Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
EVERLEIGH
I t’s four o’clock and my nerves are through the roof of this fancy car that El’s parents insisted on sending for us. Since we are traveling to their weekend home about an hour out of the city.
“Breathe Leigh, they are going to love you and besides as much as I talk about you, they practically know you and I think the same goes for them with you.” This gets me to chuckle because it’s true. In reality I am just putting faces to names today and I have talked to her mom a handful of times on the phone. “I do really think you over did it with the whole picnic basket of treats,” she chortles. I glare over at her.
“This is your fault. Going in the books of Ellis’s fault for Leigh trying too hard.” A snort flies out of her because she is laughing so hard. I open up the basket to find an orange and then chunk it at her head.
She was no help in telling me red or white wine or sweet or dry wine, so I got four different bottles of wine. She refused to tell me what we were eating for dinner, so I grabbed a simple fruit tray and a charcuterie board from the farmers market this morning along with some chocolate covered pretzels I found and topped off with a fresh bouquet of flowers. We begin to pull down a long driveway aligned with tall trees that are adorned with fall color leaves. I sit up straighter when the large white plank house comes into view and take a deep breath. Once we stop in the driveway, Ellis rushes out the door before the driver even has a chance to undo his seatbelt.
“Come on Leigh, lets go,” pulling me out of the car and I look around my surroundings in wonder.
Once standing in the massive foyer of their home, we are greeted by her parents with warm hugs. “So nice to finally meet you, Leigh. And I must say you are strikingly gorgeous.”
“Thank you Mrs. Vandemark.” I feel my cheeks blush.
“You, my sweet dear can call me Ellie. And you can call this man, Whitney.” As she stands on her toes, giving her husband a kiss on the cheek then he reaches for the picnic basket I have been holding.
“El wasn’t kidding that you were bringing a whole appetizer and dessert, huh?” He chuckles, giving me a wink that lets me know he is just messing with me and calms my nerves a bit.
Ellie motions for us to follow her down the long hallway and into the kitchen where she begins to unpack the basket and talks to me about how much she loves to go herself. Even planned for us to go next Sunday morning all together since that will be the only day we have off until show season starts. After thirty minutes go by, we hear a precious laugh coming from the entryway and then I see a little girl with pigtails run in. “Grandma and Grandpa, we are finally here,” the little girl exclaims, jumping into Whitney’s arms for a hug. She takes a look around before spotting me and then I can tell the moment she is locked in. Squirming down from Whitney's arms and rushing over to me, “You must be Leigh, right?”
“I am.”
“You are Aunt El’s new roommate?”
“I am,” I say with a smile. “And you must be Lily?”
She jumps up and down. “That’s me. I can’t wait to watch you and my Aunt dance on stage. I hope to be just as wonderful as the both of you one day.” I cover my heart with my hand, touched.
“I bet you will be and can’t wait to see that too.” I knew when Ellis and I met we would be lifelong friends. She wraps her arms around my leg before running off into another room. “She is six, right?” Asking Ellis and her parents. Ellie is the first to speak up.
“Yes. Six going on twenty most days,” causing us all to laugh as Lara walks into the room.
“Brace yourself for the loudness in 3, 2, 1.” A shrill comes from the living room followed by laughter. Ellis jumps off the barstool and runs in the direction of the loudness beaming with excitement. Curious I follow. I first see Lily on the ground playing like she is dying.
“Help! I am being mauled by a polar bear. Help!” She screams and giggles between all the licks this dog is giving her. The dog pauses his “attack” once he sees me I watch as his tail goes wild, standing in place. I tilt my head with a look of deja vu with this white fluffy dog.
Movement pulls my attention to Ellis as she is being held up by what I guess is her big brother. Then I catch the white fluff bolting in my direction and before I know it, I am toppling backwards over a small end table with my legs straight up in the air, trying to catch my breath as the dog slobbers all over me.
“Leo!” I hear in a sharp dark tone and all I can think of is there is no way the man of my literal dreams is related to my best friend.
Benjamin
I am not sure how I was granted yet another chance to behold the most beautiful woman with the stunning gray eyes again, but I am holding tight to her this time. Not letting her go. I hover over her, as she blinks a few times.
“We really need to quit meeting like this,” I say with a smirk, and it earns me a bright gleaming smile.
“At least there is no water this time.” She jokes as her right hand comes up to her head as if she might be in some pain.
“Here, let me help you up and check you out.” Before she can argue, I bend down to sweep her up bridal style and head to the couch. Sitting down with her in my lap like it’s the most natural thing to do.
“You, um can place me on the cushion. I’m not going to fall over and break.” I don’t miss her smirk but wide eyes staring back at me.
“No, you are staying right here,” I state firmly, turning the flashlight on my phone to check the dilation in her eyes. Again, I am sucked into them and now being able to get a better view with the light, I can see the faint specs of blue that want to shine through the gray.
A throat clearing brings me back to the current and I look around to see all my family staring in disbelief. I don’t fuss over anyone but Lily. I don’t let people touch me unless you are my family or my best friend Jake. I don’t give women a first glance as none are worth my time. None except Everleigh. Mom and Lara are smiling from ear to ear as Ellis looks beyond confusion. My dad looks indifferent as he is trying to keep up with all that is going on. Lily is on the ground with Leo oblivious to what has transpired. But I notice Leo’s eyes are trained on Everleigh. If she moves the slightest, he looks ready to shift to her again. I wish I knew what that dog was thinking when it came to this woman. I feel Everleigh tense in my grip, but I wrap my arms around his waist so she’s unable to escape me. If that makes me an asshole then so, be it.
“Honestly I’m good now, thank you,” she says, refusing to look at me and then as if a lightbulb goes off, her head swings from Ellis then back to me. “Are there two of you?” she asks, and I rush to tell dad to call the doctor as she really hit her head harder than I thought. “Wait! No, I’m not saying I see two of you, but Ellis and your family call you Whit. You told me your name was Benjamin?” The look of confusion and shyness is fucking adorable when she bites into her lower lip.
“Benjamin Whitney Vandemark. Named after my grandfather and dad.” Her eyes widen as they make contact with mine. “Everyone including the public know me as Whit, so I gave you Benjamin instead, in case you could have associated me with the Vandemark name.” Her eyes drop and she tries to squirm out of my grasp, and I let her.
Luckily, she only moves to the cushion next to me. With my thumb and forefinger, I grab her chin to make her look at me. “I promise I was not out to lie to you. You didn’t seem to be from around here and I was just trying to,” She holds her hand up to stop me.
“No, I get it, it’s fine. I understand, it’s just…” Her gaze meets Ellis who motions for them to go talk outside on the porch.
“Everleigh, please, can we,” My mom gasps now knowing what I knew months ago. Ellis’s gaze shoots to Everleigh and freezes as she looks behind me to a picture we all know too well. I shake my head pleading with Ellis to not say a word to her best friend. To the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about for months. Whose eyes have haunted my dreams and the only touch I have wanted to feel. A woman I don’t plan on letting walk out of my life this time.