Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ashlyn
Nerves twist in my stomach as I follow Ben back to Laney.
I’ve never been this anxious about meeting someone before, but I know how important it is for her to accept me if Ben and I are going to make this work.
The more time I spend with him, the more I realize just how badly I want that acceptance.
When we get back to the booth, Laney’s head is down, and she’s engrossed in her phone. I glance at Ben, who smiles reassuringly.
“I got you a Coke,” I say as I slide into the booth and pass over her drink.
“Thanks,” she says, placing her phone face down on the table and reaching for the glass. She takes a mouthful before putting the glass down. “I was hoping you’d have slipped me a double vodka in there, Ashlyn. Especially as you’re trying to win me over.”
There’s humor in her voice, but her stare tells me she’s not joking.
“Laney,” Ben warns.
She holds her hands up. “What? I can’t make a joke?”
“So, I hear you’re off to college in the fall. Have you decided where you’re going?” I ask, trying to move the conversation along.
She picks up her glass and takes another mouthful of soda before her eyes meet mine. “Arizona State. It’s where my mom went, and going there means I’m close enough to her care facility to see her whenever I want.”
“You must miss her,” I say quietly.
“I miss her every day, and even more since Dad made us move to the back end of nowhere.”
I look at Ben, who blows out a breath.
“What are you going to be studying?” I ask, in an attempt to stop the conversation from imploding.
She sighs. “Nursing and midwifery.”
“Your aunt’s a doctor, right?” She nods. “One of my brothers is too.”
“One of your brothers? How many do you have?”
“Four.”
“Are any of them single?”
I try not to look surprised at how forward she is. Maybe it’s the alcohol.
“Laney!” Ben says, his voice sharp with warning.
“What?” she replies with a shrug. “I’ve got a thing for older guys.”
She glances at me and throws a wink my way, and I quickly avert my gaze, recognizing the jab for exactly what it is.
“Wyatt’s the only single one, and he spends most of his time in Phoenix with the Arizona Cardinals,” I say quietly.
Her head flicks around to look at me. “The Arizona Cardinals?”
I nod. “Wyatt’s a linebacker for them.”
“No way! Your brother is Wyatt Brookes?”
I laugh. “The one and only.”
She looks across at Ben. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She looks back at me. “Dad is a massive Cardinals fan. Always has been.”
I turn to look at him. “You never said.”
He shrugs sheepishly. “I didn’t want to come across as a fan boy.”
“But you met Wyatt on Christmas Eve.”
“You’ve met Wyatt Brookes?” Laney exclaims.
“Are you a football fan too?” I ask her.
“I’m a hot football player fan. Wyatt Brookes is sexy as hell.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ben mutters, and I can’t help but laugh.
“You know, one of the guys who works behind the bar looks like Wyatt, except he’s covered in ink.”
“That would be my other brother, Seb. Wyatt’s twin,” I tell her.
“Holy fuck!”
“Language, Laney,” Ben says, shaking his head.
Laney waves off his chastise. “Are your other brothers as hot as Wyatt and Seb?”
I grimace. “Well, they’re my brothers, so...”
“Hmmm, four hot guys should make family get-togethers interesting. Assuming I’m invited, of course.”
I look at Ben for help, not knowing what to say. Despite the soda she’s drinking, she’s beginning to slur her words, and I’m guessing whatever she drank before Ben found her is starting to kick in.
“I think it’s time to leave. You good to go, Ash?” Ben says.
I nod.
“No! Let’s stay for another drink,” Laney shouts. “I haven’t heard all about your relationship yet.” She spits the word relationship, and I lower my eyes, sipping on the last of my wine. The conversation seemed to be going okay, but something’s shifted, and now it all feels a little bit awkward.
“That’s enough, Laney. It’s time to go,” Ben says, standing. I follow his lead, hoping Laney takes the hint. Thankfully, she does, and Ben slips his hand in mine as the three of us walk through Eden and out onto the sidewalk.
“Why is the car parked so far away?” Laney whines as she stumbles in her heeled pumps.
“We ate at Franco’s before going to Eden,” Ben snaps. “If you weren’t drinking illegally, you’d be able to walk the five hundred yards to the car.”
Laney scowls, her gaze dropping to our intertwined hands, and my heart sinks. As much as I wish otherwise, tonight won’t be the night she accepts us. I was foolish to think one drink together could change her mind. Maybe when she’s sober, I’ll have another chance to convince her.
“Do you have to?” she spits.
“Have to what?” Ben asks, his voice laced with confusion.
“Be all over each other. It’s gross.”
“We’re holding hands, Laney, not having sex in the street.”
“Urgh, don’t put that image in my mind.”
I try to pull my hand from Ben’s, but he tightens his hold.
“Ashlyn is my girlfriend. I’m going to hold her hand, and you’re going to have to get used to it.” He squeezes my hand and gives me a small smile. I try to smile back.
Laney mutters something incomprehensible as we reach Ben’s car and climbs into the back seat, leaving Ben and me on the sidewalk.
“God, I’m sorry about tonight, Ash,” Ben says, wrapping me in his arms. “This isn’t how I wanted our first date to go. Laney is in so much trouble.”
I sigh. “Don’t be too tough on her, Ben. This must be hard for her.”
“Hard or not, she shouldn’t be drinking on a false ID in your brother’s bar.”
“No, but we’ve all done it.”
“I haven’t!”
I laugh. “Then you must have been a very good boy.”
He smiles. “And you must have been a very naughty girl.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “What can I say? I had four over-protective older brothers. I had to take my fun however and wherever I could get it.”
He laughs. “It seems Laney has more in common with you than with me.”
I smack his chest gently. “Cheeky.”
“It’s true! When I left home earlier, Laney was watching the same terrible reality TV show that was playing when I got to your place.”
I narrow my eyes. “Wet and Wild is not a terrible reality TV show. It’s addictive watching.”
“It’s people with hardly any clothes on competing for the attention of some jumped-up guy.”
“You have watched it, then? You know the plot!” I tease, a smile pulling on my lips.
He rolls his eyes. “I’ve caught a few minutes of it when Laney’s been watching it.”
I chuckle. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.”
Suddenly, the car door opens.
“Can we go already? I could have walked home quicker,” Laney shouts before slamming the door.
“Unlikely in those shoes,” Ben mutters as he steps away and holds the passenger door open.
We’re silent on the short drive to my apartment. I don’t know what to say to Laney, and I doubt she wants to make small talk either. When Ben parks up, I turn in my seat to look in the back of the car.
“It was good to finally meet you, Laney.”
“I wish I could say the same,” Laney mumbles, and my heart sinks.
“Don’t be so God damn rude, Laney Murphy!” Ben exclaims. “Apologize to Ashlyn, right now.”
I place my hand and Ben’s arm. “It’s okay, Ben.”
“It’s not okay. It’s not okay at all.”
I give him a small smile. “I should go.”
“I’ll walk you to the door.”
“I feel sick,” Laney says from the backseat.
Ben closes his eyes and blows out a breath.
“You should take her home,” I tell him softly.
He leans across the centre console and brushes a kiss on my cheek. “I’m sorry,” he whispers in my ear.
“Stop apologizing,” I whisper back.
I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”
“I have an all-day meeting at Riverside tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ll text you about tomorrow night.”
“Okay. Night, Ash.”
“Night.”
I step out of the car and make my way to the entrance of my apartment building. Glancing back, I wave at Ben, and he waves in return, only driving off once I’m inside and the door clicks shut behind me.
With a sigh, I watch his car disappear into the distance.
This isn’t how I expected the night to end.
I always knew gaining Laney's approval would be tough. I think I underestimated just how tough. I expected my brothers to be the biggest challenge in our relationship, but now I’m starting to realize they might be the least of my worries.