Chapter 2
Benjamin pulled his arm back, pumping the football a few times as he waited for his brother Joseph to get open in the makeshift end zone of Dad’s front yard. The moment he saw his opening, he let the ball fly, the satisfaction of a perfect spiral coursing through him with the same power as it had at the state championship game he’d led his team to three years in a row in high school.
Joseph caught the ball effortlessly, and Benjamin threw his arms in the air with a cheer. “And that’s how the kids do it,” he called to his older brothers Zeb and Simeon and his brother-in-law Liam.
“I’m not sure I still qualify as a kid,” Asher muttered to him. “But I’ll take the win anyway.”
Together, the sweaty brothers jostled and laughed their way to the porch where Simeon, Joseph, Asher, and Liam all went instantly to their wives. Zeb, whose wife had died just over a year earlier, scooped Asher and Ireland’s little girl, Caroline, off of Dad’s lap and kissed her cheek.
Benjamin debated between claiming Ava and Joseph’s six-month-old Noah or Simeon and Abigail’s little Genevieve, born the same day in the same hospital.
“Ah, I think this guy needs a diaper change,” Ava announced, and that decided that.
Benjamin reached for Genevieve, and Abigail handed her over with a smile. The little girl grinned at him, two teeth poking through her gums, and patted his face.
He listened as multiple conversations flew around him, soaking up the sounds of his siblings’ chatter as he made faces at Genevieve. The little girl’s giggles were contagious.
“So.” Abigail looked up at him from the rocking chair. “How are things?”
“Good. Why?”
“Any news on the dating front?” Abigail smiled knowingly.
“Oh. That.” Benjamin shrugged. He’d been planning to wait until he saw how things went before he brought it up with his family. Otherwise, they were likely to blow everything out of proportion. As the youngest and the only remaining unmarried sibling—although they hadn’t seen Judah in so long that it was entirely possible he was married and had a family they knew nothing about—he was often the victim of unwanted matchmaking. “I have a date tonight.” A Sunday night date might seem strange to some people, but Jasmine hadn’t batted an eye when he’d mentioned that he had Sunday-Monday and Tuesday-Wednesday off on alternating weeks. As a realtor, her weekends were busy too.
“I know.” Abigail grinned, and Benjamin didn’t bother to ask how. River Falls was a small town, and he had a big family, so it was pretty much a given that nothing could be kept secret.
“Oh, who is it with?” Ava joined the conversation eagerly.
“Jasmine,” Abigail answered for him.
“The real estate agent who sold you the house?” Ireland jumped into the conversation. “She’s nice.”
“She is,” Abigail agreed. “Although I wish you would have asked Summer out. I still don’t get what happened there. You’re the most impulsive person I know, and you dragged your feet for months on that. And then it was too late.”
Benjamin shrugged, even though his heart agreed with his sister-in-law one hundred percent. He had been an idiot not to ask Summer out before that Nick guy got to her.
He’d spent the last four months kicking himself for that. But now it was time to move on. Besides, it wouldn’t be bad to have a fresh start with someone who had never broken his heart before.
“Where are you taking her?” Lydia joined the conversation too, and Benjamin rolled his eyes. So much for keeping this under wraps. “The Depot?”
Benjamin snorted. “So all of my coworkers can ogle us? No thanks. I was thinking that pizza place up on the ridge, but I should text her to see if she’s okay with that.”
He adjusted Genevieve so he could reach into his pocket, but his phone wasn’t there. “Where is my . . .” He glanced around. “I must have left it in the house.” He planted a big kiss on his niece’s cheek and gave her back to Abigail, then traipsed into the house.
His phone was on the kitchen counter, and he swiped a cookie as he picked it up.
A string of texts from his friend TJ lit the screen, and he scrolled through them.
You busy? Summer needs a Prince Charming. 3pm to 5pm.
Benjamin grinned, his eyes flicking to the time. It was 2:15 now. And his date wasn’t until 7.
You there? If you don’t do it, I’m going to have to. But I think we’d both prefer if it was you. Benjamin stared at that one for a moment, trying to decide if both referred to TJ and Benjamin or to TJ and Summer.
Before he could figure it out, another text came through. I guess you’re busy. I’ll go. But don’t say I didn’t give you your opportunity. She and Nick broke up last night, btw.
Benjamin blinked at the words, his heart racing and breaking at the same time. He hated to think of anything hurting Summer, and yet . . . If she wasn’t with Nick—
He stopped himself right there. He had a date with another woman tonight. And anyway, if he and Summer started dating again, chances were good that it would only destroy the friendship with her that he’d worked so hard to rebuild over the past year.
Still . . . Friends helped friends out.
I can do it,he texted TJ.
Three seconds later, TJ texted an address in the foothills on the outskirts of town. Benjamin was going to have to leave right now if he wanted to get there on time. He slid his phone into his pocket and made his way back through the house and out the door.
“So I guess she likes pizza?” Lydia asked with a laugh.
“Huh?” Benjamin halted. “Who likes pizza?”
“Jasmine.” Lydia rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know. I didn’t get a chance to text her.”
“Then what were you doing, and why are you grinning like a fool?” Abigail asked.
“Eating cookies.” Benjamin grinned back easily. It wasn’t a lie. “I gotta take off.”
“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Joseph asked. “Don’t tell me it’s going to take you four hours to get ready for your date.”
Everyone laughed, but Benjamin didn’t care. “I have to do a favor for a friend first.”