46. Bennett
FORTY-SIX
BENNETT
When I got the text from the unknown number, it felt like my heart stopped. When I turned and saw her there, it felt like I could take a full breath of air for the first time since she left. Even after touching her, I still couldn’t believe she was standing in front of me. But then she said the thing about Lloyd’s name, and I could no longer doubt my senses. She’s here, she’s real, she came back.
Once the dogs have had their time in her spotlight, I pull her back to me and watch as she drags that damn lip back between her teeth for the second time. I can feel my most primal instincts come to the surface, and all I want to do is drag her to bed or whatever surface is handy. I have never felt anything like this before, never once has someone made me feel like I’m on the edge of losing control. I manage to keep myself in check though as my eyes trail over her face. She’s slightly more tanned than she had been when she was here. Freckles play across her skin, and I brush my thumb across her cheeks before tracing the recently healed cut above her right eyebrow. I must be frowning because she raises her hands to my face and runs her thumbs along my forehead. It’s this touch that completely undoes me. A surprised laugh bursts from her as I haul her up against me, her legs instantly wrapping around my hips as our lips finally meet.
I have a fleeting thought of her being here to tell me it’s okay to move on, or that she has, or that there was never anything to move on from at all. But the way she kisses me back pushes those concerns from my mind.
We kiss until one dog, definitely Yogurt, starts to whine, and it gradually morphs into a chorus as others join in. I rest my forehead on hers and just relish in the reality that we’re once again sharing the same air. I pull back because I need to look at her again. She’s looking at me the way I had thought I’d only dreamed about, adoration mixed with disbelief, like she can’t believe I’m real but she’s damn happy I am. I never want her to stop looking at me like that.
We both loosen our grip, and she slowly slides down my body until her feet meet the ground. It’s the very best kind of torture I can imagine.
“Take me home, Bennett,” she says, reaching out her hand for me to take. We never got to do this before, and I’m taken aback by how right her hand feels in mine as we head toward the house. But really, I shouldn’t be. Everything with Marley, even the silences, feels right. The only thing that hasn’t felt right was when she was gone. When her ghost was the only thing left of her in my house.
We take several breaks on our way to the barn to make out, only breaking apart when the dogs remind us that maybe they don’t want to be standing in two feet of snow.
When we’re about halfway back, Marley sighs. “I have never wanted the ability to teleport so badly. ”
“It’s incredibly inconvenient that they haven’t come up with some way by now.”
“Right?” Marley exclaims. “Although…” She smiles wickedly at me. “The anticipation is half the fun.”