Chapter 22
Benedict Blake is not cool, and I could not love it more. He is nerdy and sweet and fully into the festival experience. Not only have we sampled all the food booths, but I have also had the pleasure of watching Ben bob for apples despite my warning that they don’t change the water. I’ve also seen him get cotton candy stuck around his mouth, which led to me wiping it away and nearly dying after. The festival is in full swing around us as Ben pulls me by the hand to line up for the hayride. He’s like a little kid. If a little kid was 6ft tall.
“Slow down, little legs here” I plea. He stops and apologizes. Once in line, I catch my breath. I’ve smiled more tonight than I have in months. My cheeks hurt I have smiled so much. Ben shed some of his awkwardness and is a good mixture of his normal self but more carefree. It makes me wonder if, like me, he has to play a part at Briarwood. While we wait in line, Ben suggests we pick up our game of question and answer. Which he says is better than 20 questions because it never ends. We’ve played in almost every line. So far, all the questions have been simple. “What’s your favorite color?” and such.
Ben rubs his chin. “I got one. What is your favorite movie?”
“No way. That is a terrible one!” I giggle. I’m literally a giggling schoolgirl.
“Why?”
“Because there are too many good movies to have a favorite” I protest.
“I see. Indecision. I will revise. What is your favorite type of movie?”
“Better. Mmmh. Old movies. Like really old, black and white movies, or 90s movies.”
“Those aren’t even close.”
“Are too. What’s your favorite?”
“Pretty Woman” he did not just say that. I am stunned out of laughter.
“No it isn’t” I say.
“It is. I used to watch it with my mom. Julia Roberts is a national treasure” he isn’t even a bit embarrassed.
“I can’t believe you said that.” Who is this guy? We get lost in each other’s gaze until we have to move because the ride worker starts to let people on the hayride. I’m so caught up in Ben I don’t notice that it is Tyler’s best friend Ian letting people on.
“Amelia?” Ian questions.
I jerk to look at him then awkwardly say, “Hey Ian.”
“Hey. Long time no see.” He looks Ben up and down then ignores him. “Tyler is around, he’s been talking about you. He misses you.”
“I’m sure.” I am not letting this ruin my date. “Anyway, we better not hold up the line.” I pull Ben onto the trailer loaded down with hay and move near the front. Once in our seats, he looks at me concerned.
“Tyler the non-boundary-respecting ex?” he asks. I nod my head affirming. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Nope” I say popping the p. Then I fix my attitude. I’m not upset with Ben. “I mean no. It’s fine.”
“I’ve been around Alyssa and Brody enough to know that ‘it’s fine’ means it isn’t,” he puts an arm around me. “It’s okay if you do want to talk about it, but I won’t pry.”
“I don’t want to ruin our date.”
“It won’t.” He reassures me.
“Okay.” I stall “I told you it was a bad breakup, and it was. But Tyler seems to think eventually I’ll forgive him. Sometimes he tries to text or call or ask Sarah Mae about me. She usually flips him off. Most of the time I can avoid the topic, but I still can’t stand him.” I take a breath. “The guy working the line is his best friend. The one downside of being in a small town, everyone knows everyone.” I look to him to make sure I haven’t freaked him out.
“We have confirmed he is an idiot but is it bad enough that you have something to worry about. Are you safe?” He is worried about my safety?
“He is dumb, not dangerous. It’s just annoying. I blocked him and it’s only out and about that I might run into him. Usually, I’m with my mom or Sarah Mae. He’s scared of my mom and Sarah Mae is a good shield. When we broke up, she sent him a condolence card for his loss of me.”
“I have to meet this Sarah Mae, but I can be your shield too, if you want.” He looks sincere, and his comment implies that he will be around more.
“I think Briarwood is safe.”
“Yeah, but I mean outside of Briarwood too.”
“Oh” I take a moment for dramatic effect “I will be seeing you more outside of Briarwood?” Thoughts of Tyler fade away.
“Of course. I mean we do have a second date.”
“Oh, we do.”
“Yeah, I heard there is a winter carnival” Goofy Ben has reappeared.
The rest of the ride is perfect. The hayride goes out far enough from the festival that you can see the stars. I lean into Ben. With his arm wrapped around me, we stare up at the sky. Here under the stars, I’m totally happy. I feel like I belong here. This is the perfect moment in my own personal rom-com. Feeling very brave and before I can talk myself out of it, I turn to Ben and plant a soft kiss on his cheek. It says thank you for this night and that I very much can’t wait for our second date. I just hope it’s before the winter carnival.