Page 36 of Just Enough

I still figured it might’ve had something to do with the way he acted about the innocent kiss on the cheek, but I never brought it up and neither did he. I couldn’t get myself to. I didn’t want to make things worse.

Maybe he needed a year to forget about it. Only it was the first thing I thought of when I saw his text. And the fact that I missed him so bad that I couldn’t stand it.

Can you make time to see me over the holidays?

He sent another text right after the first one. I found myself smiling as I ventured into the kitchen.

Me:Yes! I’ve only been trying to get you to come home to see me for the last sixteen months!

Me:Why don’t you guys come stay with Roger and me? We have an extra bedroom.

Benjamin:It’s only going to be me.

Me:Tammy didn’t want to come? She visiting her family for Christmas?

Benjamin:We broke up.

Me:What???

Me:When?

Benjamin:Last week.

Me:Why didn’t you tell me?

Me:Are you okay?

Benjamin:It should have happened sooner.

I hadn’t realized they were having problems.

Me:Do you want to talk about it?

Benjamin:Nope.

Me:Was it because of me?

Why did I ask that?

Suddenly, I was thinking of how much I’d been calling and texting him. Over the last few months, he had been helping me so much. Maybe too much. I used to think about those things before… I wondered why I unexpectedly wasn’t thinking about Tammy at all. I used to worry and be mindful if he had a girlfriend.

But damn, she kept him away sixteen months…

What if it really was her? The reason he stayed away because she didn’t like that he had me as a friend?

A real nasty feeling bubbled up inside my chest from my assumptions.

Benjamin:It wasn’t you.

Benjamin:It was me, so don’t fucking start with how we should be distant.

I blinked down at his text then smiled.

Me:Well…okay then.

Me:Was she the reason you didn’t come home?

Me:Because I’m your best friend, and I’m a girl?

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