Page 19 of Shattered Sun
Without hesitation, he wraps me in his arms and pins me to his chest. “This sucks.”
It does suck. But no matter how much I argued with Mom, she wouldn’t budge on her decision. Since Dad died, Mom has been sad all the time. She tries to put on a brave face. Forces smiles so people don’t see her misery.
But I hear her crying in the shower. I hear her sobs as I lay awake in bed and she attempts to sleep on the couch. With Dad gone, she refuses to sleep in the bed they once shared. When she decided we were moving, she sold the bed. She sold almost everything we own. Because too much of it reminded her of Dad and what happened to him, and the fact she wasn’t there to try and save him.
“Yeah, it does.” I lean into my friend and rest my head on his shoulder. “Maybe you can come visit me during school break. Convince your parents to take a beach vacation.”
He reaches for my braid and toys with the end. “I’ll never stop trying.”
If there is one thing I know about my best friend, it’s that he never gives up.
I sit up straight, stare into his bright turquoise eyes, and memorize his face. “I know. Me either.”
A little more than thirteen years have passed since I last saw Ben. The boy I once knew is so different from the man across the room—except for his vivid, distinct eyes. This man is unfamiliar, yet a piece of me recognizes him. A part of my soul, buried deep with past memories, knows his soul.
And I don’t know what the hell to do with this… this hum inside me as it swims for the surface.
Wandering back to the table, I hand the bill to the gentleman who requested it. As I start to walk off, Ben rises from his seat and steps toward me, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“That guy”—he juts his chin toward the counter—“the cop.” He swallows. “Is he your… are you…”
I warm as Ben fumbles over his words, as he figures out how to ask if Travis and I are a couple.
“Is he your boyfriend?” he finally asks.
My lips twitch and I bite the inside of my cheek to fight off my smile. “No. Travis and I aren’t together.” I wipe my hands on my apron. “He’s here every morning. We flirt and give each other a hard time.”
His eyes drop to my lips for a fraction of a second before meeting my gaze again. In my periphery, his Adam’s apple bobs. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Well, that escalated faster than expected. “Um, no.”
He rocks back on his heels, his gaze caressing the line of my jaw. “We’re in town for the library addition.” His eyes fall shut for one breath, then meet and hold mine. “Sorry if I sound like a mumbling fool. I’m still a little speechless at seeing you.”
I chuckle. “Been a long time, Benji.”
His frame relaxes as a soft smile plumps his cheeks. “Too long.” He rocks back on his heels again. “I’d love to catch up later.” Gaze dropping to the floor, he reaches up and scratches the back of his head. Then he levels me with his gaze, his striking blues locking me in place. His next words come out in a rush. “If you’re not busy.”
From the corner of my eye, a woman at their table nonchalantly watches our exchange. Her head appears to be down, but her eyes are on us. Being observant is part of my job. I may not be looking at her, but I feel her inquisitive eyes on me.
For all I know, they may be good friends. If she works for the construction company, they spend most of their days together. Like with any job, you tend to form bonds with people you see so often. They’re your family and, naturally, you look out for them.
Maybe that’s what she is doing. Looking out for Ben.
“No plans tonight, if that’s good with you.”
His smile widens, an unmistakable glow to his expression. “Work and the four walls of my room at the inn, that’s my life for the next couple of months.”
“Sounds fun,” I say with a hint of sarcasm.
“Loads.” He laughs.
“I’d hate to tear you away…” I snicker. “We can grab dinner at Dalton’s. A basket of wings or a burger and some drinks. Catch up on life.”
Warmth and an energy I haven’t felt in years passes to me from him.
God, how I’ve missed my friend.
Ben and I had only ever been friends. When Mom moved us out of Smoky Creek, Ben and I were too young to be anything more—at least from an emotional standpoint. But he’d been my best friend more years than not. Being torn away from him and later losing touch with him was a knife to the heart.