Chapter 9
April
The last ten minutes of anatomy are a blur of fluorescent lights and the professor's mind-numbing voice, distant, muffled, and pointless. I’m half-convinced my brain melted somewhere around the kidney diagrams as my notes slid into my lap.
My hand cramps around the pen even though I’ve barely written a thing.
When the clock finally hits the hour, the whole class snaps awake, bags zipping, chairs scraping.
Survival mode.
Outside, dusk wraps the campus in that weird pink haze.
Two girls from my lecture giggle as they go on about some party, but I just shrink deeper into my hoodie, clutching my backpack to my chest. All I want is to get into my car, crank some Ariana, and drive straight home to bed.
My head’s pounding. I’m so far past tired, my bones hurt.
My keys jingle in my hand, each step down the cracked sidewalk dragging on and on. The chill sneaks up under my skirt, trailing goosebumps up my thighs. I’m pretty sure I’m limping by the time I round the last building into the student lot.
Then, I see him.
Ben. Leaning against the side of my car. That crooked smile and those dark eyes locked right on me. His arms are folded, tattoos peeking out from the sleeves of his Henley, looking so stupidly gorgeous I almost drop my bag.
All the exhaustion evaporates at once, replaced by that hurricane-in-my-stomach thing only Ben can do to me.
“Look who finally decided to show up.” His grin’s pure trouble, eyebrow cocked like he’s been waiting hours.
Hot embarrassment heats up my cheeks.
Shit. I completely forgot we had plans.
Playing it off, I check my phone. It’s only eight minutes past the hour.
“Sorry,” I mumble, sticking my tongue out. “Maybe if I didn’t have professors who love hearing themselves talk…” My voice breaks on the last word because Ben is closing the distance. His scent finds me first…fresh soap and something smoky, all male.
He glances at his watch, pretending to look annoyed. “You know, some people show up early for their dates. It’s this new trend called punctuality.”
I laugh in spite of my exhaustion , nerves scrambling my words. “Is it? I’ll have to Google it sometime.” My fingers fumble, unlocking the car, but Ben’s already reaching for my bag.
“Here. You look like you’re about to pass out.” He grabs the strap and tosses it effortlessly into the back seat, then leans in until I can feel his breath on my cheek. “Lucky for you, my rescue services are top notch.”
The way he says it, low and close, sends a thrill right down to my toes. Once again, heat blooms in my face. I should be used to it by now, but with Ben, never.
He steps back and props his hands behind him on the trunk, gaze sliding over me, hungry but playful. I bite my lip because suddenly my throat’s gone desert-dry.
“So,” I say, drawing it out, “are you going to tell me what you’ve got planned, or do I have to guess?”
Ben’s smile widens. He looks me up and down slowly, like he’s debating just how much to torture me. “No hints. Just trust me.” He tosses his keys up in the air, and catches them one-handed. Show off. “It’s a surprise. You’re following me.”
An actual shiver runs through me. Of course he’s in charge. And of course I love it.
I nod, maybe too eagerly. “Okay. Where are we going?”
He just winks. “You’ll see. Try not to get pulled over for speeding, okay?” Another onceover, and then he turns and hops into his truck, engine already rumbling to life.
My heart’s beating so hard I can barely breathe.
I sink into the driver’s seat, slamming the door quickly in case anyone’s watching, and immediately check the mirror. My hair’s a wreck, cheeks flushed, eyeliner smudged a little, but overall, not bad. I dig in my bag for gloss, swipe it on with a shaking hand. As if Ben would care, but still.
The radio boots up, and I click through three stations before giving up and just turning it off.
My brain won't stop screaming noisy thoughts anyway. Where are we even going? I mean, obviously it’s a date.
But with Ben, everything feels so much bigger than it should.
Like he could change my whole world with one look.
He waits for me at the lot exit, idling with one arm draped over the wheel, sunglasses on even though the sun is going down. Yeah, he sees me staring. I try to play it cool but I’m not sure I’m doing a good job pulling it off.
He peels out slowly, the throaty growl of the diesel engine echoing back.
I do my best to keep up, nerves tap dancing in my gut.
My hands won’t stop fidgeting with the steering wheel, a death grip at ten and two, then at the base, then picking at my cuticles.
Classic me. I catch myself glancing down at my skirt.
Did I sit on it weird? Is it wrinkled? Are my knees blotchy? Ugh, get it together, April.
The city falls away fast once Ben veers on to the back roads.
Wind whips through the crack in my window.
Every few seconds, I check the mirror again, making sure what little makeup I’m wearing isn’t running, that I don’t have food in my teeth.
I wish I’d worn something hotter, but Ben said he liked this skirt, so maybe I shouldn’t overthink it.
Who am I kidding; that’s all I do.
The drive stretches out, minutes ticking by. Trees blur on either side, the sky shifting to something softer, velvet-gray threaded with pink.
About fifteen minutes outside town, Ben’s taillights start to slow. There’s nothing out here except an old gas station, a dark vending machine buzzing in the corner of its lot, and…
There it is.
A drive-in theater.
It’s huge neon sign glowing against the dimming sky. “Moonlight Cinema” in giant block letters, with yellow bulbs. Below, the marquee advertises tonight’s double feature.
My mouth actually drops open. This is…so retro, it’s almost romantic. Not what I pictured from the king of tattoos and brooding vibes, but somehow it fits him. Totally unpredictable and somehow perfect.
Ben takes the ramp up to the entrance, and I fall in behind him. There’s a line of cars…families in minivans, couples in trucks with blankets spread out in the beds. My nerves go from humming to full-on buzzing.
He pays for both of us at the little booth, then motions for me to follow as he picks a spot. I park next to him, hands shaking so bad I almost miss the gear shift.
Before I can even catch my breath, Ben’s out of his truck and at my window, tapping. My heart lurches into my throat.
He leans in as I roll the window down, voice a low tease. “You coming, or are you gonna hide in there all night?”
God. I could drown in those eyes.
I unbuckle stupid-fast and stumble out, nearly tripping over my own bag. Ben catches my elbow, steadying me like he doesn’t want to let go.
“I hope you’re ready,” he says, eyes locked on mine. “Tonight, you’re not getting away with leaving early.”
I’m not even sure I remember how to form words, so I just nod.
The sun’s barely down, but already the drive-in’s alive.
There are kids yelling over the fence, someone blasting old Taylor Swift three rows back, popcorn smell drifting through the air.
Most cars are spaced out, two or three together here and there, but Ben parked us right in the dead center. Like he owns the whole place.
“Wait here,” he says, already making his way to the back of his truck.
He reappears holding a duffel bag, a couple of sodas, and a stack of movie candy.
“Holy shit,” I blurt, opening the truck door for him. “Did you rob a snack bar?”
Ben grins. “Nah, just prepared for all emergencies.” He leads me to the passenger side before he slides back into the driver’s seat, dumping all the snacks between us. “Didn’t want you getting hungry. Or cold.” The way he says it, eyes darting to my knees, has my skin tingling all over again.
He rifles through the bag, pulling out a blanket, navy blue and soft as sin. He drapes it over my lap, his knuckles brushing my thigh on purpose, then grabs some Skittles and tears open the wrapper with his teeth. “Want some?”
I take the candy, mostly to keep my hands from shaking. “You always bring girls to the drive-in, or am I special?”
Ben pretends to consider, pressing a finger to his chin. “Hmm, that’s a tough one.”
My mouth falls open. “That’s not…”
“I’m joking!” He leans in closer, half-whispering, “Trust me. You are definitely the only special one, and yes, you’re the only girl I’ve ever brought here.”
There’s a shiver that runs up my arms, even under all the heat. I help him spread the snacks out across the dashboard, feeling stupid at how giddy it makes me. Our hands touch, fingers intertwining and releasing. Every time, the spark jumps higher.
The previews start. Ben drops his seat back just a little, slouching, and pulls me over until my thigh is pinned against his. There’s honestly no universe where I pay attention to a single frame on the screen.
Instead, all I can focus on is the bone-melting heat where we’re touching. How grounded he feels, like if I let go I’d float away completely.
Minutes pass. I pick at the blanket, twist it in my hands, fixate on the way his leg presses into mine. Outside, the breeze picks up, carrying the distant sound of laughter, but inside the truck it’s muggy and warm. I can see our breath start to fog the windows.
Ben’s hand lands on my knee. There’s no warning, only the rough heat of his palm and then slow, deliberate motion.
I freeze. It’s not fear. More like every muscle in my body on fire.
He starts drawing little circles, his thumb working tiny patterns into my bare skin. I lean into him. Words long gone. The movie background noise.
Ben looks down at me, dark eyes hungry like he knows exactly how he’s affecting me. Without a word, he slides higher, fingers inching up my thigh under the blanket. Higher, higher, until my breath starts hitching in my chest.
My entire brain is melting.