Page 79 of Whiskey & Honey

Having Laurel in town has proven to be a blessing. Ashton has been spending time with her and helping her deal with whatever is going on in her life. Ben’s respected my request for space and has only sent me good morning and good night text messages. I miss him. More than that I thought it was humanly possible to miss another person. It’s not just his touch that I miss. It’s his chivalry, kindness, and his amazing laugh. Heck, I miss his loud eating and I’d even take his leaving the toilet seat up at this point.

I know it would only take a quick call and he’d be here. The ball is most definitely in my court at this point, I just have to decide what to do with it. Do I want to end things with Ben? No. If I were listening to a friend saying all of these thoughts aloud, I would be completely frustrated and want to shake some sense into her. And, I’d remind my friend that the guy isn’t going to wait forever and if my heart is broken it’s my own doing.

I’ve been completely selfish. Ben doesn’t deserve this back and forth high school drama. I need to either lay it all out there or end things.

A knock at my door jars me from my thoughts. Ashton doesn’t wait for me to answer and lets herself in.

“Hey, sister from another mister!”

Joining me in the kitchen, she tosses her purse on the table and leans against the counter, snatching a carrot from my cutting board.

“Watch it, you wouldn’t want to lose a finger, would you?”

“Oh hush, you wouldn’t cut me. I’m starving, what are you making?”

“I was just making a salad and cooked some chicken. I figured since we’re eating big tomorrow we could eat light tonight.”

“Excellent plan. I cannot wait for tomorrow. My mom was making a pecan pie when I left tonight. The house smells heavenly. God, I love pie.”

“Yes, Ash, we know. Everyone knows how much you love pie. Want to eat in the living room?”

“Sure, take that in and I’ll grab some drinks. No booze tonight, though. Laurel and I drank way too much wine last night. That girl is a lot of fun. It’s too bad she was such a dud when she was with my brother. Maybe they wouldn’t have broken up.”

I don’t respond to her statement and set our plates on the coffee table. Taking a spot on the couch, I remind myself that Laurel confirmed that the breakup was a good thing for both her and Ben. Regardless, the idea of them together stings just the same. Ashton joins me and places a glass of tea on the table.

“So, what’s new? I know I haven’t been around much, sorry. Heard from dickhead lately?” she asks, grabbing her plate and taking a bite of her salad.

“If you mean Tony, yeah, we had breakfast the other day.”

Coughing while attempting to swallow her food, Ashton’s eyes widen. I take mercy on her and explain.

“Oh, well, as long as you weren’t like on a date or anything. You deserve better than him, Pipe.”

“Thanks. What about you? Any new prospects?”

“Yeah, no. I’m on sabbatical from guys. Plus, I’ve been spending time with Laurel while she’s staying with us. Ben’s been working on his house non-stop. At this point he will be living there by Christmas.”

“Wow, that seems fast.”

“I know, but he’s been working around the clock all week and I think he finally hired Jameson to have professionals finish it. Something is up with him. At first I thought it was having Laurel around, but they both told me it’s not a big deal. He’s been a grumpy asshole again so I assume his secret girlfriend dumped him. I wish I knew who she was so I could ask her to take him back.”

“Secret girlfriend?” I ask, my stomach tightening at the idea of Ashton knowing about us.

“Yep. Didn’t I tell you? Ben had some secret girlfriend. He basically disappeared for a few weeks and we hardly saw him. But when we did? He was happy and fun to be around. He reminded me of how he was when we were growing up. I liked him again. Now he’s back to being boring and on edge.”

I know the feeling. “Did he tell you he had a girlfriend?”

“Nah, I figured it out, but he didn’t deny it either. I don’t get the secrecy. I mean, unless she’s married or something. Ben wouldn’t do that though. He’s the good guy.”

“I agree. Maybe he just wanted to have something for himself. Keep it private for a while.”

“That’s ridiculous. We’re family, why wouldn’t he want us to meet her? Is he embarrassed by her? Oh my gosh! You don’t think it’s Felicity, do you? I heard her and the Mr. Thorne were having problems. Jenna Showalter was in Country Road the other night and said she was in Burlington last week shopping. She saw Felicity shopping at Target. I don’t think she’s stepped in a Target since 2003!”

We both laugh at that. I can’t imagine seeing Felicity walking around Target decked out in her Gucci pushing a red shopping cart comparing toilet paper brands.

“We shouldn’t laugh, but it is funny. Besides, I can guarantee it’s not Felicity. At the school’s Fall festival Ben was not impressed with her when she was rude to me.”

“See, that’s what I mean. Good guy. One day that good guy thing is going to bite him in the ass. His holier-than-thou noble attitude is going to screw him over and I’m going to laugh.”