Page 37 of Just Enough

Benjamin:It wasn’t.

Me:I guess you took my words very seriously about you being too protective of me.

Benjamin:I guess you could say that.

Somehow, I was disappointed. I had wanted a different answer. I just didn’t know what I wanted.

Benjamin:Maybe my protectiveness is unhealthy when it comes to you.

Now, I was even more disappointed that he agreed with what I said a year later.

I left him on read too long, so he replied with:

Not that I care.I like being there for you. I’m always going to be there for you.

Me:Me too. You won’t ever see me complain again!

“What are you grinning about?” Roger stepped into the kitchen and asked.

I gave him a smile. “Benjamin is coming home tomorrow, and I haven’t seen him in so long. It’s got me really excited.”

His expression faltered. “You and this guy must be pretty close… I hadn’t realized when you told me about him when we first got together that you two werethisclose… You even placed him in that story.”

Some of my smile vanished. I had forgotten how guys reacted to me being friends with him until now. Roger was the only guy I’d dated since high school. “We are. He’s my best friend.”

_______

“Sit down and deal the cards, Emily,” Dad said as I hovered near the window and peeked out to look for Benjamin’s truck. He still hadn’t arrived. I’d been playing poker with Dad for the last hour waiting on him. “He’ll get here when he gets here.”

I walked back to the table and sat down in my chair. “I haven’t seen him in so long.”

“Roger coming over when he gets off?” he asked me as I dealt the cards.

“No, I’d like a chance to spend time with Benjamin.”

“Hmm.”

I lifted my eyes and glanced at him picking up his cards. “What?”

“He doesn’t mind you hanging out with another guy?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Am I supposed to not see Benjamin if Roger’s a little upset about it?”

“I don’t know how to answer that.”

I frowned. “Why does everyone try to change our relationship into something that it’s not?”

“What is your relationship?” Dad countered back.

I gave him a look that said are you serious? “He’s my best friend.”

Dad squinted his eyes at his cards and nodded. “Probably for the best. His mom really doesn’t like you.”

I huffed. “Gee. Thanks.” Then I begrudgingly added, “Yeah, I know.”

“Probably saw you sneaking off one too many times when y’all were in high school, and you were always pulling him into your troubles.” Dad held his coffee mug to his mouth and sipped as he spoke nonchalantly.

I had the decency to look ashamed. “I didn’t realize you paid attention to what I did in high school.”

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