I have to admit, when Laurel suggested Charades I was a little uncertain. I don’t like being in front of a group of people acting like a fool. That’s what I assumed it would be like, how I thought it would feel, but with the ability to add basic words and topics to the clues, Ashton and I have racked up a few points of our own and I’m having fun.
Now it’s Ben and Laurel’s turn. For people who have played this game a lot and as partners, they aren’t all that great. I expected them to run away with the lead right away, but they didn’t.
“Okay, Benny boy, let’s do this. I feel good about this round,” Laurel shouts.
Benny boy? That makes me cringe and Ashton looks at me and rolls her eyes. We both share a laugh before turning our attention back to Laurel.
Laurel stands at the front of the room and grabs a piece of paper. She holds up one finger to indicate it’s one word. Laurel begins her movements and I have no clue what she’s doing. It’s almost like she’s tightening a rope.
“Bar!” Ben shouts and she high fives him.
I’m not sure how he got that, but whatever. This goes on for three more clues – whiskey, crying, phone. They are rolling through these clues when Ashton leans over and whispers to me. “I think they’ve been sandbagging; they’re doing too good now.”
I nod in agreement. The fact that Ben and Laurel are so in sync makes those uneasy feelings reappear. I find it difficult to look at them; jealousy is a crap feeling. Then I hear the next few words and my attention is drawn back to them. Selfie. Lake. Rocks. Running. I realize then that Ben is looking at me. He’s not looking at Laurel at all.
“These are most random words ever,” Ashton declares, leaning back in a huff. I do the opposite and move to the edge of my seat.
“Next word, Ben,” Jameson says, handing Laurel another slip of paper.
Smiling and looking straight at me instead of at his partner, Ben says quietly, “Whiskey.” Jameson hands her another paper. “Honey.”
I feel the lump forming in the throat. My heart is in in my stomach, palms wet, warmth spreading through every pore of my skin. Another slip of paper.
“Heart.”
I audibly take in air.
“What’s happening?” Ashton asks, sitting up and realizing Ben isn’t looking at Laurel but is giving answers.
Another clue.
“Forever.”
The first tear falls. I look at everyone in the room. Paul and Patty are holding hands and both have tears in their eyes. Jameson has a huge smile on his face and nods in my direction. I look to Laurel, who is freely crying and smiles at me. I look up to Ben as Jameson holds up another slip of paper and lets it fall to the ground.
“Always.”
I turn to Ashton, who looks confused and, for a moment, I feel horrible for what is about to happen. I may be sacrificing the single most important relationship in my life to date.
“Piper? Why are you crying? What the hell is happening around here?”
“Ashton, remember what you told me at my house the other night?”
“Uh, not really. We talk about all kinds of shit. You’re freaking me out. Oh my God, is someone dying?”
“No, Ashton. I told you I would tell you before it happened. I didn’t do that before and I’m sorry. But, I’m doing it now.”
“Okay seriously, what are you talking about?”
“I’m going to kiss your brother,” I say before I stand to walk toward Ben. I don’t make it two steps before he’s in front of me.
“Piper, I’m tired of being patient. I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“Thank Jesus,” is all I hear before he scoops me up and kisses me. This isn’t a kiss with any doubt. This is a kiss of promises and forever. A kiss by the man I have loved all of my life and the only man I want to spend the rest of it with.
I hear a gasp and commotion behind me, but I’m too wrapped up in this moment to even care. The kiss goes on for what feels like forever and equally not long enough. That’s how it is with him. Everything feels like it can go on forever and yet it’s never enough time.
He puts me down and does his thing with my hair. Gosh, I’ve missed that. I lean into his hand and he places another chaste kiss to my lips.
“Really?” he asks.
“Really. I’m sorry it took me so long to come around.”
“Don’t ever apologize for being true to yourself. I’m sorry I did it this way, but it was the only way I could guarantee you wouldn’t shut me out again. I do love you, baby.”
“I know.” He raises a brow at me. “I do, Ben. I know you love me. I believe you. And I trust you.” He kisses me again when we hear a throat clear and turn to see Paul standing there.
“Kids, while we couldn’t be happier for you and glad you’ve found one another, there seems to be a little issue in the kitchen.”
I turn to Ben. “I’ll go. This is my mess to clean up.”
“No, this isn’t a mess, and we’re in this together,” he replies and turns to his dad. “We’ll go talk to her.” Before we leave the room I turn to Laurel.
“Thank you, Laurel.”
She’s still crying a little and nods as Paul puts his arm around her in comfort.
Ben and I enter the kitchen, where only Patty stands. She motions to the deck, and we see that Ashton is out there being consoled. By Jameson. Oh, this is worse than I thought it would be if she’s letting him be her solace. We walk out the door and she turns to us, eyes red and puffy.
“Ash,” I begin.
“How long?”
“It’s not that simple, Ash. Please, can we go inside and talk?” Ben asks.
Ashton stubbornly holds her ground. When Jameson begins to put his arm around her, she swats him away. “I had a moment of temporary insanity. Don’t get any ideas, man-whore.” Jameson backs away with his hands up in defense.
“Whatever, Ashton. You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”
Ignoring Jameson as he moves to the other side of Ben, she looks at Ben and then me.
“I’m fine here. Explain, if it’s not that simple.”
I don’t even bother letting Ben attempt an explanation.
“Ashton, look, I know you’re surprised and quite frankly I think we both are, too. We never meant to hurt you. If you want to be angry with someone, please be angry with me. Ben wanted to tell you and I asked him not to.”
“Tell me what exactly, Piper? You’ve been seeing my brother long enough to make some sort of declaration in front of everyone and embarrass me. It’s obvious everyone else is in on this so guess the joke’s on me, isn’t it?”
I begin to answer her, but she doesn’t give me the chance.
“I thought we were like sisters? What changed? We tell each other everything, for shit’s sake, Piper! Instead you’re fooling around with my brother behind my back? That’s great.”
“You’re right,” I begin as she arches a brow at me. “We are like sisters, but nothing changed. I just … I don’t even know. I was scared. This is so much more than I can explain right now. But, I want you to know that I wasn’t fooling around with your brother. I love him, Ash,” I say as I reach for Ben’s hand, her eyes following.
“How long?”
“Actually together?” Ben asks and she nods.
“Since Halloween,” I answer.
“That’s not even a month! How do you fall in love in less than a month?” Ashton huffs.
“You don’t,” Ben answers, squeezing my hand and looking at me. “You do it in an instant.”
“Jesus. You’re really something, big brother,” Ashton scoffs.
Huffs and scoffs, I’m sensing a pattern and quite frankly it’s a little childish.
“Ashton, I’m not going to apologize for falling in love. I love your brother,” I say, looking at Ben before I turn my attention back to Ash. “And crazy enough, he loves me. Did we plan this? Nope. Did I ever dream this would happen? No way. When this first started I tried to stop it. I tried to not like him or care about him. I did that because I never allowed myself to believe it would be reciprocated. There was no way in this world that Bentley Sullivan would have any kind of feelings for me. I’m Pathetic Piper, nowhere near his league.”
“Baby,” Ben begins to respond, but I stop him and turn back to Ashton, who is crying again.
“Why would you say that about yourself, Piper? You’re perfect and my idiot brother would be lucky to have you.”
“That’s how I felt, I can’t explain it.” I release Ben’s hand and take a few tentative steps toward Ashton. “Then, we started spending time together. Just as friends. When it was becoming more, he wanted to tell you and get your blessing. I wouldn’t let him. I was convinced that it was short-lived and there was no need for us to create drama for something that was never going to last.”
Wiping her tears, Ashton looks between us before responding. “You wanted my blessing, Ben?”
“Of course, Ash,” he says, stepping up behind me and placing his hands on my shoulders. “You’re important to both of us and we know this is going to change things. I wanted you to know how I felt, but I respected Piper’s request to not tell you. I made her give the secrecy a deadline and everything. I knew this would be hard on you.”
“You guys lied to me,” she says with a small amount of acceptance in her voice.
“We did and I’m sorry for that. It was not with malice, I promise,” I reply as I take the final step toward her and put my arms around her in a hug. A hug she eventually reciprocates.
“You are my very best friend in this world. I am so sorry I lied to you. I’ve never lied to you before. Well, not true. I did tell you that I like you in that sweater dress. I don’t. It’s awful. You should burn it.”
Laughing a little, she sniffles and pulls away from me.
“You don’t? But I love that dress.”
I laugh too and hug her again, “Forgive me? Us? I really love him, Ashton. But if you can’t give us your blessing, I understand.”
“Oh Jesus, shut up. I’m just caught off-guard and felt stupid. I was the only person in that room that didn’t know what was happening. I was just embarrassed and it’s a lot to take in. I mean, I thought you only had a crush on him growing up. I didn’t know you loved him.”
Wiping her eyes and nose, she stands taller. “I’ll get used to it. Oh my God! Are you guys going to get married? We’ll be real sisters!”
I shake my head at her. That’s Ashton, one extreme reaction to another. Ben walks up behind me and places his hands around my waist, resting his head on my shoulder. “Yes, you will be.”
I gasp and look at him.
“My, my, it appears I’m not the only one in the dark around here. I’m going inside now; it’s freezing out here.”
She grabs Jameson by the arm and drags him in the house. I turn to watch them walk in, arguing the whole way, and find myself in Ben’s embrace now.
“What do you mean, we will be?” I ask.
“Don’t worry, I’m not proposing, too.”
He must sense my relief because he laughs. “Don’t be so relieved. It’s going to happen, just not today.”
“Oh you’re so sure of that, are you?”
“Absolutely. This is it, Piper. You and me, baby. Always.”
“Ben?”
“Yeah?”
“Do your thing with my hair and kiss me.”
He complies and I melt into him. Thanksgiving is now my favorite holiday.