23. Paige
Eight Years Ago
Ma’s hugging me. Although I’m not sure if it can be described as a hug or as a strangle. She’s not handling my graduation very well…
When she pulls away, I fight the urge to straighten my cap, the dang thing keeps trying to slip off and the pins that Ma’s stabbed into my head are beginning to slip once again. If she notices me fiddling with the thing she’ll be bound and determined to adjust them again and then I’ll be even later for commencement.
“Oh, my baby…” She says for the eighth time since getting to the football field that’s packed with folding chairs and kids waiting to be told “Hey! You’re done here. Go enjoy another four years at college!” At which point everyone will cheer, throw their caps that we’ve all been struggling to keep on into the air, and then all go our separate ways. Some of us will keep in contact with our closest friends while others say goodbye to the longest four years of our lives and start on a new adventure.
People like me.
It’s not that school was awful for me, I got by relatively unnoticed other than the few humiliations and epic fails that seemed to pass within a week’s time. I had my friends that I would do things with at school and every so often we’d end up spending time together on the weekends. The issue is, I’m not like most kids in my school. When I left the confines of my public school’s walls I was quickly swept into a completely different world. My best friends were my mom and the boys I called my brothers, who waited for me back at their house each and every day. Not to mention that every now and then, the guy that sets my heart fluttering and causes my to mind do fuzzy things would stop by.
No, my world existed entirely outside of my academic career.
But, I was about to turn all those plans upside down, because as my fellow graduates prepared for heading off to college in the fall, I was preparing to travel across Europe. I had the entire trip planned, over a year of traveling and sightseeing and learning different cultures, learning the type of things they never taught us in school. The best part of all though?
Max is coming with me.
Just thinking about our trip makes me giddy, the prospect of spending that much time together, just the two of us, without having to hide any kind of feelings from the rest of the world. My pulse quickens just thinking about it and I have to focus in order to understand what my mother is now saying to me.
“I just can’t believe you’re all grown up.” She says, her eyes misting again like they had yesterday when I tried on the cap and gown in our living room. At least then she had tissues to wipe her runny nose.
This time, not so much.
“Mom, it’s not like I’m dying.” I laugh, searching my pockets for a tissue.
“Oh, I know.” She says, waving a hand at me like I was being the ridiculous one.
“I’ll be here all summer, we can do all kinds of things.” I promise, although I’m not even sure of my own words. I had gotten myself a summer job working with a party planning company until Max and I plan to leave, just to have some extra spending money once we were on the road. Honestly though, I’d leave tomorrow if I could.
When I first decided on taking some time to travel and explore before going to college my mom was nothing but supportive, although her concern for my safety made her hesitate for longer than a second. Long enough to make me say something off handedly to Max about it while studying with Aspen and Theo. Then, as the first act of us being anything other than the third Bennett baby and Aspen’s best friend, Max offered to come with me.
Right there.
In the Bennett’s dining room, in front of Aspen and Theo.
One of my teachers, Mrs. Henry, starts her way around the group of students, instructing them where to go and which line of benches they’re supposed to sit in.
“Ma, you need to go find a seat.” I tell her and she nods quickly, giving me one last, quick hug before scurrying off towards the bleachers where family are expected to wait and watch the proceedings.
Taking a deep breath, I steel my nerves for the upcoming hour, I always enjoy the craziness of parties and events like this, the madness and craze of it all that makes your mind scramble in a hundred different directions. But today was different and I felt different because of it.
“You look great.” A voice says from behind me and I spin sharply on its owner.
“Max!” I fling myself at him and he easily catches me, his tall form lifting me off the ground slightly while we hug. He’s been absent from the Bennetts for the last two weeks, half the time holed up in the garage he still works at and the other half shadowing his dad at their law firm. A law firm that Max is expected to someday inherit if all goes according to plan. A plan that Max is pushing off until we get back from our trip much to his father’s disapproval. Max doesn’t mind the delay though, telling me that he needs some time away from his dad and step-mother before selling his soul to them for the rest of his life.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to make it.” I say once he sets me down, but he doesn’t let me back away, his arms trapping me right there, pressed against him and I shoot him a questioning look. “Where is Aspen?”
“One question at a time Pages,” he teases. “Aspen’s up in the bleachers with the Bennetts, he doesn’t know I’m here.”
Of course he doesn’t.
“And of course I was going to make it. How could I miss it? You’ve only been talking about this speech for the last three months.”
I blush. It’s not my speech technically, I would die if I was expected to stand in front of the rest of the class and all their friends and family and have to inspire them all. No, that job was designed for someone more like Josephine Hepburn, our class president. Jo was smart and talented and vibrant, far more able to give a speech than I was, however…
She was also VERY busy.
Which meant she had to discreetly pay someone else to write the commencement speech for her and somehow heard that I was a fellow student with an above average writing skill. Along with the perpetual need for work.
Maybe I had gushed about this speech at the Bennett’s dining table a little too much. But Aspen, Theo, and Max were the only ones that knew the truth about the speech I worked months on perfecting. A speech full of hope and inspiration and unrelenting determination. It’s a good speech.
I might even cry.
“I’m so nervous and I’m not even the one giving it.” I half whisper to Max, his eyes sparking with that familiar mischief that I adore.
“It’s going to be great, everyone is going to love it and remember how inspiring it was, and no one will even remember who gave it.” He winks.
I roll my eyes at his sweet words. “Yeah right, I think it’s usually the opposite Max.”
He shrugs with an incandescent smile. “Maybe you’ll set a new trend.” Then his phone rings a familiar ringtone that dashes any happiness from his face.
I frown as he pulls his cell from him pocket and answers his father’s call, knowing full well they haven’t been getting along lately, especially after Maxon announced he wasn’t going straight into law school like his father had planned.
“Hey Dad, what’s up?” He says, trying to sound relaxed although every muscle in his body has gone taught with anxiety. “No, I’m at Paige’s graduation.”
Dread washes over me and I go to place my hand on Max’s arm in an attempt to ease some of his tension, but he turns away from me before I can.
“Can I come over after…?” Max is speaking into his phone in a hushed tone now and I can feel a part of me aching because I know what’s coming. “No Dad, but… no… can’t it just-… right.” Maxon sighs, nodding his head as his shoulders sag in defeat. “No, of course not… Alright, I’ll be right over.”
Then he turns to me and I plaster on the best fake smile I’ve ever managed.
At least I hope that’s how it looks.
“I’m sorry Paige, but my dad is throwing all these recruiters at me right now and I just want to make him happy before we leave…”
I nod in understanding. “Is he threatening your inheritance again?”
He lets out a dry laugh. “Always. It’s gotten to be basically every time we talk.” He runs a hand across the back of his neck. “I’m sorry I’m not going to get to hear your speech.”
I shrug with another forced smile. “It’s just a bunch of words. Don’t worry about it.”
He returns my sad smile with one of his own. “I’ll text you later?”
I nod and watch his tall figure as he makes his way through the crowd of graduates, my fake smile fading the second he’s out of sight.
I don’t listen to the speech…
Present
Panic surges through me, clawing up my throat and threatening to completely strangle any breath from my body. I stare at Aspen and Katie standing in front of us, almost certain that they can read everything that has ever happened between Maxon and I solely based off my horrified expression. Beside me I can feel Maxon’s body stiffen and I can see my future like an episode of some television drama.
First there will be the gasps of recognition. Check.
Then there will be the humiliating confession with a fake audience laugh track.
Then there’ll be some catastrophic, evening altering event.
Then tonight will end with me staying with the Bennetts and a mountain of shame.
I should have just dealt with Mrs. Bennett’s wrath and missed tonight entirely.
A smile picks up at the corner of Aspen’s lips at seeing his friend. “What are you doing here?” He laughs, stepping forward and giving Maxon a one-armed hug and slap on the back.
I gulp, my heart hammering against my ribs so loudly I’m sure they can all hear it like the steady rhythm of a drum. Only this drum is geared up for a long-anticipated solo with twirling sticks and erratic beats.
“Paige was helping plan this party for the law firm, we were looking at locations when her car broke down and I offered to bring her here.” Maxon says so casually that I almost believe him.
Aspen lets out a dry laugh. “You need to get rid of that hunk of junk.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “It’s not a hunk of junk.” I protest to which Aspen just laughs even louder and Mrs. Bennett gives him a solid whack upside the back of his head.
“Be nice to her.” She scolds. “It’s always a pleasure to have you over Maxon, I didn’t know you were in town.”
He gives a tight-lipped smile. “Yeah, I’ve been around for about a couple months now.”
Aspen’s gaze narrows on him. “That’s long for you.”
Max shrugs. “Things kind of popped up that I had to take care of.” He says matter of factly and I know for certain that I am one of those “things.”
“Well, you’re just in time for dinner!” Mrs. Bennett grins widely, waving for us to step into the dining room where Mr. Bennett sits, typing away on his phone before he looks up and narrows his gaze at Maxon and I.
“Maxon? What are you doing here?” He says rather curtly, and I snort a laugh.
His wife, however, just huffs in frustration. “If you weren’t so absorbed into that game then you would have been a part of the conversation.”
“Blame her!” He waves wildly at Katie as his wife makes her way toward the kitchen door. “She sent an attack on my village right as I sat down.”
Katie smirks at Mr. Bennett’s outburst, then, at my questioning look leans over to me. “I got him hooked on one of those medieval war games while we were on our ski trip.”
I nod, fighting back the urge to laugh. “That sounds about right.”
She lets out a sharp giggle before taking a seat next to Aspen who has fallen into a conversation with Maxon about some starlet that he represents. “It’s not really that big of a deal, just requires a lot of paperwork.” Max says, shrugging.
“What’s not a big deal?” I ask, my attention darting between the two men.
“One of Max’s clients is suing another artist for copyright infringement. Seemed like a pretty big case.” Aspen says quickly and Katie nods in agreement.
“It’s all over my entertainment websites.” She adds.
Max shakes his head with a laugh. “You really shouldn’t read those, they’re full of nonsense.”
She shrugs. “But they ARE entertaining.”
Mrs. Bennett steps back into the dining room with Sadie and Theo trailing behind her, all carrying dishes filled with veggies, lasagna and a basket filled with bread. “Hey Maxon,” Theo nods a greeting and Max gives a short little wave in response, stealing a hesitant glance to me before draping his napkin over his lap.
My entire body is on high alert as everyone settles in at the table, Mrs. Bennett taking her husband’s phone from him as soon as the last dish is set down, shooting him a dirty look as she does.
A comfortable conversation settles over the table about the food and how their ski trip. They ask about how the birthday party went, Katie already well informed about Laney having helped with the photography. Thankfully though, Laney did not say anything about the “bailing us out of jail” portion of the event. Or at least Katie didn’t go into that at the dinner table.
Either way, I was grateful.
“Paige, I have a question for you,” Sadie asks as she picks at her pile of veggies. “Do you know of any places that offer dance lessons?”
I arch a brow at her. “Um, yeah, why?”
“Well, while we were away Katie dragged us to this club to dance and I discovered that this man”-She pokes Theo in the arm-“Is quite literally the worst dancer I’ve ever seen.”
Quickly, I bite my lips together to keep from laughing. “Oh…”
She nods with a triumphant smirk while Theo glares at her. “And I refuse to attend this wedding with him if he’s going to embarrass me like that again. So, I’ve decided we’re taking lessons.”
“Operative words being ‘she decided.’” Theo adds and then flinches when she smacks him on the arm, but there’s a smile on his lips that betrays the fact that he just likes to rile her up.
I nod again. “Yeah, I know a few places that do lessons, I’ll get something scheduled for you.”
“Thank you!” She grins. “You’re an absolute lifesaver.”
The conversation then turns to talk of the wedding and what still needs to be done, Katie bouncing different questions at me that I gladly answer, until that conversation dies out and the one question I’ve been dreading is asked…
“And how did your date go Paige?” Mrs. Bennett tries to sound nonchalant about it, but I know her far too well to know she’s been skillfully jumping around conversations, trying to ease me into a false sense of security before asking.
But I’d prepared for this. “Oh? You mean with Mike?” I ask brightly.
A spark of hope ignites in her eyes. “Yes! Did it go well?”
I tap on my chin, a tight smile on my lips. “You mean did the blind date you set me up on with my high school ex-boyfriend go well?”
Katie snorts.
All color drains from Mrs. Bennett”s face. “What? No…”
I nod. “Yeah, I dated him for like half of my junior year. And I can promise you he is not the gentleman that his aunt made him out to be…”
“Wait, was this the guy that dumped you and you cried for an entire day in Theo’s room?” Aspen asks, because of course he’d have to bring up that embarrassing bit of information. I realize now that Mike wasn’t worth those tears… Aspen shifts his attention to Maxon. “The Mike whose nose you broke?”
I perk up, knitting my brow at my brother. “Wait, what?” I turn on Max next to me. “You’re the one that broke Mike’s nose? He always told everyone he got mugged.”
Max huffs a laugh. “I’m sure he did.” He rolls his eyes and stabs at his piece of lasagna like he was personally offended by the dish. “He was a jerk and deserved way more than just a broken nose.”
I know, deep down in my gut, I shouldn’t think acts of violence are sweet or endearing. Violence of all kinds is highly frowned upon in my mind, there is nothing that violence solves that a few choice words couldn’t equally solve.
Now, with that being said…
I can’t help but be completely floored that Max had done that for me… I remember crying in Theo’s room, more specifically, I remember Max having stood off to the side of the room silently, watching as I cried my eyes out over the boy he’d already warned me was a jerk.
So, no, I do not condone violence… but knowing Max went out and broke Mike’s nose is also possibly one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done for me.
Now that I think about it, Max kind of has a monopoly on the “sweet things done for Paige” category. And I’m not sure how I feel about that.
“I am so sorry you had to go through that Paige,” Mrs. Bennett’s voice draws me back to the present.
I shrug. “It’s fine, but this is why I hate blind dates.” I give her a pointed look.
She raises her hands up in surrender. “Understood. No more blind dates.” She says and hope flowers inside my chest.
Until…
“A girlfriend of mine’s son is single, his name is Thomas Goodwill, do you know him? They moved here just a few years ago and he helps with his dad’s business.”
I slap my hand to my forehead.
“Mom!” Aspen comes to my aide with a breathy, disbelieving laugh. “You’re not actually serious.”
“Well, why not? She couldn’t have dated him in high school.” She says defensively.
“She just said she hated blind dates and you’re literally trying to set her up on another one.” He says, his voice rising slightly and Katie nibbles on a piece of her bread, obviously uncomfortable with the discussion.
“This won’t be a blind date! We’ll figure out a time they can meet here maybe. Delores and I could have coffee with the two of you.”
“Oh yeah, because having chaperones is just the best way to solve this.” Aspen scoffs, his attention darting back to me. “How long has she been setting you up?”
I let out a breathy laugh, I hated putting Mrs. Bennett under the spotlight like this, because at first I really didn’t mind the blind dates back when they were once in a while and because she thought I’d actually like the guy. When every single one of those fell through though, it almost became a challenge to her, and she became even more bound and determined to find me a guy. But none of them ever fit… none of them were as easy and fun to be around as the man sitting next to me and I knew that.
“Mom’s been trying to set Paige up since you and Katie got together.” Theo provides when I failed to answer Aspen’s question.
“Two years?” Aspen nearly seethes, his attention snapping back to his mom. “You’ve been pimping her out for twoyears?”
“Aspen!” Mrs. Bennett stares at her younger son in shock and my own mortification rises at her next words. “I am not pimping her out. I’m trying to introduce her to a nice guy. She hasn’t dated anyone in years.”
“Hope!” I nearly shriek, horrified as I steal quick glances from Sadie and Katie to Max, it wasn’t that I try to hide my dating history, but it wasn’t something I specifically wanted to discuss in front of everyone.
She places a hand to her forehead and it’s obvious that the conversation has gotten out of hand, and I feel like that might be the end of it until…
“What if I dated Paige?”