CHAPTER 15 BENNETT
BENNETT
Bower wipes her face and sets her to-go box down. “That was so good.” She presses her hand to her stomach. “I’m going to need their information so I can get that every night.”
“If you get it every night, you better get some for me as well,” I say as I lean my hip against the counter, facing her.
“You’re not home all the time.”
“Stick it in my fridge.”
“Ooo, I like when you talk dirty to me.”
“Excuse me?”
She laughs. “Didn’t you think that sounded dirty?”
“Gabby’s right. You read too much.”
“Never,” she says, chin lifted high. “By the way, what are your thoughts on Boobs and Balls Book Club as a name?”
My expression falls flat. “Are you serious with that?”
“Depends if you like it or not.”
“No.”
“Then not serious.” Her smile stretches across her face, and it takes everything in me not to sigh at the sight of it.
Fuck, she’s so beautiful it actually hurts.
“I think we need to keep thinking. By the way, how was the date this morning?”
Please don’t say he kissed you.
Please say it was awful and that you never want to see him ever again and that you actually have been harboring feelings for me this entire time.
Does that sound pathetic? Probably, but I don’t care.
“Note to self: Never have a morning date ever again. I met him at five thirty.”
“Oh fuck, why?”
“Because he had to be to the stadium by seven. We had some smoothies and talked.” She shrugs. “He wasn’t spouting off his stats, trying to impress me this time, which made him seem more normal. Actually joked around a bit.”
My hand clenches at my side from the thought of him making her laugh. “Think you’ll see him again?”
“Yeah, probably. I was actually going to ask him to go with me to a dinner my boss asked me to go to.”
My jaw tenses as a full-blown stream of anger pumps through my veins.
“What kind of dinner?” I ask in a controlled voice despite the war going on in my body.
“Adalade’s trying to impress some guy she knows from high school. When she told me, I was so caught off guard because she swore she’d be single forever, but then all of a sudden Draco is back in town and she’s singing a new tune.”
“Draco?”
“Yeah, that’s his name. Either way, she wants to impress him at this dinner party and asked if I’d go to help her look good. She wants me to take a date so it doesn’t look like she brought her assistant to talk her up.”
“Makes sense.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “So you’re going to take Cougar?”
Can’t stand the thought of her going to an intimate dinner with him, where I’m sure he’ll have his hands all over her, probably whispering in her ear, making a goddamn move every chance he gets.
Fuck, makes me want to lose my goddamn mind.
“I think so, unless you want to go.” She laughs it off as if it’s a joke, but I don’t find anything funny about it.
“When is it?” I ask.
“Bennett, I’m only kidding. I know you have baseball.”
“When is it?” I ask again, not fucking around. Hell, I’ll pretend to be sick if I need to.
“Thursday, but—”
“I’ll be there.”
For once in my life, the baseball gods have aligned, because I have an off night on Thursday and no travel, which is rare. So I’ll be damned if she takes anyone but me.
“But don’t you have baseball?”
“Off night,” I say.
“Oh, well, you don’t want to spend your off night with me.”
My brow furrows together. “I have spent almost all my off time with you.”
“I mean at some stuffy dinner party.”
“You will be there, right?”
“Of course,” she answers, looking confused.
“If you’re there, then I know I’ll have fun.”
Her head tilts to the side. “That’s very flattering. Are you trying to flirt with me?”
Panic erupts in my chest because oh fuck, oh fuck…
But then she laughs. “Just kidding, you would never flirt with an old bag of bones like me.”
Little does she fucking know.
“And I don’t like to ask you for one more thing, but honestly, it might be best that you go with me because I still don’t know Cougar that well and what if he says something out of line and ruins Adalade’s chances of impressing Draco?”
“Wouldn’t want that.”
“Think you can be on your best behavior?”
“Depends, what do you need from me?”
She crosses her legs on her counter and says, “Well, someone by my side that acts like a date. There might have to be some touching. Are you okay with touching?”
Fucking yes.
I shrug. “That’s fine. You touch me all the time and I somehow manage.”
She scoffs. “You say that as if it’s torture.”
“I wouldn’t say torture, but pretty damn close to it.”
“You’re going to have to suffer a night of it, so get ready.”
Trust me, I am. Already thinking about all of the goddamn touching.
“And then just be a good conversationalist, which I know you are. I can send you a write-up about Adalade so you know more about her and can help talk up how great she is, especially about her charities.”
“What kind of charities does she work with?”
Bower softly smiles. “Foster care kids.”
“Really?” I ask, feeling my throat grow thick.
“Yes. She’s on the board for a few. I can let you know which ones.”
“Please do, as we might support the same charities.”
“That would actually be pretty amazing.”
“Was she in foster care?”
Bower slowly nods and then gets off the counter. “She was, but it was different back then for her. She doesn’t talk about it much, but I just know she wants to help reshape the system she grew up in and that’s what she focuses on.”
“That’s awesome.” I smooth my hand over my jaw.
If there’s one thing I’ve been intentional about, it’s using my income to support those with less.
I don’t advertise who I support, as that would just be a dick move—insincere—and seem as though I’m only giving for the kudos.
Gabby and I grew up with nothing, and if I can help others not experience such destitution, I will.
I wonder if Adalade knows of other places I could support that would help more.
“I’d like to get to know her better, too, if that’s all right with you.
I’m always looking for people to partner with. ”
“Of course, I’m sure she’d love that. Hey, have you ever told Gretchen about the work you do for foster kids and their families?”
I shake my head. “No, that’s not something I want her using to get in the good graces of fans. That’s personal.”
“I get that. You’re right. Sorry I suggested it.”
“Don’t apologize.”
She smiles softly. “So, do you think we should hang some things?”
“Yes, because I want dessert, but we’re not allowed to have any until we’ve done some damage.”
She clasps her hands together and says, “Then let’s get to work.”
“Graydon, if you could put your hand on OC, that would be great.”
“I’m good.” Graydon stuffs his hands in his pockets, clearly not into this whole publicity shoot for the zoo. I think it’s the third one we’ve done, and I can’t imagine why we have to keep doing it. Maybe because Graydon wouldn’t know a smile if it saved his fucking life.
“Graydon, just touch him so we can get this over with,” I say, my back starting to cramp up from twisting in a weird way as I sit on this godforsaken golf cart.
“Listen to the young one,” OC says and then whispers, “Touch me.”
“Making it worse,” I say.
“Get the fuck away from my face,” Graydon says as the photographer lowers the camera.
“Gentlemen, please.”
“Switch it up. I’m not touching him.”
The photographer presses her fingers into her forehead as Gretchen walks up, clearly not happy with any of us.
Then again, none of us came here in a good mood.
Graydon is in a bad mood because something happened with Maple, quite sure they broke up.
OC is still suffering from—in his words—a major heartbreak. The girl that he likes and planned on getting back together with is now engaged. Mind you, she lives in Vancouver and he lives here. Sure, it sucks, but dude, move the fuck on.
And I’m pissed because Cougar invited Bower out to another early morning date and she accepted. Gabby and Ryland arrive today and I was excited to see them, but this puts a damper on things, because three dates? Three fucking dates?
What does that mean?
Does she actually like him?
Every time I ask, she doesn’t really seem that excited about the prospect of dating him, and yet, she’s waking up at four forty-five to go on a date with him.
That has to mean something.
“You three are blowing this photo shoot,” Gretchen says, looking none too pleased.
“Why are we even doing this? We’ve done two already,” Graydon asks, ever the grump.
“Because we’re constantly adding images to the zoo socials and creating content around these photo shoots, hence why we did individual shots before this. Are you really that immature that you can’t suck it up for a few minutes and take a picture?”
“The fucking golf cart is too small for all of us,” Graydon says, gesturing to the cart. He’s right, it’s like clowns piling out of a clown car.
“It’s pretty tight,” I add, keeping my tone even. “Cramping up my back.”
“Yeah, same,” OC says, raising his hand.
Gretchen sighs and then says, “Fine, head back to the greenroom and we’ll figure something out.”
“I have to leave in about thirty minutes,” I say.
“Which means when we have a new setup ready to go, you three will be cooperative.” She shoos us with her hand. “Now go get some sugar in you so we can finish this up and I can go home and take a bath.”
“Are you going to use bath salts?” OC asks.
“Get out of here,” she nearly shouts, causing us all to move toward the room that’s set up as a greenroom. It’s normally used for events, but the photo shoot has taken over.
Graydon slumps in a chair while I grab a pack of fruit snacks and OC snags a donut.
“Want anything?” I ask Graydon.
He just shakes his head and crosses his arms over his chest. OC takes a seat next to him, apparently testing his life span, and I sit across from them.
I check my phone for texts, but when I come up short, nothing from Bower, I grumble under my breath.
“So I know why Graydon is grumpy and I know why I’m contemplating my life choices, but what’s up with you?” OC asks.
“Nothing,” I say, staring off into the distance.
“Yeah, not buying it. Does it have to do with the sister’s best friend? What’s her name again?”
“Bower,” Graydon says, surprising us both. I might have mentioned her name a few times, but I didn’t think he’d remember.
“Right, Bennett and Bower,” OC says. “Does it have to do with her?”
I stay silent because I don’t think I’m ready for this, for them to be involved.
But after a few seconds, OC gasps. “It does. It has to do with her. What happened?”
“Nothing,” I say. “Absolutely nothing.”
“Oh no.” OC winces. “Did you make a move and she rejected you?”
“No.”
“Wait.” Graydon scratches his cheek. “Bower is the sister’s best friend? Then why was Cougar talking about her yesterday?”
“Cougar Vajeen?” OC asks, sitting on the edge of his seat now. “Is it the same Bower?”
I sigh heavily and say, “Yeah, same Bower.”
“Wait, you had me set Cougar up with the girl you like?”
“What the hell?” OC asks, outraged. “You had Graydon set someone up for you and you didn’t involve me? What the actual fuck? You know I like that kind of shit.”
“Yeah, too much, and I thought you’d be annoying about it, hence why I just asked Graydon.”
“But why would you have me set her up with someone else?” Graydon asks.
“Because I got some bad advice.”
“You sought advice outside the Gladdy Daddies?” OC asks. “From whom? Also, serves you right. You know you only get the best advice from us. Now look at you, sending the girl you like out on a date with one of the most notorious players in the Bay Area. Pretty fucking dumb if you ask me.”
“I don’t tend to agree with him, but yeah, that’s dumb,” Graydon says.
“I know,” I growl. “I don’t need the reminder.”
“Who gave you the advice?” OC adamantly asks.
“Nolan.”
“Nolan Hart?” OC asks, jaw slightly parted. “The guy who walks around in crop tops, chewing wads of gum, and giving everyone who walks by him a finger gun?”
“Do you know him?”
“No, but my algorithm sure does and is always showing me videos of him.”
“You know, it’s catered to keep showing you what you watch the most. Very telling, man,” I say.
“I watch because I want to see if I could pull off the crop top.”
“Absolutely not.” Graydon shakes his head.
“No chance in hell, man.”
“I have abs.” He lifts up his shirt, showing us his stomach. “I could put on a good show.”
“It’s not about abs. It’s about aura, and you’re not a crop-top-aura kind of guy.”
“Facts,” Graydon says.
“Well, fuck both of you, but we’re getting off track. I want to get back to why we’re setting Bower up with Cougar Vajeen.”
I scrub my face with my hands. “Because I can’t tell her how I feel because she still sees me as the kid she first met, so Nolan said I should set her up with someone not good enough for her and then I can swoop in like a hero and show her how perfect I am for her.”
“Huh…” OC thinks about it for a moment. “Actually, not a bad plan.”
“The only problem is he set her up with Cougar, who is known to charm,” Graydon says.
“You’re the one who told me he’d be perfect,” I practically shout.
“Because you didn’t give me all the details. You said douchebag, and he’s the epitome of that. If I’d have known your entire plan, I’d have probably chosen someone like…Kent Ronald.”
“Ohhhhh, Kent Ronald would have been a great choice,” OC says.
My anger gets the best of me and I say, “Why the fuck is this happening? She had her third date today. Third. What does that even mean? Every time I ask her how her date went, she just says okay and that they don’t have that much in common, but she keeps going out with him.”
“Maybe it isn’t really a date,” OC says. “If you know what I mean.”
“I will fucking murder you,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, that’s a bit harsh. I’m just saying out loud what this big guy is thinking.”
“Is that what you’re thinking?” I ask Graydon.
“It would track with him.”
“Oh my fucking God,” I say, popping out of my seat only to start pacing in front of them. “Are they having sex? Do you think they’re having sex? She said she was taking it slow. I don’t even think they’ve kissed, but do you think they’re doing it?”
OC winces and looks over at Graydon, who presses his lips together.
“Fucking fuck!” I yell before I feel everything around me collapse.
I’m such a goddamn moron.