45. Jolie
JOLIE
“What the hell do you think you’re doing!” Caroline’s barking voice breaks through my bliss bubble, and my eyes pop open.
Lifting my head off Ben’s chest, I turn in time to see my irate cousin stop beside us, glaring up at Ben, then narrowing her gaze on me.
“I thought you said this wasn’t a thing.”
“Uh…”
“I just saw you kissing from the other side of the room!” She’s still barking, yapping at us and destroying what little peace I’d found in Ben’s arms. I was starting to forget all about my harrowing day, and now she’s ruining it.
Pointing up at Ben, she snarls, “You told me I didn’t have to worry about this! You told me it was over! Are you seriously still tutoring her?”
“No.” Ben gives her a dry look. “And can you please stop yelling? If you want to get all shitty, let’s take this outside and stop drawing everyone’s attention.”
Caroline’s eyes flash and she drops her voice, but she’s still obviously annoyed. “You deserve to be yelled at. You told me it was over.”
“I was wrong. Things shifted, and now we’re a couple.” His voice is so calm, his expression so unaffected, and it gives me the courage to insert myself into the conversation.
“We were going to tell you. I was just trying to figure out the best way how. I knew you wouldn’t love this development, and I—”
“Of course I don’t love it.” She flicks her hands wide. “You shouldn’t be dating this guy.”
“Why not?” My face puckers into a sharp frown. “Because it’s weird for you? Because you don’t want to be faced with the guilt of what you did to him?”
Caroline’s mouth pops open, and Ben winces.
What? It’s the truth, isn’t it?
“Jolie,” he softly warns me, resting his hand on my lower back. “Let’s not do this here.”
Caroline glares at him, her eyes narrowed, her nostrils starting to flare.
Oh boy.
“What did you tell her?” She points an accusing finger at him, and I nudge my way into the line of fire, trying to shield my boyfriend from this attack.
“He told me the truth.” I give her a pointed look. “Something you should have done months ago.”
“Your parents didn’t want me to.”
“Since when has that ever stopped you? You used to tell me everything, and you should have told me about this too.”
Caroline’s face flushes and she crosses her arms, snipping, “I am not doing this with you right now. The point is, you shouldn’t be dating Ben.”
“I don’t see any good reason why I shouldn’t be,” I snap. “He’s the nicest guy I know, and you should be happy that my boyfriend is a sweetheart!” Leaning forward, I growl at her. “You need to get used to this, because I’m not breaking up with him just because you don’t like it.”
“Oh really?” Caroline barks back. “I’m sure your parents would have some interesting things to say if they knew what you’d been getting up to with him! Do they even know he exists?”
A flush of panic rushes through me.
I haven’t told my parents about him yet. I’ve been trying to figure out how.
They’re always so strict about things to do with the opposite sex, and I don’t want to ruin what I have with him. How’s he going to cope with my family?
“She’ll tell them when she’s ready,” Ben calmly interjects, and I glance up with a grateful smile.
I love how cool and collected he is. His long fingers curl around my waist, and he tugs me to his side.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but you really don’t have a say here, Caroline. This isn’t your business.”
“She’s my cousin. That makes it my business! I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on her.”
Ben frowns. “She’s not five. And she doesn’t need you bossing her around.
” Caroline opens her mouths to complain, but my boyfriend keeps talking before she can.
“I understand that this might be awkward for you, but you can’t dictate what Jolie wants.
I get that you care about her, but so do I.
And we’re a couple now, so you’re just going to have to deal with it. ”
Caroline lets out a disgusted scoff and looks to me for support… like I’m going to give it to her. I’m siding with Ben on this. He’s my boyfriend, and she really doesn’t have a say.
I hate that she’s unhappy with me, but I’m not about to break up with the guy for her sake.
Giving her a sad smile, I tug on Ben’s hand, indicating that we should go.
I can’t stand here taking any more of Caroline’s crap, not when I’ve got that other stuff to deal with as well. I thought I was capturing a moment of thoughtless bliss, but since when has life ever been that easy?
Pulling Ben away from my irate cousin, I head for the door, passing Casey near the entrance. He smiles at me, then notices who I’m with, frowning when Ben pulls me close, wrapping his arm around my waist.
Caroline’s boyfriend immediately starts looking for her, and I wish him a silent good luck, feeling just a little bad that he’s going to have to deal with her angst now.
But that’s not my fault, right?
Guilt singes me as I stand beside Ben while he says goodbye to his roommates. They seem fine with Ubering home, probably because they can see my face and how upset I am.
Ugh. I don’t want to be, but I’m annoyed with Caroline for trying to boss me around. And I’m annoyed that my little moment with Ben was shattered, because rushing into that quiet space is all the stuff I was trying to forget.
I can’t just let this stuff with Kieran slide.
I can’t do nothing, but I told Ben I’d give him a few days to think.
I’m desperate for a solution.
For action.
For justice.
And I’m determined to get it, with or without my boyfriend’s blessing.