Chapter 15
“Are you sure you don’t want to sit?” Ben asked as Everleigh helped him pack the leftovers away.
It was New Year’s Eve and this year, unlike every other one, they were spending it at his place. Usually, they would all go out, book a table at a nice restaurant and then drink the night away. But with a five months pregnant woman in tow, things had to change. He had offered to host, knowing his place was the most practical for everyone.
“I’ve been sitting most of the evening. I can use my hands, you know,” she teased him, bumping his shoulder as she closed the fridge.
“Yeah but… it’s weird, you know. I’ve never known a pregnant woman. I mean I’ve had co-workers and stuff, but I never stopped and wondered what they needed or that it wasn’t as easy as they made it look.”
“It’s all good. I was a bit tired earlier because I don’t sleep much lately, but I feel great now.” She was about to wrap the last of the cheesecake when she hesitated. “Do you mind if I have one more bite…?”
Ben looked at her, lifting an eyebrow. “And I assume this will remain between you and me?”
“I sure won’t say anything if you don’t.”
He grinned then patted a chair. “Come on. Knock yourself out.”
Everyone apart from them was already quite tipsy, and they had volunteered to pack the food away. Due to the layout of the place, he could see his friends sprawled out on the sectional couch and even on the floor, for Violet and Madison, as they watched TV. Violet was leaning against Ian’s legs and he felt a sudden pull in his chest, thinking he would very much like to be in his friend’s position… but with a certain brunette. The Urge was still strong, and for some reason, the idea of playing with her hair as they both watched TV seemed like the most appealing thing at the moment. She could get all snuggled up against him, so he could shove his nose and smell that sweet, honey-scented shampoo to his heart’s content like the sick pervert he was.
He had decided to wait, make sure things were not rushed between them. He wasn’t exactly positive what was in store for them, or what Madison had in mind. What he knew was that he was getting more attracted to her with each and every day passing by. He wanted to kiss her again. A lot.
That will teach you to try to do the right thing. You guys could have been kissing a lot if you hadn’t pulled away.
His conscience was at peace, but his body wasn’t seeing things the same way. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been attracted to a woman and had just… not done anything about it, while she was obviously available and interested.
He had a newly found respect for the self-inflicted torture Chris had faced during all these years.
Eventually, he poured himself a glass of water and sat down next to Everleigh with a fork, deciding he could give her a hand. Judging by the way she side-eyed him, she didn’t seem to believe his help was necessary, but she was probably too polite to tell him off.
He only took a bite or two, having mercy on her. He sent a mental apology to his best friend because Everleigh high on sugar was something else. “Things are about to change this year, aren’t they?” he asked. “Ian and Violet are getting married, you and Chris are going to live together and have a freaking kid... This is our last year just us, in a way.”
Everleigh smiled, nodding as she lightly tapped her fork against her lips. “Yes. I was expecting you to go all in, by the way. Not suggest a lazy night at your place.”
“You wouldn’t have been comfortable going out, Evie.”
“I know, but I wouldn’t have been offended if you had asked Christopher to come with you.”
He looked at her, startled. “Don’t be ridiculous. This…. Everleigh, this is great. My best friend looks like he’s on cloud nine, I have all my buddies with me, and we’re just having a great time. That’s the kind of memory I want Chris to have of his first and, well technically, only New Year’s Eve with his girlfriend before Scampi joins us.”
Everleigh gasped in fake shock. “Are you growing up?”
Ben cocked his head and was about to reply when he saw Madison making her way to the bathroom. She was really pretty tonight, with a woolen dress hanging off one of her shoulders. She was wearing what he assumed was tights, with a pair of small ankle boots. Her hair was hanging freely around her face, as shiny as usual. “I think we all do at some point, right?” he eventually replied in a low voice.
Everleigh frowned, then turned around on her chair to see what had caught his attention. She took a sharp breath. “Ben…”
He smiled at her, knowing it probably looked rather pitiful. He wasn’t the kind of guy Everleigh would want for one of her best friends, and he wasn’t exactly judging her.
“Hey.” Everleigh reached out to cover his hand with hers. “You were a great guy back in high school. You might not have given that impression, but I remember how you were with me at that party. You could have left me there or sent me back to Christopher, but you didn’t. You included me, introduced me to people, talked to me. You didn’t drink, and afterward you made sure I was home safe. You’re still a great guy, Ben. Don’t doubt it.”
“Then… why…”
“I didn’t mean it as telling you she’s off limits. That’s not my place to say.”
“You said that when you first introduced her to us, though.”
“Well, yes, of course. She didn’t have a lot of friends, and you know you were a little wild back then. I didn’t want you guys to hook-up and for her to feel awkward afterward. Things are different now. But… when did it happen?”
“We’ve gotten to know each other a little better in the past few months.”
Everleigh frowned. “When? I know I wasn’t very available, but I think I’d have noticed.”
“She went to the gym where I volunteered for self-defense classes, and we kinda used to have breakfast or brunch together every Saturday after we were done.” He still wasn’t sure what Madison had told her friends, so he went with a white lie.
“Aaand?” Everleigh prompted. She tilted her head when he shrugged. “Come on, we’ve been having dinners and brunches together for years.”
“I had never really talked to her before.”
“What? That’s ridiculous, you talk with everyone, all the time.”
Ben shook his head. “No. I hadn’t really talked to her before.”
Understanding washed over Everleigh’s face. “Oh. And?”
“Jeez, you’re nosy.”
“It’s the hormones.”
His eyes were full of suspicion when he drew them to hers. “You just made that up.”
“I did,” she acknowledged. “So?”
“How does Chris deal with your crazy pregnant ass on a daily basis?”
“I don’t know, honestly. I think it has something to do with love.”
“Probably,” he muttered, crossing his arms over his chest and watching as she resumed eating her cheesecake. She eyed him intently, and he knew it was pointless to resist. “I don’t know, Evie. I like her, OK? She is pretty, smart, sweet, sarcastic-”
“Sarcastic?” Everleigh laughed. “OK, go on. Interesting choice but… go on.”
“Well, she is,” he said defensively. “She kinda likes to put me in my place.”
Her eyes widened. “Madison?”
“Yes.”
“O… kay. I kinda have a hard time seeing that although… oh. Yeah. Now that I think of it… she’s been putting you back in your place a lot lately. Thanksgiving. The day after I was in that car accident. Oh, wow,” she added, blinking. “Can’t believe I didn’t see that one coming.”
“Me neither,” he grumbled.
“So, what’s the problem? Is she resisting the Ben Ackerman legendary charm?”
“No. I don’t think so at least.” He was pretty sure the answer was no. Their attraction was clearly mutual, but their last serious talk had been very inconclusive. “I don’t really know how to navigate the situation. We’re friends. I usually don’t… get involved with friends. I don’t really know how to do it.”
“I can’t believe I’m gonna have to tell you about the birds and the bees,” she said in a fake whisper, her eyes growing wide behind her glasses.
He gritted his teeth, tilting his head in warning.
“Fine, fine. Have you tried asking her out? That’s usually how it starts.”
He snorted. “Really? That’s usually how it starts? Care to remind me again how exactly things started with Chris?”
She licked her fork clean. “We’re a special case of stubborn denial. But seriously, just ask her out.”
A slightly tipsy Christopher appeared behind Everleigh, and Ben greeted him by raising his glass of water, efficiently ending the conversation.
“It’s almost midnight, guys,” Chris said with a gigantic smile. “And I want to kiss my perfect girlfriend and her perfect baby bump.”
“My huge baby bump, you mean,” Everleigh protested playfully as he pulled her to her feet.
“As I said… perfect.” Chris stroked her, very prominent indeed, belly. “Little Shrimp has plenty of room to exercise.”
“Yeah, I’m aware of that since I’m the one she keeps awake.”
“As if you don’t wake me up when that happens,” Chris said, lowering his voice before quickly kissing her cheek.
“Guys, please, not in front of my cheesecake,” Ben said with an exaggerated eye roll. They were disgustingly sweet together, crazy in love, and basking in happiness like any couple expecting their first kid together should.
“Aww, come on, you grumpy man,” Everleigh said as she pulled on his hand until he stood up.
“Wait. Cheesecake?” Christopher said, eyeing the tiny piece that had survived Everleigh’s assault.
Ben grabbed it and shoved it into his mouth. “Yup. Mi’night snack,” he mumbled with his mouth full.
Christopher narrowed his eyes at him. “No need to cover for her.”
“Sorry, Evie.”
Everleigh let out a deep sigh. “Thank you for trying.”
“You’re giving fuel to our kid and then wonder why he doesn’t sleep at night,” Christopher said with a shake of his head.
“It’s not my fault if she has a sweet tooth.”
Ian was putting a bright pink hat on his head while Violet was handing drinks to everyone. Everleigh ended up with apple cider and, surprisingly, Madison followed.
“I think I already had too many of Ben’s Appletinis,” she explained with a small glance in his direction. Her cheeks were a little flushed, but she didn’t seem drunk, or at least not as inebriated as most of them.
“Guys, we’re in the minority, now,” Harper said as she joined them, pointing toward the two couples already ready to lip-lock. “I guess you’re not into a three-way kiss to start the year?”
Ben shared a quick smile with Madison, then shook his head. “No, sorry.”
A few months ago, he would have been all in, but there was only one girl he wanted to kiss now.
“Party-poopers,” Harper said with a pout before joining in with the countdown. Ben didn’t bother, his friends being more than loud enough, especially with the TV in the background.
“Happy New Yeaaaaaaar!” Harper jumped in, smacking his cheek with a hard kiss before doing the same for Madison and bouncing her way to the happy couples who were probably trying to beat the record for longest apnea. “Come on, guys, have mercy on the single ones!”
Madison giggled as she lifted her glass to clink with his. “Happy New Year, Ben.”
He quickly cast a glance around him, seeing everyone hugging each other and he swiftly pulled her close, pressing his lips low on her cheek, almost to the corner of her lips.
“Happy New Year, Pumpkin,” he murmured in her ear before pulling away.