Page 86 of Just Enough

“I’ll go see.”

I stiffened at Roger’s voice just as he appeared from where the kitchen was. He smiled when he saw me then glanced toward Benjamin stepping into the house behind me.

“Something smells good,” Benjamin said behind me before he even glanced forward and saw Roger.

“She brought Benjamin with her,” Roger yelled with a smile toward me.

“Roger…” I felt Benjamin’s giant presence looming over me from behind. “What are you doing here?”

“I invited him since I knew you’d be coming over to eat with us,” Mom replied, stepping into the hallway. “Benjamin.” Her smile was warm toward him. “It’s been too long. It’s a nice surprise. I hadn’t expected you with us, but there’s plenty of food.”

“How’s the living situation?” Roger asked without a thought. “It’s probably not easy rooming with each other, is it?” Was he fishing for information or did he really not see the death stare Benjamin was giving him?

Just like that, Benjamin set everything straight. He slid his hand down and grabbed mine. I intertwined our fingers as he brought them up toward his face and kissed my hand. “It’s great, but we’re not roomies anymore. Emily is my girlfriend…Finally.”

There came the awkward silence. Mom covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at Roger’s back since she was standing behind him. “Ah, I had a feeling this would happen, eventually.” I felt bad that Roger was left feeling uncomfortable and… He even sounded disappointed. “Can’t blame a guy for hoping it didn’t.” He laughed weakly.

“Roger, I had no idea…” Mom told him, and I understood why she was trying to apologize, but Benjamin placed a possessive hand on the middle of my back. “Roger, you can still stay if you’d like,” Mom offered.

Roger shook his head sadly. “I think I’ll go.” He met my eyes and smiled. “I’ll leave. I know you’re uncomfortable.” He raised his gaze and met Benjamin’s. “Emily’s great. I wish it had been me that had been the best friend she wrote about.”

“She’s not great. She’severything.” Benjamin’s voice was deep, and he spoke like his words were the truest thing he’d ever spoken. It warmed me top to bottom.

“I hope I’ll see ya around, Emily,” was all Roger said before he slipped out the front door.

Once he was gone, Mom whispered. “I had no idea, Emily. I wouldn’t have invited him and made everyone so awkward.”

“Why would you even invite Roger?” I asked Mom a bit angrily. “You knew I broke up with him months ago.”

“She hoped to get the two of you back together,” Sarah hollered from the kitchen. She poked her head out. “I missed all the awkwardness.” Sarah’s eyes fell on Benjamin next to me. “Well, no wonder Emily went for the best friend… I think this is the first time we’re getting to meet other than me hearing about you.”

Some of the tension left Benjamin’s body at Sarah’s friendliness. “You must be Sarah, the girlfriend.” He let his charm roll off his cheeks.

She grinned. “I am.”

“Benjamin has always been a looker,” Mom told Sarah as she smiled at Benjamin. “I shouldn’t have meddled, Emily, I’m sorry.” She walked up to us and offered a hug to Benjamin. He hugged her back. “I didn’t think Emily would ever see you as anything other than a friend.”

“Mom,” I huffed.

“It took a while,” he agreed. “She seems to have finally fallen for my charm.”

Mom laughed. “Come on. Let’s go eat. Sarah’s a great cook.”

My phone dinged, and I pulled it out of my pocket.

Roger:Sorry.

I simply stared at his text message, not sure what to do. I didn’t want to reply, and I wouldn’t. I felt bad, but we were all caught off-guard. Even if Mom invited Roger, I had steadily been ignoring his phone calls and texts when he tried reaching out to me. He knew where my heart was.

I recalled the night I had ended things with him.

After the anger dissipated from Roger, he followed me to the bedroom as I packed my clothes to leave. I didn’t want to stay any longer. Not when my heart, body, and mind were always on my best friend instead of the man I was sleeping next to every night.

He called me out on it, and I hadn’t denied it. To be fair, I hadn’t realized how caught up I was on Benjamin until it was scary and consuming every part of me.

He dropped down to his knees in front of me. “Don’t go. Please. Just tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it.”

“There’s nothing wrong with you or me, Roger. It’s us. It’s what I feel, and it’s not toward you. I don’t want to keep you when I don’t even love you like you love me.”

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