Page 40 of Trial Run

“I t-told her that.”

“It was your first time looking, though. I’m sure your mom wanted me to double check.”

Marco’s face brightened. “Because you’re an expert?”

Ben shook his head, smiling. “I’m no expert, but I do have experience. Would you like to see some of the other crystals I brought?”

“Yes. Where are they?”

“In the dining room,” Nell said. “If you get them and bring them back here, I’ll finish off dinner.”

Thirty minutes later, Ben was surrounded by rocks, with a very excited boy leaning over his shoulder. Marco’s difficulty speaking had evaporated. He peppered Ben with questions about where he’d found the rocks, how to pronounce their names, and where the rock and gem store was, so his mom could take him there.

He glanced up to see Nell standing in the doorway to the living room, a strange expression on her face.

“Dinner’s all ready. If you guys want to come eat.”

Marco hopped off the couch. “My mom makes good food. You’ll like it.” He raced down the hall to the kitchen, leaving them alone.

“Thanks for bringing the rocks,” Nell said, her tone soft.

“I had no idea they would be so popular.”

“He really found some geodes?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure. I’ll give you the address of the gem shop. They don’t charge much to cut them open.”

They ate dinner—chicken parmesan and pasta—surrounded by plants at the little table, with Marco chattering about dinosaurs and fossils. This wasn’t like any date Ben had been on before, and he never would have planned anything like this in his former life. But it was what he’d needed. To feel a part of something, to feel like he belonged.

Nell smiled at him across the table, another of her genuine smiles. What if she’d gone to someone else’s porch, that first day? What if their paths had never crossed? He’d be sitting alone in his house tonight.

After dinner, he helped her with the dishes while Marco watched TV. Then they wrapped up Marco’s rocks, and Ben put away the rocks he’d brought with him. Nell ushered Marco upstairs to take a bath, and the sounds of running water drifteddown from above. Ben waited on the couch, and she came back downstairs a half hour later.

“I got him tucked into bed, but it might take him a while to fall asleep. Exciting evening.” She settled onto the couch next to him.

Ben wouldn’t sleep either, but for other reasons, his body humming with life and warmth. He wanted to burst out her door and run for miles. He wanted to grab her and kiss her until neither of them could breathe.

Nell leaned back against the couch cushions, turning her head to look at him. Up close, the different shades of gray in her eyes shifted in the low light, and he let himself fall into staring at them, spiraling deeper into his fantasies.

With effort, he pulled his gaze away, before he forgot what he’d meant to tell her tonight.

“I did a bit of research on something. I don’t want you to feel obligated to use the information, though. If it’s not useful, ignore it.”

“Okay.” She frowned, pulling back a few inches. “What is it?”

“The other day, you mentioned you were the first person in your family to attend college. I looked into the University of Missouri’s scholarship programs, and they have several scholarships for first generation college students.”

“Oh. I … That’s very nice of you to look it up. I didn’t know.” She folded her arms over her chest and looked out the window, at the dying sunlight. “But even if money wasn’t an issue, I don’t have the time. With all my jobs, and taking care of Marco. When would I go to class?”

“I understand. I know it might not work for you, and I’m not trying to talk you into it. But I can text you the link if you want it.”

“Okay. It’s been a long time since I thought about finishing school. I always thought of it as something far-off in the future. But it’s been seven years already.”

“You’ll know when it’s time to take the leap. And speaking of taking leaps, I went into the clinic yesterday, and again today.”

She sat up straighter. “You really did?”

“Yes, a patient had a health crisis yesterday. And I got in the car and drove there.”

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