Chapter 27 #2
That just leaves Mason and Jacklyn. With Ben trailing me, I climb the stairs, curious as to where they could’ve disappeared to.
I get my answer when I reach the second-floor landing and the bedroom door at the opposite end of the hallway opens.
Mason and Jacklyn emerge a second later, and unfortunately for my eyes, Jacklyn is straightening her miniskirt and Mason is wiping what appears to be her bright red lipstick from his mouth.
When they look up and see me approaching, both sets of eyes go wide like two deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car.
“Isn’t that your friend from work?” Ben whispers.
“Yep. That’s Jacklyn. My best friend and roommate.” My voice comes out clipped. “And you remember Mason.”
“Are they…together?”
“That’s an excellent question, Ben. A goddamn fantastic one.”
As we draw near, I see the moment Jacklyn’s guilty expression morphs into one of resolve with the set of her jaw. She’s not going to acknowledge it. By the way Mason’s eyes plead with me, he’s practically begging me to do the same.
So fine. I won’t. At least not tonight.
“Mason, it’s been a while,” Ben says, cutting into the weird tension in the hallway. “How are you, old friend?”
Mason recovers quickly, shifting his focus to Ben as they, too, exchange that same odd handshake / hug / shoulder pat. “I sure as hell can’t believe you’re standing here. It’s like seeing a ghost.”
“Yeah. I’m sorry about that.” Ben slides an arm around my shoulder, and I tuck my hand against his chest. “But hopefully I’ll have time to make up for it.”
Mason looks back and forth between us. “You know, now that I think back on it, you two were kind of obvious about the whole thing.”
“Please,” I scoff. “You had no idea.”
“Okay, maybe not,” Mason admits with a slow grin. “Guess I should’ve paid more attention. Then and now.”
As he says it, his gaze falls solely on me, and he opens his arms in invitation, waving me to him with a hand.
I leave Ben’s side and hug my brother, and it’s not lost on me that I’ve hugged my family members more in one single evening than I have in the past decade.
Who knew raging out at the dinner table earned this kind of affection?
“Sorry for being kind of a dick,” Mason says to me. “Promise I’ll do better, okay?”
I nod against his shoulder, throat constricting all over again.
“But you have to make me a promise, too.”
“What’s that?” I manage with a sniffle.
“Promise me you’ll never, ever bring up Dad’s vasectomy again.”
A deep laugh bursts out of me as I push my brother away and wipe at the watery edges of my eyes.
“Wait a second,” Ben says. “You brought up Dr. Miller’s vasectomy? To his face?”
“Dude, it was badass,” Mason replies, eyes lighting up. “Dad’s face was so red it was practically purple. I really thought I might have to intervene.”
Ben looks to me, perplexed, and I just shrug. For the rest of the night I’m going to revel in the fact my brother kind of just called me a badass.
Across from me, Jacklyn loudly clears her throat, and I pick up on her not-so-subtle hint.
“Jacklyn, this is Ben Carter.” I make the formal introduction that never took place in my cubicle that god-awful day we met with Calvin. “Ben, this is Jacklyn Spencer. My best friend, roommate,”—brother’s fuck buddy?—“coworker, confidant, swimsuit connoisseur, et cetera, et cetera.”
“Nice to officially meet you, Jacklyn.” Ben reaches out to shake her hand, and Jacklyn allows it, although her cool blue eyes sweep over him in keen assessment.
“Oh, I’ve heard lots about you,” Jacklyn says, and my breath hitches in my throat.
Jacklyn has never been known for subtlety.
“Look, I’m going to give you a chance here because you make my friend happy.
However, I’m a hell of a lot meaner than Mona could ever dream of being, so if you hurt her again, just know that I don’t play nice with others. ”
“J, I don’t—”
“No, Ems,” Ben cuts me off. “That’s fair.”
“Glad we understand each other,” Jacklyn says, then her stern expression relaxes into a smile and she also pulls Ben in for a hug.
“Okay, well, listen,” I say. “J, do you think you’ll be okay getting back to the city alone tonight? I’m going to stay over at Ben’s.”
I cannot fathom the thought of another night without him sleeping next to me, and while he could come back to the city with us and stay at my apartment, I know from experience how thin our walls are and don’t want to subject Jacklyn to the things she might overhear.
“I’m a big girl,” Jacklyn says as if she’s offended. “I’ll be perfectly fine.”
My gaze shifts to Mason, who nods his head almost imperceptibly, communicating that he’ll make sure she gets home safely. I’m just not sure if it will be our home or his home she ends up at, but that’s a conundrum for a different day.
“Okay then,” I say. “It’s time for cake.”
Downstairs everyone gathers around the dining room table as my mother carries in a perfectly iced cake with thirty-two candles, but they’re split down the middle so each brother will have his own wish to make.
We do the customary singing of the “Happy Birthday” song, the kids raising their voices to drown everyone else out while my father doesn’t contribute at all other than rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
Then the twins blow out their respective candles.
It’s funny, it may be my brothers’ birthday, but I’m the one whose wish is coming true as I squeeze Ben’s hand in mine, as I lay my cheek on his shoulder and tuck my opposite hand around the inside of his biceps, as he reflexively leans down and kisses the top of my head.
A ridiculously large smile pulls at my cheeks.
Because it doesn’t matter if Ben and I make it to a hundred more countries or none. As long as we’re together like this.
And as I stand in the warmth of my childhood home, surrounded by a family who may not be perfect but loves me no matter what, a best friend who supports me unconditionally, and now the man I’ve been in love with my entire life, it suddenly dawns on me…Maybe my puzzle piece fits perfectly after all.