CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Once they arrived at Ben’s condo, Lizzie helped him get Maya upstairs. She’d taken Charlie and left, saying they’d talk later. Maybe he should have said something more to her, but he was sure she understood that Maya was his primary concern at the moment.
“You want some tea or something?” he asked Maya.
“Yes, please,” she said. “Could you grab me a water bottle too?”
Ben filled the kettle and set it on the stove, grabbed a water, and came in to sit with her. She drank half the bottle in one go.
“So,” he said. “What happened?”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The movie had ended, and Bella and I were fixin’ to get something to eat. We’d driven separately, so we were gonna meet at the restaurant. Bella had just left when she called.”
Ben didn’t have to ask who “she” was. “Was this the first time she’s tried to contact you?”
“Yes,” Maya said. “I asked how she got my number, and she said social media. Anyway, she said she wanted to see me, to which I replied, ‘Uh, no thanks.’ I was about to hang up when she blurted out that her friend had you tied up and would hurt you if I didn’t do what she said.”
“Good lord,” Ben muttered.
“She demanded to know where I was, and I told her. She said to wait there, that she was on her way to me and not to call anyone. I freaked out, Dad. I didn’t totally believe her, but I couldn’t take a chance she was lying either. So, I waited. A beat-up old minivan pulled up, and the man driving pointed a gun at me and told me to get in. They took my purse and keys.” Tears filled her eyes, and Ben moved to the couch to put his arm around her.
“I’m so sorry this happened, baby.”
Maya wiped her eyes. “I thought they were gonna take me to where you were and that everything would be okay. Instead, he dropped Mom off here and then took me to that crappy motel. I heard them whispering about using you to get money.”
“Your mom got our address from your driver’s license and the house key from your ring. She was waiting here when I got home. I never should have gone out. I could’ve gotten to you much sooner. Damn it.” He’d been traipsing around town, chasing a skirt and drinking while two demented idiots tormented his baby. He would never forgive himself.
“Dad. It’s not your fault. I know you’re beating yourself up, but don’t. I’m happy you were out with friends.”
“You’re handling this remarkably well,” he said. “Better than I am. It might take some time to process everything, but you doin’ okay? How do you feel?”
“I was scared at first, but apart from being tied up, they didn’t hurt me or anything. They just seemed really desperate for money. Something about paying off a debt to stay alive.”
He exhaled and shook his head. “Was seeing your mom weird?”
“Kind of.” She picked at a fingernail. “I used to think about her sometimes and wonder if she’d ever come back. But honestly, I wrote her off years ago. She’s a real train wreck. If she doesn’t regret leaving us, she should.”
“You’re very mature for your age.”
“From what Grandma tells me, I get that from you.” She tilted her head and smiled.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I would have done if they had hurt you.”
“You were great at fighting. And Lizzie taking Mom down? That was awesome. You guys are a good team.” She gave him a look. “Speaking of that, how did she get involved?”
“Oh…um…well. We’ve sort of been dating.” That might be using the term loosely, but it was complicated, and he wasn’t about to go into it with his teenage daughter.
“Dad! That’s fantastic,” Maya said just as the kettle whistled.
“Saved by the bell,” he said, jumping up to get it. He poured two cups and brought them to the living room. “Chamomile. Might help us sleep.”
“Quit stalling. Spill. Is this because I set you up? I knew you’d hit it off.”
“That’s one reason I didn’t want to tell you. You’d get all cocky about it.” He smiled to show he was teasing.
“Do you really like her then?”
“It’s new. I mean, we’ve only hung out a couple of times, but yeah. She’s pretty great.”
“Is she your girlfriend?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. Like I said, it’s only been a few dates. Don’t start calling her Mom or anything.”
She swatted his arm. “Christmas is risky for a budding relationship. Gifts can be a landmine. You’ll need something romantic, but not too romantic, you know? I should help you pick something out.”
“Oh? And when did you become such an expert?”
“I set you up, didn’t I? I expect to be mentioned at the wedding.”
“This is exactly why I didn’t say anything.” He chuckled. “Anyway, we’ll be in Knoxville over Christmas, and I’m sure she’s spending it with her family. I don’t even know if we’ll do presents.”
A look of horror crossed her face. “Oh, crap.” She set down the mug of tea she’d just picked up.
“What?”
“I just remembered something. Something you might freak out about.”
“Break it to me gently.”
“In my defense, I didn’t know you were seeing Lizzie.”
“Maya.”
“I committed you to a date with someone from the dating site. You’re supposed to go out with her tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Well, that still gives you time to cancel.”
She was silent for a moment. The kind of silence that makes a dad nervous.
“Or,” she said, dragging the word out a good three seconds. “And hear me out. What if you go? I mean, are you exclusive with Lizzie?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted. “We haven’t talked about exclusivity.”
“Well, I like Lizzie. I do. But she doesn’t seem like the type to settle down, you know?”
“You’re the one that wanted me to get together with her. You set us up.”
“That was to get your feet wet. Practice a little. Plus, it’s not like I know very many grown women.”
Maya did have a point. And Lizzie did have a reputation for short-term relationships. He liked her, but did she see him as just another notch in her metaphorical belt?
“Shouldn’t I run it by her first?” he asked.
“I don’t think she’s as serious as you are, Dad.” She sighed sympathetically. “I just saw her having coffee with some guy three days ago. It seemed like a date.”
“What? When? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I didn’t know about you guys. It was Wednesday, and I was bummed because I couldn’t go to practice, so I thought I’d get a pick-me-up treat and do homework at the new Drip. Also, Bella is crushing on this guy who works there, and I told her I’d watch to see if he’s as nice to the other baristas as he is to her.”
“Stay on track.”
“Right. Sorry.” She shook her head. “Anyway, I wasn’t there five minutes, and in walks Lizzie and some guy. They get coffee, have a cozy, twenty-minute chat, and leave together.”
“Oh.” Ben had to admit that bummed him out a little. They hadn’t decided on boy- or girlfriend titles, and they’d only hung out a few times, but he thought they’d really connected and were moving toward something. Something that didn’t involve dating other people. He’d been out of the game so long though, that it was entirely possible he’d misread the situation.
“So,” Maya said. “How about you meet this lady and see how it feels? It’s just lunch.”
“All right,” he said. “Guess I’m out of excuses. I’ll go. But next time, ask me before you set something up.”