4. Paige
When I arrive at the Bennett’s house, all I can think about is how much I hate these flats. I shouldn’t have worn them but they’re comfortable and I knew I was going to be doing a lot of walking today. I hate them because they make me feel short. Especially next to Sadie Lynn. The already tall woman wears heels on top of it, making her easily over six feet tall. Sadie wears her height with extreme confidence though, a confidence that I’m not sure I could ever replicate even if I tried. A confidence that draws all eyes to her the moment she walks into the room, and nobody’s gaze is more trained on her than my pseudo-brother, Theo’s.
“Hey,” She says with a sly smile as she makes her way across the formal dining room towards us.
“Hey.” A smile is playing at the corner of Theo’s lips as she slides up next to him, his arm instinctively going around her as if the mere presence of her requires some form of touching.
It’s rather odd seeing them this close still, even though they got together over a year ago. I think it’s especially hard since I’d had a front row seat to their rivalry all throughout school. Back then I got to hear about how awful she was and every little thing she did that pestered him. That is until she moved out of the country for close to ten years, only to come back home where the two of them forced to work together.
Katie claims that she predicted them ending up together from the moment she met Sadie.
I on the other hand am still trying not to tease him about it, even if they are engaged now.
But honestly, I’ve never seen Theo this absolutely smitten.
“Paige,” Sadie turns her attention to me, her gaze turning into something that I can only describe as cunning. “I wanted to talk to you about your car.”
The hairs along my arm stand on end as I arch a brow. “Oh?”
“Theo has alluded to it being a hunk of junk-”
“I did not say hunk of junk.” Theo interjects, but she rolls her eyes.
“I said ‘alluded to,’ pay attention Dory.” She shakes her head, then continues. “Anyways, I have a friend that’s getting rid of her car. It’s nothing elaborate, but it’s a good car and she treated it like a baby. I know she’d give you a deal if you were interested in it.”
My gaze darts between the two of them, instinctively growing defensive of my old yellow Volkswagen Beetle. I give her a tight smile. “Thank you, but I like my car.” I say and she nods in understanding, as if that was enough.
“Told you.” I hear Theo whisper and then a loud oomph after Sadie elbows him in the stomach. I bite my lips together to keep from laughing.
“Are you all packed?” I ask Sadie and she gives a firm nod. “Good, here is your ticket, the plane is leaving at nine tomorrow. So, you’ll get to Denver around eleven.”
Mrs. Bennett chooses that moment to walk into the room with a large bowl of spaghetti. When she spots me still with my clipboard and handing Sadie her plane ticket her warm smile turns into a frown. “Paige, put that stuff away, it’s family dinner night.”
I press my lips into a thin line. Even though I’m only working for Mrs. Bennett part time nowadays, the same amount of work still needs to get done, especially before they leave for vacation. “You’re all leaving in the morning, things need to be done.”
“And everything will be taken care of, you need to stop worrying and enjoy dinner. We go on this trip every year.”
I was fully aware they go every year. I plan it every year. And every year Mrs. Bennett tells me not to stress and to relax, and just like clockwork here we are again. Usually, I’d be excited for the few days off, but this year I’m just going to be spending the time looking for a new place to live. Mrs. Bennett proceeds to shoo me away with my clipboard as she sets the pot of spaghetti on the already set table.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with this year? You, me, and Katie could really tear up the spa one day.” Sadie asks, arching a perfectly thin eyebrow at me.
I gulp back the nagging feeling that creeps up whenever the Bennetts invite me on one of their vacations. The voice that ignores the knowledge that they love me, and instead focuses on the fact that I’m not really a Bennett. I’m not really one of them. But instead of saying any of that, I shoot them I sardonic smirk instead. “Are you kidding? It’s finally warming up here, why on earth would I go somewhere with more snow intentionally?” I laugh. “Thank you, but that is not on my to-do list.” I point to Theo. “But bring back souvenirs. I do love presents.”
He laughs. “Do we ever disappoint?”
“Yes. Last year. When Aspen brought me back a guy’s phone number.”
Sadie barks out a laugh that even seems to surprise herself as her hand flies to her mouth just as Mrs. Bennett brings a platter of French bread to the table. “Theo, go get the veggies.” She orders with a motherly jerk of her thumb.
Shortly after the food is placed on the table Mr. Bennett steps through the door. “Sadie, I think you speed. We left the office at the same time.” He accuses as he takes a seat and all she does is shrug in response.
Dinner falls into the usual discussion of everybody’s week. Sadie and Theo playfully bicker about some client and at some point Mrs. Bennett turns to her husband and in a hushed tone says “Are they always like this?” To which he responds with laughter and a nod.
My eyes dart between the two couples and their separate conversations and I can’t help but melt into my seat slightly. I hadn’t told any of them here about my housing problem, or going and seeing Maxon today, which ended up lasting nearly four hours of Maxon asking me questions that I’m only half certain were regarding my housing issue. Dang, had that all happened today? My gaze drifts to my glass of milk, maybe I should have opted for something stronger, but alcohol and I never mix well. Aspen teases and calls me a lightweight, but I don’t understand why that’s considered an insult.
Some people can’t have dairy because they’re lactose intolerant.
I can’t have alcohol because I’m a lightweight.
“Paige, I set something up for you while we are on vacation, I hope you don’t mind.” Mrs. Bennett’s voice suddenly draws my attention back to present conversation.
“Oh?”
“Yeah, you’re not too busy on Sunday are you? I need you to run to that Thai restaurant downtown for me.”
My brows arch, shaking my head. “No, I’m totally free. Whatever you need.” I say, stealing a glance towards Theo who has a wide-eyed expression, and he shakes his head slightly.
Oh no, what did I just agree to?
“Perfect! I set up a date for you and one of my girlfriend’s nephews.”
Suddenly I really wished I was lactose intolerant instead of a lightweight.
“Hope, I thought we talked about this…” Mr. Bennett comes to my aide, but his words are simply waved off by his wife who has been setting me up on dates almost every month for the last year. I should have known better than to think I’d get a break simply because they were away on vacation.
“Oh hush Darren, she said she wasn’t busy.”
“You know, now that I think of it…” I start but she shoots me an unamused look.
“He’s a good guy Paige.”
“They’ve all been good guys.” But none of them were my guy.
Because my guy wasn’t even mine anymore.
“There’s nothing wrong with seeing him.” Mrs. Bennett prods.
“With any luck you’ll get a free meal out of it.” Sadie adds, picking at her own piece of French bread.
I shoot her a dirty look. I was going to have to have a discussion with my brother’s redheaded fiancée.
She shrugs off my look. “What? A girl’s gotta eat.”
“Exactly! And you love the Thai place and so does he. I didn’t even need to suggest it, it was all his idea.” Mrs. Bennett looks proud at this point, as if just because we both enjoy the trendy restaurant it means our names are written in the stars.
But I stopped stargazing a long time ago.
I heave a sigh, I know this was a losing battle, she would continue on this until I agree, and honestly, after the day I’ve had today, I’m not up for the fight. “Fine. I’ll try.” I concede and Mrs. Bennett claps her hands giddily.
At least someone was happy about this.
Thirteen Years Ago
“I don’t understand why you guys are going skiing, the snow has finally melted.” I’m sitting on Aspen’s bed, folding his sweaters as he chucks them from his closet towards me.
He forgot to pack.Again.
“Because it’s fun and the lodge has a hot tub.” He laughs from deeper within the closet.
“You guys have a hot tub.”
“It’s different.Girls will be in this hot tub.” He pokes his head from the closet. “Girls that aren’t you. No offense.”
None taken. The mere idea of him looking at me like that in my bathing suit sends an icky shiver down my spine and churns the contents of my stomach. “I’m not folding your underwear.” I say in response.
“UNDERWEAR!” He dashes back into the closet to grab the undergarment he’d obviously forgotten.
I roll my eyes. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do while you’re all off on vacation.” I bemoan.
“Hang out with your friends. Be grateful you finally have a week to yourself where you don’t have to babysit Theo and I.” He laughs but I just shake my head at him, focused on my task of fitting all the sweaters and sweatshirts into the single suitcase his mom has allotted. “Well, Maxon may still need some babysitting.” He steps from the closet, arms full of underwear as my heart seizes at the mention of his best friend.
Play it cool Paige.
“Max isn’t going anywhere for spring break?”
Aspen shakes his head. “No, his dad’s got some work thing so they’re just staying home.” He glances at me. “He actually might enjoy some company. Ever since his dad got remarried things have been weird at their house.”
My heart flutters in my chest and I try desperately to tamp down the butterflies so that I don’t sound breathy when I speak. “Oh, well, I can check on him if you want.”
He cuts a glance at me. “Really?”
“Well, I know you’re his only friend, so I don’t want the baby to get lonely.” I say teasingly, and am impressed with how casually the words fly from my lips.
Aspen laughs. “He is a baby.” He nods. “Yeah, I would appreciate that as long as you don’t care.”
I shrug. “Just give him my number.”
He shoves the underwear into the top of the suitcase. “He’s already got your number.”
I knit my brow together. “Since when?”
“Since he asked for it.”
My throat tightens.
Play. It. Cool.
“Oh.”
Nailed it.
Aspen slams the top of the suitcase closed, then, without hesitating, picks me up and sets me on top of it. I squeak out a laugh as he works on the zipper. “You know there’s a weight limit for suitcases.”
“And you know you could not say the first thing that comes to mind.” He shoots back and I lightly kick him in the side.
“Did you remember your toothbrush?”
“TOOTHbrUSH!” And he darts out of the room.