that passed she got fewer wide-eyed stares, but the whispers and glances were rampant. She was tempted to hide out in the library for lunch, but eventually, she would have to face the scariest place for any new student at a school, the lunchroom.

  The strategy was to pick something she wouldn’t have to stand in line for and quickly find a corner table—hopefully, a dark corner, but she wouldn’t be too picky. As soon as she turned the corner into the Dining Hall, she understood why it wasn’t called a cafeteria.

  There wasn’t one big line where everyone got the same food. It was like a buffet restaurant with different types of food at each station. Greer spotted a station with fruits and vegetables and snagged a green apple. She stopped at one of the in-wall coolers with a glass door and selected bottled water. With her lunch in hand, she went around the corner and stopped. This was definitely not a cafeteria—it was fine dining.

  Tall windows with Tudor arches lined three sides of the room and the view was the picturesque campus. Plush, burgundy carpet cushioned her feet. Wood tables, with white tablecloths, and upholstered floral cushioned chairs greeted her. Someone brushing her shoulder awakened her from her slack-jawed awe.

  Greer started scouring the rapidly filling room for an empty two-person table when she slammed into Beckett’s narrowed bronze eyes. Her breath came to a skittering halt. For once they weren’t radiating hostility, but this was equally as disconcerting. What was he thinking? It was as if he was studying her, sizing her up. But why? Was she in some sort of test that she didn’t know about? Panic started fluttering in her with the unknown.

  One of his friends elbowed him and Beckett’s attention left her. The breath she had been unaware she was holding left in a whoosh and she headed toward the first empty table she found. Gratefully, she sank down into the chair facing the window. Once her heartbeat was under control, and her hands were done shaking, she put earbuds in and picked up her phone. When her audiobook was playing, she closed her eyes and temporarily escaped from her new reality.

  ««« »»»

  The huge load from her shoulders magically disappeared as soon as she stepped on the other side of Oak High’s wrought iron gates. She had officially completed her first day. Only nine months to go. Greer used the abundance of the aged trees to walk behind to escape the notice of the Porches, Maseratis, and Mercedes racing by her.

  The work at The Coffee Shack was familiar and she sank into the routine. It was comforting to be in a place where no was staring at or judging her. Everyone was working or making small talk between lulls.

  When Lexi and Jenn stepped through the door, she scrambled around the counter and threw her arms around her best friends. It had only been a week since she had seen them, but it felt like years.

  “Whoa, girl, it’s good to see you, too!” Lexi whispered in her ear.

  Greer gave them a final squeeze and then broke away.

  “Thank you for coming.”

  Jenn shrugged. “We said we would. Besides we can’t resist your caramel lattes.”

  Greer laughed for the first time all day. “I’m going to find Greg and see if I can take my break. Find a seat and I’ll get our drinks. Iced or hot?”

  “Iced. Thanks, Greer!” Jenn gave her a wink and went to snag a booth at the back.

  “We can pay, Greer.” Lexi was more reserved, like Greer, both in personality and looks.

  Lexi and Greer found each other in the second grade. Neither one had jumped up to find a partner for their math game. After everyone else paired up they had drifted together. They had quietly worked together, and ever since, the two had been inseparable.

  Jenn had joined the duo in middle school. She was adventurous and outgoing, the exact opposite of Lexi and Greer. Frequently, Jenn talked Lexi and her into things they normally wouldn’t consider.

  Greer squeezed Lexi’s hand. “I know. I am just so happy to see you! It’s my treat. Sit!”

  Greer got her break and quickly made the drinks. She brought them over and noted the time. She needed this job and didn’t want to abuse her 15-minute break.

  Jenn put her pink lip-glossed lips on the straw and sucked down half the drink with one swallow. She moaned her appreciation. “I don’t know what you do, Greer, but this is the best.”

  “Thanks. Any good gossip at school?” Greer wanted a dose of the familiar, but her girls were having none of that. They both shook their heads at her.

  “Uh-uh, we don’t want to talk about us. You are living with Beckett Dawson and going to school at Oak High. We want to hear it all!” Jenn leaned in and waited.

  Greer looked at Jenn and marveled at how fresh she still looked, even after a whole day of school. “It would have been better if I were you.”

  Jenn’s eyebrows furrowed and Lexi’s eyes widened. Lexi asked what they were both thinking. “What are you talking about?”

  Greer took in Jenn’s beach blonde hair filled with loose curls. Her shiny brown eyes, high cheekbones, and lush lips. “You look like a model. How do you do that?”

  “Greer, you know I love makeup and fashion. I am prepping all day!”

  Lexi looked at Greer. “And
what does that have to do with your day?”

  “Everyone was like Jenn, only on steroids.” Greer shrugged, but she could see from the concerned etched on their faces she wasn’t fooling them.

  “Greer, you are gorgeous!”

  Greer smiled at Lexi’s immediate defense. She knew she wasn’t gorgeous, but she had never considered herself ugly. Greer went on to explain how all of the girls looked like they had just come off of a runway and looked at least 23.

  “Wow! Sounds like another world. All of them?”

  Greer nodded. “All of them.”

  “You know what you need to do, Greer?” Jenn’s excitement made her scared to ask.

  “What?”

  “Fight fire with fire!” Now she was literally jumping up and down at the table. “I will be your makeup artist and stylist! I can teach you to be one of them.”

  Greer had flashes of endless makeup lessons, eyebrow plucking, and uncomfortable clothes. She didn’t know if she had it in her, even if her brain was telling her it was a good idea. “Please, Greer! I know my blog would explode with your makeover!”

  Jenn had both hands clasped and under her chin, literally begging her. Greer felt herself weakening, but knew she had to set limits. Otherwise, Jenn would go overboard.

  “All right,” Greer gave in begrudgingly.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

  Jenn started clapping her hands and Greer could already see the wheels turning, so she quickly finished her thought before Jenn got out of control.

  “But,” Greer ignored Jenn’s downturned mouth and plowed on, “within reason. I won’t be able to sustain getting up every morning and spending a couple of hours getting ready.”

  The joy returned to Jenn’s face. “Of course! Can we start tonight?”

  “Give me a week or two Jenn.” She felt bad with Jenn’s crestfallen look, but she could only handle so much change in her life. She liked life to be consistent and predictable. Greer needed a little time for her new school to be ‘normal’ before she brought on more change.