Chapter 22
It was Friday, and Granny was fuming. She paced around the kitchen and stopped to face Morris, her hands on her hips. He looked
away from her and down at his hands.
“Now, don’t take it personally, Violet,” he said.
Mylie looked over at Cassie. He was using Granny’s name. This was serious.
“Don’t take it personally?” This just made Granny angrier. “You just told me I’m banned from the dance!”
“I didn’t say you were banned,” Morris replied, his tone patient. “I said you can’t bring your famous down-home punch.”
Mylie nearly choked on the water she was drinking. Granny had been making that punch since before Mylie was born. It was half
the reason people went to the dance in the first place. It was a community-wide event, but this year, the dance was being
held at the school gym, which meant that, technically, the school was responsible for any damages... or drunk teenagers.
Even though you were supposed to present ID to drink, kids always found a way to get a nip of Granny’s punch.
“To be fair, Granny,” Cassie began. “Last year, two middle schoolers got drunk off their asses and then threw up in the sheriff’s
hedges.”
“That’s not my fault,” Granny said.
“You added moonshine last year,” Morris replied. “I tasted that punch, and it was straight moonshine.”
“Moonshine doesn’t count,” Granny said, waving them off. “Everyone knows moonshine doesn’t count.”
“It counts if it’s bootleg moonshine from the Wilson family hollers,” Morris said. “That stuff put three of my family members
in the hospital in nineteen eighty-five.”
“Your family has a weak disposition,” Granny sniped.
“Nevertheless.”
“I have half a mind to make it, anyway,” Granny continued.
“Granny, you can’t!” Cassie said, panic in her voice. “You’ll cause a scene at school.”
“She’s not going to,” Mylie replied. “Are you, Granny?”
Granny crossed her arms over her chest.
“Granny?”
“No,” Granny said, finally. “I reckon I won’t.”
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, I’m going to go get dressed.”
“I should probably do that, too,” Mylie replied. “Cass, you’ve got about an hour.”
“That’s not enough time!” Cassie said, running up the steps toward her room.
Granny sat down at the kitchen table next to Morris. “Mylie, honey, make sure you watch her tonight.”
“Granny,” Mylie said. “It’s a dance, not a rave. She’ll be fine. There will be plenty of people there to watch out for her,
myself and Ben included.”
“I just don’t like that Ryan,” Granny continued.
“You liked him perfectly fine last week,” Mylie replied. “I’m going to go upstairs and try to make myself look presentable.”
She looked over at Morris. “Don’t let her make that punch.”
“Roger that,” Morris said, saluting Mylie.
Mylie headed up the stairs, feeling more like she needed to nap than get dressed for a dance. The rest of the week had been
exhausting. She’d had to stay late at work every day, and she’d come home every evening to a seemingly endless parade of people
going in and out of Ben’s house.
She laid face down on her bed and closed her eyes. Maybe she could sleep for a few minutes and still get ready on time.
“Mylie!” Cassie said from the doorway. “What are you doing? You have to get ready! I’m supposed to meet Ryan outside the gym
in forty-five minutes!”
“Ugh,” Mylie rolled over. “I’m so tired.”
“Get untired!” Cassie replied. “Come on.”
Mylie peeled herself off the bed and stood up. She ran a hand down the dress she’d bought. It fit perfectly. Granny’d had
to loosen the straps a bit, but otherwise, it really did look nice. It wasn’t formal, but it was right on the edge of it.
She’d agreed, begrudgingly, to wear Converse with Allie and Cassie. Truth be told, she’d been thrilled that her sister and
her friend asked her to match. So much of the time, she felt more like Cassie’s mother than her sister. It was nice to feel
like a sister once in a while. And it was nice, she told herself, to dress up and feel pretty.
Ben met them outside. It was just starting to get dark, but he could see well enough to tell that Mylie looked fantastic.
She was wearing that dress. Goddamn, that dress. It was just a simple black dress, but the back dipped low, exposing her skin.
She smiled at him when she saw him, and he pulled out the little box he had behind his back.
“I thought you might like this,” he said.
Mylie’s smile widened, and Ben felt his heart crack a bit. “You got me a corsage?”
“It’s a wristlet,” Ben replied. “The lady at the flower shop said that’s what all the kids wear now.”
“You have to put it on her,” Cassie said. “That’s the rule.”
“Sorry,” Ben said. “I didn’t know that.”
“You’ve never given a corsage to anyone before?” Cassie asked.
“Nope,” Ben admitted. “I never went to any dances in high school.”
Cassie looked to Mylie.
“It’s true,” Mylie replied. “Even when he got invited to junior prom by Melissa—you know, Cracked Egg Melissa? Even then,
he refused.”
“Melissa is so pretty!” Cassie blurted.
“I didn’t refuse,” Ben said. He wanted to tell Mylie that Melissa didn’t hold a candle to her, but he bit down on the words.
“Well, I didn’t refuse prom. I was touring a college in Chicago that weekend.”
He opened the box and slid the red rose arrangement over Mylie’s hand. He could have sworn her pulse quickened when he touched
the tender inside of her wrist.
“Let’s go,” Cassie said. “We’re already late.”
People were streaming into the gym by the time they got there. People of all ages, laughing and rushing to get out of the
muggy spring air.
“Ryan!” Cassie said, running up to her boyfriend.
Ben was pleased to see that the woman at the flower shop had been right. Nearly everyone had a wristlet rather than a corsage.
He’d agonized over it all day, wondering if he’d made the right choice.
“Are you excited?” Mylie asked, one side of her mouth twitch ing up into a sarcastic grin. “I know you missed the gymnasium so much.”
“Yes,” Ben replied. “I love going back to the scene of years of humiliation.”
“Oh, come on,” Mylie said. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Did Coach Pritchett leave you dangling halfway up a rope during second period to eat his tuna fish sandwich?” Ben asked.
“Jodi had to find a ladder to get me down!”
Mylie laughed. “I forgot about that.”
Inside, the gym looked just as Ben remembered. Nothing had changed—not the faded 1979 state basketball championship banner,
not the slightly warped wooden floor, and not the scarred metal door in the back that kids used to sneak out of to smoke.
He’d only done that once, and when his mom found out, he’d been grounded for a month.
“Mylie! Ben!” Jodi waved at them from across the silver balloon arch.
“Hey!” Mylie tugged at Ben’s arm, pulling him over to Jodi and a man who looked about as enthusiastic to be there as Ben felt.
“Ben, this is my boyfriend, Jared,” Jodi said. “Jared, this is my old high school buddy, Ben.”
“Nice to meet you,” Ben said, extending his hand.
“Your girl drag you here, too?” Jared asked. “Jodi makes me come to this thing every year.”
“Look,” Jodi said, pointing to Mylie’s wristlet. “I told you that you should have gotten me one.”
“I have this instead,” Jared said, pulling a silver flask from his pocket.
“That’s even better,” Jodi replied, taking it from him. “Once the music starts and our old gym teachers start dancing, we’re
going to need it.”
Ben wasn’t usually a fan of drinking after people he didn’t know, but he figured whatever was in the flask contained enough alcohol to sanitize the lid. Besides, Jodi was right. They were probably going to need it. It had been a long time since he was in a room with so many people he went to high school with.
“So, I heard Granny’s punch got banned,” Jodi said, leaning in toward Mylie conspiratorially.
“Yeah,” Mylie replied, taking the flask and tipping it back. “And now here we are drinking out of a flask.”
“She’d be so proud,” Jodi said with a laugh.
“Is Morris here?” Mylie asked. “I promised Granny I’d let her know if he was dancing with Lorelei Wilson.”
“Granny didn’t come?”
“She’s protesting,” Mylie said. “You know, because of the punch and all.”
“Well, Lorelei came with Mr. Pritchett,” Jodi replied. “I don’t think Granny has anything to worry about.”
“Our old gym teacher?” Ben asked. “I thought he was married.”
“She divorced him,” Mylie replied. “For cheating on her with Lorelei.”
“It’s like I’ve been gone a lifetime,” Ben said.
“Ten years is a long time,” Jodi agreed.
“Some things never change,” Mylie muttered. She inclined her head to where Robbie Price had entered the gym, arms crossed,
flanked by his brothers. They cut a menacing profile as they stalked inside. Several people gave them a wide berth.
“What is he doing here?” Jodi whispered.
“Same as everybody else, I guess,” Jared said.
“Shut up,” Jodi replied. “He’s here to cause trouble, plain and simple.”
Mylie shrank back. She didn’t want him to see her, didn’t want the confrontation that would inevitably bring.
“Do you want to leave?” Ben asked her.
“No,” Mylie said, shaking her head. “This is my town, too. I’m not going to let him intimidate me.”
Ben opened his mouth to respond when the speakers began blaring music and a collective scream rippled through the crowd. They
were swamped by people, making their way onto the gymnasium floor. It looked more fun than he thought it would.
“Let’s dance!” Jodi said, grabbing Mylie’s hand. “Forget about Robbie! He sucks!”
Mylie laughed and let herself be dragged onto the dance floor.
Ben stood there next to Jared and watched Mylie and Jodi snake around the crowd and begin to dance.
“So, you went to high school with Mylie and Jodi?” Jared asked.
“Yep,” Ben replied. “I’ve known them both since sixth grade.”
“Jodi said you moved off for college,” Jared continued. He discreetly passed the flask over to Ben. “But you haven’t been
back in years?”
“Also, yes,” Ben said.
“It’s nice to see you reconnected with Mylie,” Jared replied. “Jodi says she always had a thing for you.”
“We’re not seeing each other.” Ben shifted uncomfortably on his feet. It was an automatic answer, but he didn’t enjoy saying
it.
Being back in this gym reminded him that, despite the fact years had passed, they were still who they were. There wasn’t any
changing that. Getting involved now would be a mistake.
The song ended and “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran began to play. Jodi motioned for Jared, and he reluctantly made his way
out into the middle of the dance floor.
Mylie stood there for a few minutes avoiding looking at Ben. He sighed and walked over to her, carefully avoiding two teenagers who were kissing.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked her, holding out his hand.
“Yeah,” Mylie said, surprise taking over her features. She reached up and put her hands around him, her fingers grazing the
back of his neck.
Ben pulled her close into his space and grasped onto the sides of her hips. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slow-danced
with someone. It had to have been at one of his fraternity brother’s weddings a few years ago. He’d taken dancing lessons
before that event, worried he’d make a fool of himself. They’d been worth the money. He wasn’t going to be stepping on Mylie’s
toes.
“This is a nice surprise,” Mylie said. “I didn’t think you would dance.”
“I’m full of surprises,” Ben replied, grinning.
Mylie rested her head on Ben’s chest, and his grip on her involuntarily tightened. “I’m so tired,” she said.
“Long week?”
“You have no idea.”
“I’ve had people in and out of my house every single day,” Ben replied. “I was too afraid to eat or drink anything inside
because I thought I might mess up the kitchen. So, I ate outside. Then I accidentally attracted the largest raccoon I’ve ever
seen, and now he expects me to feed him.
“That’s just Fat Tony,” Mylie said. “Everyone in the neighborhood feeds him.”
Ben laughed. “I thought he was wearing a collar, but I couldn’t tell.”
“He’s the bane of Stanley’s existence,” Mylie replied. “Whoever buys your house will be in for a real treat.”
“I’m not going to tell Courtney about that,” Ben said.
Mylie grinned into his chest. “Oh, she knows.”
They danced in silence for a while until Mylie lifted her head and looked up at him. “Has anyone made an offer on the house?”
“No,” Ben said. “Not yet, but Courtney called today and said that first couple want another viewing next week, so I think
that’s good news.”
“Sounds like it,” Mylie replied.
“If I’m lucky, I’ll have the place sold by summer.”
Mylie let her hands fall away from Ben’s neck, and Ben realized why exactly a second too late.
“I mean, it’s not that I’m excited to leave or anything,” he said quickly. “It’s just, you know, I really need to be settled
before the fall semester starts.”
“Right,” Mylie said. “I know.”
The song ended, and Ben reluctantly released his grip on her.
They wandered back to the fringes of the dance floor, and Mylie waved to Allie and Cassie. The girls were in the middle of
some choreographed dance they’d clearly been practicing. They were all watching the dance so intently, they didn’t notice
when Robbie sidled up to them until he was talking.
“Evening,” he said. Even in the dim lighting, Mylie could see the sneer on his face.
“Jump scare,” Jodi said.
Mylie tried not to laugh.
“I’m surprised you’d show your face here,” Robbie continued. “Seein’ as how everyone in town knows you fired me without so
much as a paycheck.”
“The check’s in the mail,” Jodi said through gritted teeth. “And the only person who should worry about showing their face
in town is you.”
“Just ignore him,” Mylie said, turning to Jodi. “Maybe he’ll go away.”
Robbie slid in between Jodi and Mylie, knocking Mylie out of the way with one of his tree trunk arms. “I don’t ignore so easy,”
he said.
Before anybody else could react, Ben grabbed Robbie by his collar and hauled him out from between the two women. Robbie stumbled
back, nearly falling in the process.
“Back off,” Ben said.
“You don’t want any of this,” Robbie said, giving Ben a grin that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Trust me,” Ben said. “I do.”
Robbie considered it, looking Ben up and down. Ben squared his shoulders, and Robbie took a step back. “Nah,” he said, sniffing.
“You ain’t worth it.”
Mylie resisted the urge to flip him off as Robbie turned and sauntered back toward his brothers, who were waiting for him
near the exit.
“Do you think he came here just to fuck with us?” Jodi asked.
“I don’t know,” Mylie said, “But I’d say that’s a pretty good guess.”
“Are you okay?” Ben asked her.
“I’m going to go outside for some air.” Mylie turned and headed toward the metal door at the back of the gym.
Jodi made to follow her, but Ben stopped her. “I’ll go,” he said.
He found Mylie leaning up against the railing, her arms folded across her chest. When she saw him, she said, “I’m fine.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t,” Ben replied.
“Oh.”
“But now that you’ve brought it up,” Ben continued. “I think you’re lying.”
Mylie turned to him. “Just go back inside.”
“No,” Ben said. “I think we need to talk about it.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Mylie replied.
“Well, I do.”
“I didn’t need you to stick up for me,” Mylie said. “I can take care of myself.”
“I know that,” Ben said. “I just really hate Robbie.”
That got a small smile out of her.
“I just want to make sure you’re okay,” Ben pressed.
“I’m fine,” Mylie replied, angling herself away from him.
“Why do you have to be this way?” Ben asked. “You won’t ever tell me how you feel about anything. I thought maybe you would
have grown up in the last ten years, but apparently, I was wrong.”
“Would it have mattered?” Mylie asked. “Tell me, Dr. Lawrence, if I told you how I felt then or how I feel now, would it matter?”
“Of course!” Ben threw his hands up into the air.
“So, if I told you I didn’t want you to leave ten years ago, you would have stayed?” Mylie wanted to know.
“That’s not fair,” Ben said.
“See?” Mylie replied. “It wouldn’t have mattered.”
“It would have mattered!” Ben tried to keep from yelling, but he couldn’t. “It matters to me how you feel, but you know that
I had to leave.”
“And you have to leave now?” Mylie asked. “If you’re so desperate to sell this house and leave, then why are you even here
now?”
“I promised my mother,” Ben said. “I promised her I would come back one more time before I sold it. I keep my promises, Mylie.
You know that. That’s why I never lied to you about leaving. I was always going to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because I have to!” This time, Ben was yelling. “I have to leave. There isn’t anything here for me.”
“I’m here!” Mylie said. “I’m here. I’ve always been here.”
“You don’t have to be here!”
Mylie let out an exasperated groan. “Yes, I do! I have to be here. I have to stay here for Granny. For Cassie. For work.”
“What about you?” Ben asked, his tone softening.
“What about me?”
“What do you want, Mylie?” Ben took a step closer to her. “What is it that you want?”
“You,” Mylie said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What did you say?” He was so close to her now. He reached out and wrapped two of his fingers around tendrils of her hair
that had fallen out of her ponytail.
“I want,” Mylie said, licking her lips, “you.”
That was all the invitation he needed. Ben leaned down and found her mouth, pressing himself into her so that she was flush
against the railing.
At first, Ben thought the surprise that registered on Mylie’s face meant that she would pull away, but she didn’t. Instead,
she welcomed the crush of his body onto hers, and she kissed him back, opening her mouth to give him access.
Fuck, he wanted her. He’d always wanted her, and now he wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to stop wanting her. As he kissed
down her jawline into the hollow of her neck, she shivered, and he smiled into her warming skin.
Behind them, the metal door banged open, and Jodi called out to Mylie.
With a groan, Ben tore himself away from Mylie, backing up enough so that she could move away and out from under him. She
didn’t look back at him.
“What is it?” Mylie asked Jodi.
“Uh, I uh...” Jodi trailed off, smirking slightly at Mylie. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s okay,” Mylie said.
It wasn’t okay, but Ben knew that Jodi wasn’t talking to him. He hung back, crossing his arms over his chest, willing the
rational side of his brain to stay hidden for just a little longer so that he could enjoy the moment. He knew he was going
to regret this later, when he’d had time to think about it. For now, at least, he just wanted to pull Mylie back to him, to
shut out the world.
“It’s Cassie,” Jodi said, finally. “I guess she’s been trying to call you.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Jodi said, sighing. “Seems like maybe a fight over a boy or something, but she won’t tell me anything.”
“Where is she?” Mylie wanted to know, already pulling on the door handle.
“The bathroom,” Jodi replied.
With that, the two women disappeared into the gymnasium, leaving Ben behind, alone with his thoughts.