Chapter 15
BEN WAS UP EARLY ON MY BIRTHDAY, MAKING brEAKFAST. I HAD been watching him try hard to be quiet at the foot of the pushed-together beds for about ten minutes before he realized I was awake.
He was creeping around the one-room apartment, grilling breakfast sandwiches, when he saw me smile. Hannah and Kara were still sleeping.
Ben mouthed, Did you sleep?
My eyes grew wide, and I slowly shook my head. No.
He swallowed a small laugh.
Did you? I asked with a finger point.
He shook his head just as slowly. Nooooo. He smiled sweetly, then mouthed, Can I kiss you?
Now? I pointed downward.
He shook his head while flipping the spatula back and forth, then whipped it in a circle. In general.
Ohhh . . . I looked at my sister and friend, neither of whom had any idea what was going on. I turned back to Ben and mouthed, Would that be weird for them?
“Would it? They cheered for us after you sang me a love song,” Ben said with a confused expression.
I threw my finger up to my lips to shush him, then looked over to the two sleeping beauties. Kara turned over.
Do you want to? I mouthed.
Yes. Ben’s nod was exaggerated. His scruff had grown in the night, his dark-blond hair was moving in all sorts of directions, and he was holding a birthday breakfast sandwich made just for me. Oh man, I was in trouble.
Really? I mouthed. My sister stirred beside me.
Yes, Ellie. I like you. A lot. Like . . . I really like you. He pointed at me with the spatula. Though he was saying he liked me, the look on his face was calling me an idiot.
I like you a lot! I mouthed back, angrily, mirroring his face.
He smiled. Well, let me fuckin’ kiss you!
I choked down a laugh. Gimme a fuckin’ minute!
“Are you two talking?” Kara sat up in bed, causing Hannah to roll over and rub her eyes.
“Uhhhhhhhhhh.” I had nothing else. I looked at Ben blankly.
Kara eyed us both suspiciously and then blurted out, “Did you two have sex last night?”
My jaw dropped, and Ben folded over with a laugh.
“No, we did not, Kara.” I glared at her. “What’s wrong with you?!”
“Uh-huh.” She grinned, then flipped her finger between us accusingly.
“I’ve got breakfast in five, ladies. Put your panties on.” He pointed at them with a breakfast sandwich in one hand and the spatula in the other. When Hannah and Kara spun themselves around to get out of bed, he looked over at me and mouthed, Not you.
As my sister pulled on a sweater and Kara stood with a stretch, Ben grabbed his phone and pressed a couple of buttons.
From our apartment speakers, out blasted the Cranberries’ “When You’re Gone.
” He winked at me, sending me a silent message, before turning to the small portable grill and throwing down a couple of extra strips of bacon.
The plan had been for me, Hannah, and Kara to spend the day at the spa before the three of us went out for dinner.
We would meet Ben, Lucas, and Zoe at Key One Lounge later in the night for birthday celebrations.
Ben and I had been texting throughout the day, and when I told the girls, “Surprise, surprise, I touched Ben’s dick,” they jumped up and down excitedly.
Hannah and Kara weren’t bothered by my distraction. I could see how happy they were for me every time I got an unprompted hug or squeeze. That, and my sister got Lucas’s number the night before, and Kara and Cameron had been texting nonstop. They, too, were distracted.
“Where are we going again?” Kara asked for the fifth time while we were in the cab heading downtown. My lottery commercial popped up on the screen of the cab’s divider.
Hannah gasped and pointed. “Holy crap! That’s you!”
“Key One Lounge,” I answered Kara, ignoring my sister.
“Okay.” She buried her face in her phone, typing.
“What’s going on?” I asked while reapplying my lipstick.
“I don’t know. Cameron’s being cagey. He keeps asking.”
“Well, tell him to leave you alone. You’re on vacation,” Hannah said.
By the time the three of us got to Key One Lounge, Ben, Lucas, and Zoe were already inside. We walked up to their table, and they rose from their seats to greet us. Zoe ran to Hannah and Kara to hug them even before introductions were made.
Seeing Ben hit me differently. I had to let my eyes catch up with my heart.
His eyes fell straight to my mouth, but he caught himself and lifted them back up.
I hadn’t yet given him the official “Go.” As far as the Bronwyn crew knew, we were just buddies who had had an epic make-out session in a bar the night before.
“Hi.” His voice was deep.
“Hi.” I smiled.
“Hi.” The third voice was familiar. Very familiar. Too familiar. It was Cameron. “Happy birthday, Cainey.”
“Oh . . . my god.” My sister grabbed my hand and held on for dear life.
I turned around. Standing beside Cameron was Jacob. Directly behind them was Blair. And standing behind Blair . . . was Rory.