CHAPTER TEN
“Ow!” Benny complained, a hand shooting to the side of his head where Rachel had just flung a giant bag of mixed nuts at him.
“Oops,” she cooed, before disappearing back into the kitchen to join the others.
That was the third thing she’d chucked at his head since he’d arrived at Cat and Cody’s twenty minutes ago. He was starting to think she was doing it on purpose.
“Is there a reason your wife is attacking me with family-sized snack-bags today?” He turned to Hunter who looked incredibly relaxed, his hulking frame reclining in the leather armchair opposite him.
He’d signed up for pizza and a movie, not to be an angry females target practice.
“Think carefully...do you really want to know? Or do you want to have a nice, quiet, drama-free night?”
What the fuck?
“Yes, dude. I really want to know why your wife is trying really damn hard to give me a concussion.”
Hunter grimaced, looking personally offended by the prospect of having an actual conversation.
Not that Benny could blame him, they’d been on shift together all week, and to say it had been busy would be putting it mildly.
Spring had officially sprung with record breaking temperatures, and with the heat brought an onslaught of brush fires.
It was brutal. They all deserved a night in.
To kick back, watch a movie and drink a beer or two.
And not have to worry about weaponized junk food.
He watched as his friend scrubbed a big hand down his face. “Rachel ran into Bethany at the Tipsy Cow the other night.”
“And?” Benny huffed. Impatience already starting to gnaw.
He ignored the tick in his jaw at the mention of Bethany. Resisted the urge to pull out his phone and check to see if she’d replied to his latest unanswered message. And refused to acknowledge the way his fingers itched to text her again.
Do it and she’s gonna get a restraining order on your ass.
Letting out a sigh, his patience continued to be tested as Cat and Cody entered the room hand in hand. Benny’s eyes went to them as they lowered themselves onto the overstuffed brown leather couch, Cat’s fingers quickly going to a belly that had practically appeared overnight.
“Pizza should be here in thirty,” Cody announced, his gaze flicking between the two men. “You guys good?”
Trust Cody to realize immediately that he walked into something. It was probably a cop thing.
Neither of the men spoke, unless you count Hunter grunting. Benny simply rolled his eyes and averted his gaze. Their conversation would just have to wait. Cody didn’t bother calling them out, his attention was back to Cat, his own hand joining hers on the bump as he gave her a serene smile.
I’m gonna hurl.
Sure, he was happy for his friends. But for the first time ever, he felt like the odd one out.
The single one. Maybe it was all the confusing shit that was happening with Bethany.
Or maybe it was the fact that everyone was moving on with their lives and he was just standing still.
All he knew was things that never bothered him before were starting to sting.
Like the constant public displays of affection.
You probably should have thought of that before you agreed to spend the evening with three couples.
Yeah. He should have.
Talking of which, Rachel joined them next. Going straight to Hunter’s lap and curling herself into him. Libby and Zach followed, taking a seat on the couch beside him.
“So, what are we watching?” Benny asked as all the couples seemed to snuggle into one another.
“Why, you worried you can’t commit the time to it already?” Cat snarked.
What the fuck?
“Excuse me?” Benny’s head snapped in her direction.
Narrowed blue eyes closed in on him. “I was simply asking...given your history, if you were concerned that you may not be able to commit to a whole two-hour movie.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Careful,” Cody warned. Not enjoying the irritation in Benny’s tone.
“It means, you’re a coward Benjamin Tucker. I know all about the hit and run you pulled on Bethany.”
He was quickly putting two and two together. Rachel and Cat ran into Bethany at the Tipsy Cow and apparently had a good old chat about their breakup.
“Jesus Christ, not you as well! Aren’t y’all supposed to be my friends? Where’s the goddamn loyalty?”
Cat’s finger came up. “Don’t mess with me, Tucker, I’m pregnant, therefore I can legally murder you.”
“I’m not sure that’s how it works, kitten,” Cody interjected, clearly amused and not at all concerned by his wife’s homicidal threat.
Zach also finally found his voice and lifted the palm of his hand that had been resting on Libby’s shoulder.
“Come on guys, enough. Benny’s right. He’s our friend first. So let’s maybe stop launching things at his head.
” Zach’s gaze darted to Rachel who quickly looked away.
“Threatening murder.” Blue eyes went to Cat next who simply glared back. “And hear his side of the story?”
Great. Just what I wanted. I get to share.
All eyes went to him expectantly. He hadn’t had enough beer for this.
He was also still struggling to justify what he did all those years ago.
It didn’t have to end the way it did. He was just scared.
He didn’t know how to handle what was happening.
And he didn’t want to drag Bethany down the black hole he’d already jumped down.
He thought he was doing the right thing.
Thought it was all for the best. How was he supposed to know how much hurt he’d cause.
How much regret he’d feel. And how a decade later, she’d still own his heart.
With no excuses in sight, he laid it all out for his friends and hoped for the best.
***
“Clear!” Luke yelled. The crack of breaking glass cutting through the thick air.
Sticky heat clung to Benny’s forehead as he dropped to his knees.
Sweat trickling freely now. Thank God, Zach, their team EMT was next to him.
Shielding the woman they were trying desperately to free of broken glass while reassuring her everything was going to be okay.
By the looks of the fuel leaking under the car, time wasn’t on their side, and he needed to concentrate.
Carefully, he wedged the metal tips of the spreaders between the car door and mangled frame. One switch, one turn, and the hissing started as the hydraulic tool began biting metal. His eyes focused on the warped door, the slow inching outward of it until finally with a jolt, it gave way.
“Let’s get you outta here, darlin’.”
She was in his arms in one swoop, his pace quickly turning to a jog toward the waiting ambulance. His team members were jogging too, at his side, calling for everyone to get back. And that’s when he felt it, heat scorching the sky. One more second in that car and they’d all be fucked.
Letting his team handle the burning car behind him, he continued on.
No paramedics were in sight as he reached the vehicle.
Placing the older woman on the ledge, he searched the surroundings, his gaze immediately landing on the one person he wasn’t expecting to find.
Bethany. What the hell? Jade eyes held him hostage as she stared at him.
Both their breathing picking up pace as he took his first step toward her.
“B?” he rasped. “What are you doing here?” It was her turn to take a step, and when she did, he got a glimpse of tear-stained cheeks.
Whipping his helmet off, he closed the distance between them, his fingers slipping into the loose waves at the nape of her neck, his thumb sweeping along her jaw.
“Baby, what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did one of the cars—”
Her head vehemently shook. “No, I-I was on my way to work and...”
Christ almighty.
They’d been called to the pile up an hour ago. One drunk driver on the highway between Woodvalley and Goldacre had caused a whole load of shit. Ten cars in total were affected. It was a miracle no one had been seriously injured.
“You wanna take a look, Doc?”
Benny recognized that voice, it was Carla, one of the Goldacre paramedics. He turned to find the petite blond already checking the patient’s vitals. Her ponytail whipped as she went from checking her heartrate to wrapping the blood pressure cuff around her arm.
“Uh, yeah,” Bethany replied, quickly untangling herself and rounding Benny.
“You’re working?” he blurted.
The face she gave him said it all. “I’m a doctor who was first on the scene. Of course, I’m working. Paramedics are stretched and you’ve got one EMT.”
He could only watch as she turned her back on him.
Unable to move. Whatever he’d seen in her eyes just moments ago was gone.
Her focus was only on the woman in front of her.
Like a lovestruck idiot, he couldn’t look away.
If anything, he was staring. Which meant he didn’t miss the care and the kindness that went into every touch, every check and every word she uttered.
Goddamn she’s perfect.
His hand went to his chest—where he checked for wounds. Cuts. A huge fucking knife, because the ache in his heart wasn’t easing. And he was no closer to feeling his legs.
He didn’t catch what Bethany said to Carla. Or the words she shouted over to Steve, the other paramedic treating a head wound on the curb. He was too busy gazing into deep green when she turned back around. Eyes still misty as she marched back over to him.
A soft palm landed on his chest seconds later. He was still standing in the same place she’d left him. His helmet tucked under his arm. His heart beating way too damn fast as all the what ifs circled in his head.
“I saw you,” she whispered, as if she was sharing a secret.
“What?” he rasped.
“I saw you. I saw you break open the car. I saw you get that woman out. And then I saw...I saw the car set on fire.” She audibly gulped.
Wide eyes boring into him as her hand skimmed his chest. Next thing he knew, dainty fingers were wrapping around his neck and tugging him close.
The taste of burnt roses filling his lungs as soft, warm lips brushed against his. “Kiss me, Benny.”
Letting his helmet drop to the ground, his hands lifted, cupping her cheeks. He made sure her eyes were on him. “No more fucking games.” His voice felt raw as the words scraped his throat. “I mean it, NeNe. If we’re doing this, you’re mine.”
Green fire sparked, but he resisted the urge to surrender to the flames. Not until, “I’m yours” slipped from her perfect pink lips.
And damnit, it was worth the wait.