Page 47 (1/2)

We sit with our ar while

When he pulls away, I know he’s had ti that side of hi we’re both a little frayed

He clears his throat "Hey, I’ve never told anyoneyou now because I believe everyone makes their own choices and your father, my father, they made theirs Don’t blame yourself Your father wouldn’t want that Is that why you didn’t quit when Wyatt’s harassing started? Some kind of need to succeed?"

I nod

"Hey, you are not a failure at anything Do you hear , but words escapedoor flies open "You finally decided to come home," Trent yells, and stops in his tracks when sees us "Oh, fk, sorry"

"You okay?" Ben whispers in my ear

"Yes," I whisper back I wipe away my tears and stand "Hi, you rins and his eyes, just like Ben’s, rove over me fro the side of his head

He rubs it with hand "What was that for?"

"You knohat it was for, kid"

I giggle Like uncle, like nephew Isn’t that a saying?

"Well, I’e, so I wanted to stop by and say good-bye"

Ben looks at hi "You know I hate to say this, but I’ Youtoo and you did proetables?" I make a face

"I ate Chinese for two days with Uncle Caleb while you disappeared"

"I didn’t disappear And where’s Caleb anyway?"

"He left you a note It’s in the kitchen"

"What’s it say? That he lovesaway for you," Trent jokes "No, I guess so came up at work, because he was called back early He said he’d be in touch when he could"

Ben pats the pocket of his jeans and then shrugs "He could have called me"

"We both decided we didn’t want to bother you"

He taps his head again I like seeing this side of Ben with his fa Bell how I had to tell you how to find her"

"Oh, do tell," I say

Ben glares at Trent and takes my hand "I owe this beautiful lady a tour When I’et us some flatbreads frorabs the re, butficus tree "It’s beautiful," I comment as we climb the stairs that lead to the second-floor balcony

Ben followsvery close I like hi here is perfect I can see why you can call it home so quickly This place reminds me why I hate my apartment"

He steps up so that we are nose to nose "Why?"

"It’s so s rooht"

"I can understand that Why don’t you ht above us "I thought I just hated living alone I never understood whyuntil now"

His hands coast down my sides "Let me show you my room"

"Please do but reer back and forth "So no monkey business" But honestly I want him, all of him Now But I knoe have to wait

"Like that’s what I had in s my hand

I squeeze his--hard

The door is open, so he steps aside I walk in and scan the gallery of graffiti-style artwork that lines the walls It’s just how I’d have pictured his roohs he starts walking us toward the bed "What do you , but it’s also got style"

Turning ainst mine, he lowers us to the bed and hovers over me "Go on"

I look up into his eyes, smell his familiar scent, feel his body, and I know--I have fallen for him I try to control h forlike this But the pull I feel toward hie, so er than I’ve felt for anyone

"Earth to S’belle, earth to S’belle Have you gone to heaven?" he laughs

I smirk at him and try to shove him away, but he doesn’t move "I don’t know I feel like it has a barefoot, carefree beach vibe that is all you"

His irl in ot me on your bed You don’t need to feed me any lines"

He raises himself up on his forearms "I’m not I’ve never had anyone here with me In fact, until you I haven’t been with anyone since March and I certainly never took anyone to heaven in these sheets," he adds with the biggest, baddest, devilish grin

I laugh hard and long because if I don’t I s for hiht Be rab his face in that way I know drives him crazy and crush ue, touch his body for hours I want to hear hio soon, so could you hurry it up?" Trent calls fro, I smile up at him

He shakes his head "I’d kick his ass out if he wasn’t leaving today"