MERRITT
CHAPTER THIRTY
A week ago, I had a fake boyfriend, and now I have a real one.
And honestly, it doesn’t really feel like much has changed.
I mean, yes. There’s the incredible, mind-blowing sex we have. Three times at his house the night of the party and… every single day since then.
But that’s the only difference between pretending and not.
I’m still being cautious. I wouldn’t say scared, because I’m not scared that he’ll hurt me.
I know the guy that Bennett is. I know how he treats me, and I know how big of a deal this is to him, getting into a relationship with someone.
And I’m not judging him based on his past, just like he wouldn’t judge me based on my past.
Because if he did, then he would be judging me for ever dating Blake.
Truly, it kind of just feels like I am having the best sex of my life with one of my best friends, in a very non-weird way.
I think because we spent so long getting to know each other before hooking up, becoming comfortable around each other, that it just feels natural.
Like the pieces have finally aligned, and this is the person I’m supposed to be with, even if he’s the last one I thought I would ever consider dating. Being in a relationship with someone requires trust and vulnerability, so I’m trusting Bennett by putting that in his hands.
“What… is that supposed to be?” Elliott asks, his head cocked to the side as he stares down at the sugar cookie sitting on the kitchen table in front of Bennett. “Because it kind of looks like a di—” He snaps his lips together quickly, his gaze darting to me, and I lift a brow.
“Can we like… not while we decorate Christmas cookies, please?” I laugh but then crinkle my nose when I look over at my boyfriend’s cookie because, okay, it actually does really look like a dick.
Boyfriend…
I can’t believe I’m even saying that. It’s going to take a minute to really hit me, I think.
While Bennett possesses lots of talents, especially on the ice and in other very fun categories, it seems like art is not one of those talents. I reach over and slide my hand along the top of his shoulder, squeezing gently. “I love it. I think it’s… cute.”
His head whips up, and he glares at me. “Cute? This is supposed to be a badass reindeer, baby. You cannot call my reindeer cute.”
I genuinely do not understand how he manages to look serious during moments like this.
He actually looks offended.
And as badly as I try not to, I laugh and laugh and laugh, unable to stop it.
Bennett pins me with a look, and I manage to get it together. I roll my lips and nod wryly. “Yeah, it totally looks like a badass reindeer. Mhm.”
“Wait,” Elliott interrupts. “Have you ever actually seen a badass reindeer? Because I don’t think I have. Was it a movie? Or was it a game? If it wasn’t, it should be.”
“You two are ridiculous,” I say with an eye roll.
Of course, Dad had to work tonight. I really hate that he’s stuck working in the plant on Christmas Eve, especially when I know how much he wants to be home with us. But he gets tomorrow off, so it was worth the sacrifice.
Nights like tonight, even more so than normal, I’m thankful that Elliott and I have each other.
And this year… we have Bennett.
He’s spending tonight with us before his family gets here. I think he said his parents and sister are on a red-eye.
So far, we’ve spent Christmas Eve having a deliciously healthy, well-balanced dinner from Taco Bell.
Not very Christmassy, but Elliott suggested it, and who am I to turn down tacos, even on Christmas Eve?
We’ve been decorating sugar cookies before our Christmas movie marathon, and of course, I snuck in Krampus because I take it as my personal responsibility now to try and mess with Bennett as often as I can. Hey, this is exactly what he signed up for. He knew what he was getting into.
And even though tonight has been slightly unconventional and random, it’s been so much fun.
“Okay, fuck it, I give up,” Bennett says, dropping his piping bag of icing onto the table and pushing this cookie plate across the table from him with a sigh.
“Don’t give up.” I smirk. “It’s a… wonderfully done, very badass reindeer.”
Albeit a slightly phallic-shaped one, but I keep that part to myself because he’s looking a little defeated.
Bennett shrugs. “Might not look good, but it’s definitely gonna taste good.”
“I’ll take that,” Elliott says, swiping the cookie off the table and taking the head of the “badass” reindeer off in one bite. “You’de dight. Vedddddy good,” he mumbles around a mouthful. “I’m going to put the movie on.”
Once he’s disappeared through the doorway, Bennett looks over at me, his blue eyes bright and shining with playfulness.
He reaches out and grabs my chair to pull me toward him until we’re as close as our chairs will allow. Leaning forward, he captures my lips in a sweet kiss before he murmurs softly, “Merry Christmas, baby.”
I bite the inside of my lip and lift my brow. “Is it Christmas? I didn’t even realize.”
He chuckles. “Smartass. I’ve been waiting to kiss you all damn night. Gimme another one before you get mad at me for bringing presents.”
I pull back.
What?
“Bennett… What happened to no presents?”
“It’s not a big deal. Just a few… small things,” he says in defense. His fingers find my chin, and he grips it, stealing another kiss. This one is slower, more savoring than the last.
My favorite kind of kisses from him.
The ones that make my stomach flip and my skin prickle with anticipation.
When he finally pulls back, I’m a tiny bit dazed. “I’ll go grab them and meet you in the living room in a few.”
Right now, I’d rather stay here and kiss him for the rest of the night, but I begrudgingly push my chair back and step past him.
I’m almost through the doorway when I hear him add, “And baby… by small, I mean in measurement!”
I’m so surprised.
Soooo surprised.
I had a feeling this is exactly how tonight would go since, after all, I know Bennett.
“Well, that’s okay…” I trail off, smiling so big that my cheeks actually hurt as I toss back over my shoulder, “Because I got you something too.”
I turn back and blow him a kiss.
So much for the whole no-present thing.
A few minutes later, I’m sitting beside Elliott on the floor, having a creative discussion about which movie we should actually start with, when Bennett strides into the living room, holding several wrapped presents.
“Sweet! Is one of those for me?” Elliott asks, waggling his eyebrows.
Bennett chuckles. “Could be.”
I reach over and smack Elliott in the head. “Don’t be rude, Elliott.”
“Sorry,” he mumbles, and Bennett just shakes his head, laughing. “Of course one is for you. Might be the coolest one, if you ask me.”
It makes something powerful stir beneath my ribs.
Something that seems to happen a lot whenever Bennett is around.
He sits down beside me and places the presents onto the coffee table, taking the one sitting at the top off his pile. It’s wrapped in a gorgeous bright red, metallic paper with little candy canes on it.
When he reaches past me and hands it to Elliott, his eyes widen, and his entire face lights up.
I feel Bennett’s hand sliding over mine, lacing our fingers together, and I flash him a smile, all while my heart is nearly skipping its beat.
We both watch Elliott rip into the paper, boyish excitement shining on his face in a way that almost brings tears to my eyes.
God, these moments feel few and far between nowadays. The older he gets, the more it feels like he’s almost embarrassed to get excited about things. Like he has to be cool about everything, even when I know he’s internally losing his mind.
Once he finally gets the wrapping paper off, his eyes go comically wide, and he freezes, slowly glancing up at Bennett.
“Holy sh— What?”
Bennett just shrugs. His expression is cool, but his eyes are sparkling delight.
Elliott nearly levitates off the floor, picking up the box to get a closer look.
“What is it?”
He holds up a brand-new Nintendo.
My jaw falls open.
Holy shit?!
Elliott has been wanting this for months. I heard him talking about it with his friends, but he didn’t ask for it for Christmas.
He probably knows that it’s not exactly in our budget right now and didn’t want to make Dad feel guilty.
I cannot believe that Bennett bought this for him.
My gaze whips to Bennett, and he’s beaming, his smile so wide and bright it’s infectious. But then it falls slightly, and panic flits across his face. “Shit, is it too much?”
“Is it too much? I whisper hiss, even though Elliott’s sitting right next to me and can obviously hear everything that I’m saying. “Bennett, those are like a couple of hundred dollars at least. They’re so expensive. You didn’t have to do that.”
Bennett looks past me at Elliott. “Do you like it? Is that the one you were talking about the other day in our chat? Because I couldn’t remember. But I was fairly sure you said it was this one because it’s the limited-edition color, right?”
Elliott nods eagerly. “Yes. Oh my God. This is like the coolest thing I’ve ever gotten in my entire life. Thank you.” From where I’m sitting, it almost looks like tears welling in my little brother’s eyes.
Oh God, I’m going to cry. I’m going to actually fucking cry.
God, this man. This freaking man and his big, bleeding heart.
That he has no problem showing to those that he cares about.
Of course this gift is too much. I would have never in a million years expected him to do this.
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the thoughtfulness that he went into picking this for Elliott.
It’s not about what it is or how much it costs; it’s the fact that he knew it was something that Elliott really wanted. Because he pays attention. Because he’s taken the time to get to know him.
It’s generous and sweet. He makes sure to include my brother and never make him feel like he’s tagging along in the way that Blake did. Like he was an inconvenience.
Elliott thinks of Bennett as his friend, and tonight? Bennett showed that he listens, and he cares, and it’s not just about our relationship. It’s theirs too.