25. Benji
25
BENJI
“ B enji, you’re going to have to fill me in with what’s going on,” Max tells me with a laugh. “I know that you and Cassie are hiding out somewhere to keep her out of the public eye, but I have a feeling there’s more to all of this than you’re letting on. Now I’ve been sitting back waiting for you to come to me with what’s going on, but you haven’t yet and it’s been a week.”
I sigh heavily. I know that I need to be honest with Max, but I’ve been putting it off. I’ve been waiting for the right moment, but to be honest, there’s no ‘right moment’ for information like this. I have to just rip the Band-Aid off and say it.
“I’ve fallen for her, Max.” I cringe as I wait for him to begin yelling at me. But that doesn’t happen, weirdly. “I didn’t mean to fall for her, but I did. You know me, I wouldn’t put my job on the line if it wasn’t important, but this is… it’s everything to me.”
“I thought as much.” His tone is calm and considered, which I think makes me feel a little bit better. I think. “I assumed that there must be something going on with you and Cassie. I don’t think that her father has worked it out just yet.”
“Oh, right.” My blood runs cold as I think about that happening. I’m sure that William Jones won’t be impressed, but that will be something we’ll need to get over. “I see. Well, that’s probably for the best, isn’t it? For the time being.”
“Right, I’m sure. But your being in love, Benji… what does that mean for work and everything? I won’t mind whatever your decision ends up being, but I kinda need to know. You know how it is. I just want to be full of knowledge.”
I let out a little laugh, but I’m sure that he can hear the nerves in my tone. “Well, for now, I want to stay here with Cassie. I might want to stay with her forever. I suppose that means I won’t be coming back anytime soon. If that’s… not a problem.”
Max pauses for a beat too long before he speaks once more. “It will be hard to lose you, but I get it. I understand that your priorities are going to change throughout life. I get it. But I’m still going to look after you for a while. Obviously, we have to keep an eye on Cassie while things continue, so I’m going to have to know where you are eventually.”
“I know, I know.” I glance inside to see Cassie still sleeping on the bed, resting peacefully. I don’t know if she’s ready for me to tell anyone where we are just yet, so I have to keep it inside. “And I will soon enough. I might need some stuff sent over, anyway. Cassie’s things. Clothes and her passport as well, in case we decide to go somewhere else.”
“Might you do that?” he asks me curiously. “Because we will be able to protect you only so far…”
“I know, and I understand that, but I’ll keep an eye on Cassie. We will be fine. You can focus on the family.”
“I do think they are doing fine at the moment,” Max confirms. “Since the ransom request, they haven’t heard anything, and I think William is even getting to the place where he’s prepared to do a press release, so it’s all going well. Of course, we will still be keeping an eye on the family to make sure that no one else is targeted, but it seems to be really good. Although I do think he might be angling for a phone call directly from Cassie. I can tell him what I want, but he will be better hearing from her.”
“Hmm, I’ll see what I can do about that,” I promise him. “I think she’s just needed some time to recover.”
“Oh, I know, and I’ve told him that much. He does understand that, but it will make a difference.” When I don’t say anything, he continues. “And then I’ll see what I can do about the passport and everything. I’ll sort you out.”
We talk for a little while longer about nothing in particular, during which time I see Cassie finally stirring and waking up. It’s about time for me to see once more if she wants to speak to her father. I don’t know if it will be right, but I can do my best. I say my goodbyes to Max and hang up the phone before I greet her with a good morning kiss. My favorite way to spend my mornings. Any moment I’m with her is glorious, and I’m happy to take advantage of every moment with her.
“Hey, who were you talking to?” she asks sleepily as we pull our lips apart. “It sounded like a serious call.”
“I was talking to Max, trying to organize some stuff getting sent out here for you. Including your passport.”
She bolts up straighter and stares at me. “What do you mean? For us to fly home? I don’t want to go yet…”
“Not home, no. For us to go somewhere else.” I smile brightly at her. “You want to travel the world, right?”
“I do.” Her eyes pop wide as she stares at me in shock. “But you will be coming with me, right? I don’t have to go alone?”
“Of course I’m coming with you.” I can’t help but laugh. “Girl, you think I’m letting you go anywhere now? Not a chance.”
She grabs onto my cheeks and pulls me in for a deep and passionate kiss, making me feel just how happy she is about this. I knew I was going to make her happy, but I had no idea quite how happy I would make her. This is amazing.
“If we’re going to leave and explore the world, then we need to explore where we are, don’t you think? We’ve spent far too much time in bed while we’ve been in Costa Rica, and I want to actually see this place. Shall we try?”
I laugh and nod. “Sure, but I still don’t think that we need to leave right now. We can just have your passport to hand before we decide to go. But I’ve heard that there’s an amazing waterfall near here. I would love to go and see it.”
“Yes.” Cassie grabs my arm eagerly. “Oh, my God, I would love that. I’ve never seen a waterfall before.”
“Apparently, there’s a place where you can even water slide through the jungle, so that would be cool.”
The more excited that she gets, the more I know I need to discuss her father some more because that’s not going anywhere. We can explore the world as much as we want, but her father is still going to want to speak to her. I just need to wait for her to calm down a little so I can fit the question it. But right now, she’s getting carried away with plans for the day.
“So, I do have one thing to ask you…” I start as soon as there’s a beat of silence. “About your family once more.”
“Oh, right, of course.” She nods slowly. “You just spoke to Max. Did he say that my dad wants to speak to me again?”
“Yes, and perhaps if we’re going to do some traveling, then it might be time to finally bite the bullet and call them.”
Cassie rises from the bed and walks around the hut with her thinking face on. I should jump in and give her some more reasons to make that call, but I’m not going to pressure her. It will be her decision at the end of the day. I can’t get in the middle of a family drama. No one should ever do that. I’m closer to my mother than she is to her family, so I can’t judge anything.
“Yeah, okay,” she eventually tells me. “I’m going to call and speak to everyone before we leave here. It’s better if I do, isn’t it? Then there won’t be anything hanging over us when we move on. We can have our travels without any worries.”
“Okay, good.” Relief floods me. I think it’ll be better all around if this happens. “Well, let me know when you want to do it. But for now, we can plan out our amazing day at the waterfall, don’t you think? That would be incredible.”
“No, I’m actually going to do it right now. I think it’s time for me to do it right away. I’ve made the choice and I’m ready to go.”
I hand her my cellphone and go to the other side of the hut, even making my way outside so she can make the call in private. I’m sure it’s going to be yet another emotionally charged conversation that I can’t be a part of. Luckily, there’s an incredible view for me to admire while I wait for her to finish. I’m not usually one for standing still and watching the world go by. I’m usually on the go all the time, but here in Costa Rica, I find it easy to simply let time slide by me. I can lose myself for ages…
“I’m back, Benji.” I don’t know how much time passes, but soon, Cassie comes along and rests her hands on my shoulders. She hands me the cellphone back and grins at me with sheer joy hiding in her eyes. “Thank you for that. It was awesome.”
“How did you get on?” I can already see that she feels a million times lighter, which is awesome to see. “Did it go well?”
“I got to speak to everyone in turn. Even the twins for a little while, which was sweet. I don’t think they fully get what’s going on, but it was awesome for me to get to chat with them. I feel a whole lot better now because I now know how they all are doing. Ah, it was amazing. Even if they miss me, I now know that they are going to be okay with my going away. I have to admit that I was worried about that. I thought that no one would be comfortable with my leaving, but it’s fine.”
She leans her head on my shoulder and smiles with sheer joy. I can see how much she’s shining now, and it feels incredible. Finally, she’s unlocked herself from the cage her worries put her in and she’s flying. I love it.
“Well, I’m really glad to hear it. I think that you and I will have a much better time now.”
“I know, me too.” She squeezes my hand tightly. “God, I can’t wait. I think it’s time for us to go to the waterfall now. I can’t wait to see it. To watch the sun set over it. Don’t you think that will be super romantic? I can imagine it being awesome.”
“It will, and it’ll just be the start of our adventures. Think of all the things that we’re going to see around the world with our travels. There must be so many things that you’re going to want to see, and we can do it all.”
“Oh, my God, I’m so excited.” She shakes her leg as if she can’t remain still any longer. “Let’s go now. I can’t hold back.”
She leans across and kisses me. Her soft lips press to mine, and my heart sings. We’re on a brand-new level now, I can feel it. I don’t know if she’s told her family about us, but it doesn’t matter. We’re moving forward regardless.