What in the world was I thinking inviting Bentley Sullivan to my apartment? More importantly, why did he accept? He obviously lost his mind when he moved away. It’s the only answer. No, he was abducted by aliens who replaced his brain with someone else’s. Yes, that’s it. That’s what makes sense.
It does.
Don’t question rational thinking.
Okay, fine. Perhaps he wasn’t abducted by aliens. And, perhaps, he hasn’t lost his mind. He was obviously drunk and didn’t know what he was doing last night. There is no actual reason that makes sense as to why he would so openly flirt with me and then kiss me.
A kiss that I swear I can still feel.
A kiss that seemed full of promises and questions equally.
A kiss I have dreamed of most of my life.
A kiss that made me forget stupid Tony and his stupid ideas of relationships.
I’ve been a bundle of nerves all day. Ash was trying hard to avoid the topic and it only made my anxiety worse. Besides the anxiety, it cast this weird vibe over our day and made me uncomfortable around the only person in my life who has never made me feel awkward. After breakfast and a little retail therapy she drove me back to my place.
As I turned to open the door, I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Are you mad at me?” I asked.
“What? No. Why would you say that? I’ve never been mad at you a day in my life.”
“Not true. You didn’t talk to me for two hours when I declared my undying love for Joe Jonas.”
“Hmm. That is true. You knew I was going to marry him and you still called dibs. Uncool, sister friend. Uncool.”
“Yeah well, he proved us both wrong, didn’t he? No ring on either of our fingers.”
“Eh, it’s cool. He couldn’t handle either one of us anyway.”
“I just want to make sure we’re okay. That thing last night with your brother. It was just a random bar thing. No biggie.”
Oh yeah. I’m a liar. Big fat dirty liar.
“I know. I just … I don’t want to see you get hurt again. Ben and Laurel just broke up. You and Tony just broke up. Plus, while my brother is a great guy he does hang out with the douche crew so, you know, birds of a feather and all that. He may pick up on their nasty habits and you don’t need that.”
“Oh please, Ben is definitely one of the good guys. But you’re right. I don’t need to start anything with anyone. Its best we just forget about it. I probably won’t even see him around much.”
It may be best if we all forget last night happened, but there is no way, in this lifetime, I’ll ever forget. I’m just glad I had a breakdown and ran for the sanctuary of the women’s restroom instead of declaring my undying love to Ben. I can’t even imagine the humility that would have followed that kind of proclamation.
I glance at the clock and notice I still have about an hour before Ben said he’d be here. Again, what was I thinking? I wasn’t. Obviously.
I pick my phone up and realize I never turned it back on after the tenth text from Tony while we were shopping. I hit the power button and set the phone back down as I head to the shower. I’m not primping or making an effort. Nope, I just cleaned my place and need to freshen up. Totally not anything special or anything to do with Bentley Sullivan.
Nope. Nothing. Nada.
I take my time in the shower. I mean, I’m here I might as well shave and deep condition my hair. It’s absolutely all about efficiency. Nothing to do with Ben.
I almost believe myself.
A little pep talk in the shower calms me down enough to think rationally about tonight. This is my best friend’s brother. Practically my brother growing up. We were both drinking, he didn’t know it was me, I was sad. All a big misunderstanding.
I’m going to keep tonight casual. No candles burning, no music, no effort. I grab a pair of my soft-as-butter leggings, a loose-fitting top, and my favorite fuzzy socks. Really sealing the casual, no-effort look is my messy bun with toweled-dried hair and only a little mascara and some gloss for makeup.
I have managed to use up thirty minutes. Perfect. I light a candle on the mantle - strictly for the scent, not the ambience, obviously. I’m still not putting music on or putting forth any effort. Two out of three shower plans is better than none.
I have a few minutes to spare so a little glass of courage or, as regular people not about to discuss a life-altering kiss with their best friend’s brother call it, Chardonnay.
Just as I’m about to check my phone there’s a knock at my door. Of course he’s early.
I take a sip of my wine as I open the door. Only instead of Ben, it’s Tony. Great.
Tony slithers in the door before I can stop him.
“Hey, I didn’t invite you in,” I say, still standing with my hand on the door handle and the door open.
“Come on, babe, when have you ever needed to invite me in?”
“Don’t babe me. We broke up. Please leave.”
He’s made his way to the fridge and already opened a beer before I finish my sentence. He really is handsome. And a cheating jerk, Piper. Don’t forget that. I’m still standing at the door but have released the handle as he places his beer on the counter and begins walking toward me.
“Piper, you didn’t mean it. Let’s make up.”
I know that look. It’s the same look he’s used on me the last few weeks when he’s been late for dates, cancelled at the last minute, or didn’t do either and just didn’t show up. I assume now that he was out looking for the “spice.” Asshole.
“Tony, I did mean it. We are finished and I would like for you to leave,” I say while crossing my arms over my chest. I know that this is technically a defensive position, but suddenly I feel vulnerable and need the hug, even from myself.
“I’m not leaving until we work this out, Piper. Come on, I’m sorry you got pissed but I thought it would be fun for us. I didn’t know you were going to get all Miss Priss with me.”
Is he kidding me? Miss Priss.
“I’m willing to forget your little stunt last night with whoever that asshole was. I know you were just trying to get back at me. We’ll call it even. Now, let’s watch a movie and start the making up.”
“I don’t think so. The lady asked you to leave.”
Oh, shit.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Oh, you know who he is. This is not going to end well.
“Tony, you know damn well who I am. Now, I believe I heard Piper ask you to leave. Why don’t you do us all a favor and just go,” Ben says as he makes his way directly behind me and places his hand on my shoulder.
I can feel the heat from his hand through my top and a shiver makes its way down my spine. I uncross my hands and stand up straight. Just knowing Ben is here and has my back has me feeling more confident. Before I can demand he leave, I see the recognition register on Tony’s face.
“Sullivan. Of course you’re the one to come to her rescue. Wait.”
Here it comes. Recognition begins to turn to rage. If steam could actually come out of a human’s ears, Tony’s would be a smoke stack.
“That was you in the picture. What the fuck, Piper? Him? That’s how you’re going to get back at me? Of course it is. You really are a little slut, aren’t you?”
“Whoa there, pal…”
What a dick.
I turn toward Ben. “I’ve got this.”
His smile says that he’ll give me this moment even if he really wants to punch Tony in his stupid arrogant face.
“Look, first I am not a slut. You, on the other hand, may be. I wasn’t the one out cheating, you were, so before you start throwing words around, take a look in the mirror.” Kudos to me, I managed to get all of that out even though in my head I was confident and sassy. In real time, it was a single sentence without a breath.
I feel Ben lean down just to my ear. “Breathe, Piper.”
I offer a little nod and continue.
“What I do and,” I motion toward Ben, “who I do it with is none of your concern. You lied, you cheated, and you hurt me. I’m done. You need to leave. Please, for once, Tony, just do what I ask.”
The tension in this room is thick. I can feel the anger building behind me as Ben places his hand on my shoulder again. I can see the conflict in Tony’s expression. He’s torn between doing what I ask and fulfilling his life-long pissing contest with Ben.
“Fine, I’ll go,” he reluctantly concedes as Ben and I move out of the doorway. Our movement almost as if we are one. Before he makes it over the threshold, Tony turns to us, “It’s not over, Piper. I decide when we’re done and I haven’t decided yet.”
Before Tony can make it more than three steps, Ben closes the door and turns the top lock. I release the breath I was holding as he spoke those final words.
“You okay?” he asks me as he turns toward me. My entry way is just that, for entry. It’s not meant to hold a conversation. I feel like the space is smaller than normal with Ben’s large frame filling the space.
“Yeah, sorry about that,” I quietly reply as I thank my lucky stars I’m still holding my wine and finish off the glass in one drink.
“Hey.” Ben takes a step toward me and places both hands on each of my arms. His gesture is undeniably comforting and equally confusing because it makes me feel something I shouldn’t.
I look up at him. I swear time stops as I look into his gorgeous chocolate-colored eyes. It’s only when he reaches for my face and wipes a tear from my cheek that I realize I’m crying. Ben pulls me into a hug and I unleash a bounty of tears. My level of self-pity is epic. Goodness this man smells good. What is that? Mint? Pine? Leather? All three.
I pull away and wipe the tears still streaking my face with my free hand.
“Sorry.”
“No apology necessary, Piper. You didn’t do anything wrong. I see Dominguez is still a class A jackass.”
I offer a snicker in response.
“How about more wine? Go sit down, I’ll get it,” he says, taking my glass and guiding me toward the couch.
I offer a nod in response as Ben takes my glass from my hand and makes his way to the kitchen, then stops to look at the beer Tony left on the counter. I hear a simple grunt of annoyance as he sets the bottle in the sink and turns to the refrigerator. After filling my glass and handing it to me, he opens a beer of his own. We each take a drink and look at each other.
And laugh.
Not chuckles or giggles. No, this is all-out belly laughing.
A few minutes of much-needed laughing and I finally speak.
“Why are we laughing?”
“I don’t know, but it feels pretty damn good.”
“Agreed. And, you’re right.”
He raises his brow at me and I smile and turn toward the living room and the couch. I scoot into a corner and bring my knees to my chest as I take a small sip of my wine.
“Tony is still a jackass. Ugh, I’m so embarrassed that I was even dating that guy.”
Ben joins me on the couch. Not too close, but also not on the other end where most people would sit.
“Hmm, I’m not touching that comment, but maybe let’s just be glad you ended it. I will say, I didn’t like his parting comment. Has he ever been violent?”
“Tony? No. He’d have to take a step away from the mirror, talking about himself, or online dating to do that. I think he was just flaunting like a peacock once he realized who you were. Thanks, by the way.”
“For?”
“For showing up when you did. Of course, if you hadn’t sent that text last night he may not have been over here trying to stake his claim. So maybe I shouldn’t be thanking you.”
“Nah, I’m pretty sure you should be thanking me. Not just for showing up, mind you, but for sending that text last night.”
Damn him and his smirk.
“If Dominguez was stupid enough to cheat on you then I think a kick to his ego knowing you moved on … or pseudo moved on … is only a fraction of what he deserves.”
I can’t really disagree with that logic.
“Hmmm … Bentley Sullivan, have you always been so wise?”
“Of course I have. So, tell me, Piper, what have you been up to all these years?”
Well that’s a loaded question. Instead of replying with the details, I skirt over the emotional bullshit of the last few years and instead hit the highlights. After about an hour or so we’ve managed to summarize, very sparingly I might add, the last few years of our lives. I’m finishing up a story of my first year teaching kindergarten, which, by the way, included not one but two marriage proposals from five-year-olds. Before I can ask about his plans now that he’s back home Ben stands and takes my glass from the table.
“More wine?”
“I better not. Two glasses is already past my weekday max.”
“You do know we don’t have work tomorrow, right? Come on and live a little.”
“Fine, but if I’m hungover again tomorrow, you’re bringing me Rosa’s instead of your sister.”
“Deal.”
I offer him a closed smile in response. We’ve managed to skirt the topic of last night and I know in my gut we have to get it out of the way. It would really help my cause if Ben hadn’t strolled in here like a hero and saved me from stupid Tony. And if he didn’t smell so damn good. And if he didn’t make me laugh. And if his smile didn’t send shivers down my spine.
Yeah, all of that would really help.
I glance toward the kitchen where he’s pouring my wine. Goodness, he sure knows how to wear a pair of jeans. It would help a girl out if he didn’t fill out a pair of jeans like they were designed just for him. Damn he’s distracting.
Yep, we need to have this conversation so he can go.
Since I’m throwing my rules out the window tonight, I might as well go all out. I drag myself off the couch and make my way into the kitchen. Ben turns to see me and offers me that smile again. Settle down, ovaries, it’s Ben, not a Calvin Klein model.
“I would have brought you the wine, Piper.”
And there go the ovaries. Something about the way he says my name … like chocolate slowly pouring over a hot pan of brownies. Rich, creamy, and sinful.
“I … uh … wow, it’s hot in here. Is it hot in here? I should turn on a fan. Are you hot?”
I sound like an idiot. It’s not hot at all. Ben must agree by the sound of the chuckle and shake of his head as he hands me my wine.
“Nah, it’s not hot. Probably just the wine.”
“You’re right. I was going to just grab us a little snack. Are you hungry?”
“I’m a guy. I can eat at any time. What were you thinking?”
“Sweet or savory?” Oh good lord, what kind of come hither voice was that? I set my wine down and grab a bottle of cold water from the refrigerator. This wine is obviously going to my head.
“Both? I always like a little sweet after I savor.”
My eyes go wide as I start choking on my water.
“Oh my word, you did not just say that! Bentley James! That was the corniest thing I have ever heard and I work with five-year-olds!”
“Oh, busting out the middle name. What can I say? I’m a bit rusty in the flirting department.”
“Yeah well, no flirting here, buddy. Go sit and I’ll put together a few snacks,” I say as I push him out of the kitchen.
I need space. I need time without his smell in my senses. Without him being within arms’ distance. I know I can’t act on my attraction to him, but damn if I really want to.