CHAPTER 20 BOWER #3
“What?” I feel my eyes pop out of their sockets, practically winking right against Adalade’s semi-wrinkly skin. “Have you lost your mind? Of course I’m not going to tell her. That would be the worst idea ever.”
“Then what are you worried for? Do you think Bennett will tell her?”
I grip Adalade’s arm in a panic. “Oh shit, I don’t know.
Do you think he’d tell her? He tells her almost everything.
What if…oh my God, what if he already told her?
What if she’s on her way to San Francisco right now to punch me square in the nose?
I know I seem tough, but I can tell you right now I will not take well to a punch to the nose. I bleed easily.”
“Where on earth is this coming from? Honestly, dear, this is very unbecoming.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just…I’m losing it. I know I am.
I’m freaking out.” I lean in closer and whisper, “And do you know what the worst part is? I really liked it. Like…liked it so much that I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
” And in even more of a whisper, I add, “And he was huge. I felt just how big.”
Adalade cracks a smile. “I wouldn’t expect anything less from him.”
I prop my elbows up on the table and bury my head in my hands. “Adalade, what the hell am I going to do?”
“Great question, I’m glad you asked. First, you’re going to relax, because the sister won’t find out.”
I pop my head up. “Wait, but what if he told her?” I spot my phone on the counter and quickly grab it. There’s a text from Bennett.
“Oh my God, he texted me.”
Calmly, Adalade says, “And what did he say?”
I open it up and read it out loud. I’m going to be at the zoo today and then I head straight to the stadium. Late game tonight. Didn’t want you to think I was avoiding you. Can we meet up tomorrow, maybe read some books together for the book club?
“That sounds very sweet.”
“Is it? I can’t tell. Is he playing games?”
“What on earth? No. That was very straightforward.”
“Do you think he told his sister? You know what? I’m just going to ask him.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. You don’t want to get the sister involved.”
I look Adalade in the eyes, hoping I don’t get fired after all is said and done, because this is extremely unprofessional of me. “She’s already involved because she’s the sister and the best friend. There is no scenario where she’s not involved.”
“She might know the both of you, but that doesn’t mean she needs to know the both of you together.”
I shake my head. “We’re not together. We just had a drunk night.
Too much wine. A cupcake got in the way and then his hard dick just…
ugh, never mind. I can’t talk about it or my mouth will start watering again.
” I look right at Adalade and add, “But I want to say this, and it’s probably what’s freaking me out the most: I went on several dates with Cougar and there wasn’t even a glimmer of a spark, but one dry-hump session on the floor with Bennett and it was like fireworks shooting off in my stomach.
Which is bad. I can’t be having fireworks where he’s concerned. Maybe I need to dry-hump Cougar.”
“Do you think that will help?”
“No,” I groan as I send a text to Bennett.
Bower: Did you tell your sister about last night?
Adalade leans over and reads my text. “Bower,” she reprimands. “You didn’t even answer his question. Don’t you think that’s a little rude?”
“Uh, don’t you think it’s rude that he didn’t acknowledge what happened?”
“He’s probably being a gentleman and knows you’re freaking out and is attempting to calm you in a way that feels natural.”
“It didn’t work.”
My phone buzzes so I quickly open up the response, letting Adalade read it as well.
Bennett: Why the hell would I tell her about that?
“See,” Adalade says. “You have nothing to worry about.”
I stare down at his text, my mind racing with even more fear and uncertainty now because…
“Do you think there’s a tone in his text?”
“What?” Adalade asks.
“Look, he said, ‘Why the hell would I tell her about that’—it almost seems like he’s insulted I’d bring it up, or even mention it, like…like it was a mistake to him or something.”
“Oh boy.” Adalade sighs. “You know, dating was so much easier back in the day. Now you have too many factors that could ruin it.”
“We’re not dating,” I say just as my phone buzzes again.
Bennett: You never answered me. Are we on for tomorrow?
I bite my bottom lip, staring down at the message.
“You know, for a guy who seems quite adamant about seeing you, I wouldn’t think what he thought you guys did was a mistake. It seems like he wants to make the most of the opportunity, or if anything, just bring things back to normal.”
Maybe she’s right, maybe he does want to bring things back to normal. That would be very Bennett of him.
“We do like to read together,” I capitulate.
“See.” Adalade gestures. “He’s probably thinking that you guys had a little fun, but it doesn’t change anything, that you’re still friends and that’s how you’ll remain.”
I perk up a little bit. “You think so?”
“Absolutely. The dry-hump was just a blip, and you two will still remain friends.”
“Yeah…friends.”