CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
O ur hands are interlaced under the table as Ben leans over and kisses me. I’m beaming. I know I am, and everyone can see it. And I don’t care.
“Quit staring at Ben and pass me the toast,” Lucy exclaims, smiling at me.
I pick up the basket of toast and hand it to her. “I’m not staring,” I say, looking at Ben, who is now staring at me. I feel the tingles all through my body.
“Uh, yeah, you are,” says Alex.
“Whatever,” I say and roll my eyes, laughing. I take a piece of bacon and bite into it.
Briar lifts her mimosa. “Now that we’re all here together, I think we should toast,” she says, starting with Lucy. “Congratulations, Lucy, on your promotion.” She turns to me. “And congratulations, Sofia, on your new job.”
We all clink glasses.
“Thank you,” Lucy and I say in unison and laugh again.
I raise my glass. “And good luck to you, Briar, on the amazing retreat you are about to go on. I wish you safe travels, and may you not run into any gigantic spiders on your journey!”
We clink again, Briar smiling widely.
“Thank you,” she says. I see her look around at us. She takes a deep breath.
We finish breakfast, and we each pay our portion of the bill. We walk outside to say our goodbyes so we can make room for others waiting for Sunday brunch.
I hug Lucy, Briar, and Alex. We’ll see Briar before she goes. We’re going to have our sleepover next weekend.
Ben takes his hand in mine. Thankfully, neither of us works today, and we can spend the day together. I can’t seem to get enough of him.
He takes me back to his place, and I sink into the soft brown leather of his couch.
“I have something for you,” he says.
My face lights up. “You do?”
I’ve only ever been to his place once before, and I notice how clean he is for a guy living on his own. I see he has a few books on his TV stand. He has a picture of him and his parents on the wall and another one with Jeffrey. Soon, Ben returns with a gift bag in hand. I see bright yellow tissue paper popping out, and I clap my hands together. I love presents.
“What is it?” I ask excitedly.
He hands it to me as he sits beside me. “It’s for your new job,” he says and plants a kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you.”
After tossing aside the tissue paper, I pull out the most beautiful laptop bag I’ve ever seen. A beautiful pink and cream bag. Lifting the handles, I run my hands over the soft leather. Appreciating it. I’ve never owned something like this before. I place it on the coffee table in front of me and turn to Ben. “I guess you noticed I was using a tote bag to carry my stuff?” I say sheepishly, shrugging my shoulders.
“Yes, and you need something better than that if you’re going to be working for Lace & Dots magazine.” He winks at me.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love it, Ben!” I throw myself onto his lap and wrap my arms around him. He kisses me, and I feel myself melting into him.
All the butterflies have been set free.