Chapter 37 #2
“Same here. I’m usually awkward around people, but I find it easy to talk to you. For some strange reason... Haha, yeah, I hear that a lot.”
“I hear that a lot too.” I laughed at him and he joined in. We sat in silence for a bit, scanning the horizon for any sign of a wave. But the ocean was calm. I decided to stay for a little while longer before heading out to eat.
“How about you? What’s your story?” I asked him, looking him straight in the eyes. He started to smile.
“Damn! And here I was thinking you were going to confess your undying love for me?” He said sarcastically, slapping his hand lightly on the water and tapping his other on my thigh.
“Twenty-six?! Are you—sorry, go on.” I stopped talking when he gave me a deadpan look.
“As I was saying, I’m twenty-six. I work at Google as a programmer. I live in that house over there. I have one older brother, one younger one, and a younger sister who’s the same age as you.
My dad died when I was thirteen from lung cancer—he was a smoker. I played high school and college football, got injured, and was told I couldn’t play again. I could’ve gone pro. Went to UCLA too, got cheated on there too.
I took up surfing to get away from people. My brother, who’s a pro surfer, taught me. I love my mom—she says I’m the best. My mouth sometimes lands me in trouble, especially when I was younger.
I love sports—anything sports-oriented, I love. I’m big on the ladies too, may I add. I work out every day, but I’m not big on the healthy eating stuff. I like a balance. I’m a family man, although I don’t want one of my own just yet.
I’m very protective of my sister Haley, the one who bought the swimsuit. She stresses me out too much though. She’d die if she knew I was talking to you. She’s obsessed with Carter, like all girls.”
“Don’t I know it. If they only knew him.”
“Why don’t you like him?” “We just never got along. We used to annoy the shit out of each other. It would sometimes get so bad our moms had to hide the kitchen knives from us. Although neither of us was psychotic enough to use them.”
“There had to have been something that made you both pissed at each other? I mean, I know I shouldn’t be reading the crap, but from the magazines and TV, the way he looks at you shows different to what you’re saying.”
I mentally groaned and scanned the ocean for something, anything.
“There is something, isn’t there!” He beamed over at me. I rolled my eyes at him and shook my head.
“Tell me now! There’s definitely something that stemmed this hatred between you both. What was it? Tell me, tell me, tell me!”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know. Now tell me and stop trying to change the subject.”
“Fine, if I tell you, you promise you won’t tell anyone! You have to pinky swear. I know where you live!”
“Alright, alright, I swear I won’t tell a soul! I promise!”
“Okay, so when I was nine and he was eleven, I did like him. We moved schools and I met him on the first day by sitting next to him. Then my older brother Kyle met him and they hit it off instantly.
He would always come over and talk to me, make me feel comfortable because I was younger and found it hard to make friends. He helped me.
I met my best friend a week later by chance in the only class I didn’t have with him. One day, all of Kyle’s friends came over to our new house and we were all in the basement, messing around.
We decided to play spin the bottle and do fifteen minutes in heaven. I know it’s seven minutes, but my brother changed the rules so he could kiss the girl he liked for longer in the closet.”
“Haha! My man! I like your brother.”
“It was Knox’s turn, and the bottle pointed straight at me.
We were ushered into the closet for fifteen minutes, much to my brothers’ chagrin.
We kissed, and the time seemed to evaporate.
I enjoyed it, and I thought he did too. But after that kiss, he turned cold, his rudeness escalating with each passing day. ”
“That’s not the end of it. When I was sixteen and he was eighteen, we found ourselves at a summer house party, playing the same game. And guess who the bottle chose when he gave it a spin?”
“Exactly. So, we were back in the closet, locked in another fifteen-minute kiss. It was more than a kiss, really. We made out, our hands exploring each other.
That is, until my brothers started banging on the door. They practically yanked us out of the closet and made us sit on opposite sides of the room.”
“And? Let me guess, he turned into a jerk again?”
“You’re catching on! He was even worse than the first time. We started to provoke each other, pushing each other’s buttons.
Our families had to separate us because we fought so much. He started it, and I was just defending myself.
I couldn’t stand being around him, and the feeling was mutual. But he was always there, always. It was like World War III whenever we were in the same room.”
Ben started to laugh so hard he nearly fell off the board. His laugh was infectious, and his surfer looks were irresistible. I couldn’t believe he was a programmer for Google.
“What? Why are you laughing?” I asked, smiling at him. His happiness was contagious. He stopped laughing and returned my smile.
“You have no idea, do you?”
“Oh, sweet cheeks, Carter liked you! I think he still does. You must’ve been his first crush.”
“What? No! Didn’t you listen to my story? We couldn’t stand each other! He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him! You sound like my sister and my best friends now.”
“Thompson, he likes you! Let me ask you this, did he start dating a lot of girls, more than usual, after both times he kissed you?”
“Yeah, but... it’s because he knew he could get any girl... I don’t know where you’re going with this. And he doesn’t like me, he’s a grade-A jerk.”
“My theory is coming together. He started dating other girls and being mean to you because he didn’t know how to handle his feelings for you.”
I laughed so hard I nearly fell off the board.
“I don’t disagree with you about him being a jerk, but he does have feelings for you. I bet he’s kissed you more times than just those two!”
My eyes widened. He was right. He was reading this like a book.
“I’m right, aren’t I?” He asked, and I turned away from him. “And you liked it, didn’t you?” I still didn’t say anything. “You don’t have to tell me, but answer me this, do you like him like that?”
I slowly turned to face him and gritted out, “No.”
“Then you’re lying to yourself, sweet cheeks. It’s written all over your face.” I rolled my eyes.
“I have never and will never like Carter. He’s not my type, and I most certainly am not his. Believe me, I could write ‘How to Date Knox Carter 101’ for the female population. I’ve seen him with so many girls.”
“Then he either did that to make you jealous or to get over you.”
I scoffed at his implication.
“Can we not talk about him anymore? He’s not even here, and he’s ruining my mood. I came here to escape everything.”
“There’s only so far you can run, but yeah, let’s swim back to shore. It’s too calm at the moment. You hungry? We could go to my house and make food?”
“You’re kidnapping me already?” I teased him.
“I sure am, you’re all mine, Thompson, all mine! I’m going to woo you with my exceptional cooking skills. You can help if it means I get to see your ass again,” he winked at me.
“You’re such a flirt, Hendrix! Let’s go, I’m starving!”
We paddled back to shore and walked up to his house, a short distance from the beach. It was stunning and surprisingly clean for a guy’s house.
We spent the rest of the day there, exchanging numbers so we could keep in touch. Despite the rocky start, it turned out to be a good day.
I met Ben, who is such a good person. I loved being around him. He made me open up so quickly, something I’d never done with anyone else, except for Knox when we were younger.
Then he started to hate me, and everything went downhill from there. I hoped the same wouldn’t happen with Ben.
After we ate, the day slipped away so quickly I lost track of time. He carried my board and walked me back to my car in the parking lot. I opened the door to let him put my board in the back.
He shut the door and leaned against it, crossing his legs and looking down at me with a smirk. “I haven’t had this much fun in a while.”
I nodded and smiled up at him.
“Me too. It’s been ages since I’ve been in the water. Plus, you managed to pull me out of my own head. So, thank you! Would you mind if we did this again sometime?”
“I suppose I’m irresistible, aren’t I?” His words were laced with playful sarcasm. I tried to suppress my laughter, but it bubbled out anyway.
“You have such a beautiful smile. You should wear it more often. It’s better than any outfit I’ve seen. In fact, you should just wear that and nothing else.” His smirk was infectious, causing me to raise an eyebrow and shake my head at him.
“In your dreams, Hendrix! Goodbye!”
“In my dreams tonight and every other night, Thompson. Especially while your commercial is still running! I bet it’s among the most downloaded and watched commercials now, if you catch my drift.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
“I certainly hope not! Bye, Hendrix! See you soon.”
“Oh no! I don’t think so! Don’t I get a goodbye hug?”
“Fine.” I walked over to his open arms and wrapped my own around his waist. I could feel the hard planes of his abs through his skin-tight shirt.
His large arms enveloped my smaller frame, pulling me closer to his well-built body. I pulled back, walked to the driver’s side, hopped in, and shut the door.
The window was rolled down, so Ben leaned in and said, “Text me when you get home, so I know you’re alright.” He thumped the inside of my car twice—out of habit, I assumed—and I started up the engine.
“Will do, honey! Bye,” I waved at him as I backed out onto the road and drove away. I caught a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror, still standing there, before he finally walked away.
A few minutes later, I arrived home. True to my word, I texted him to let him know I was home safe and sound. I stripped off my clothes, ready for a long, steamy shower, and then bed. What a day, I thought to myself.