Page 76 of A Good Book

Butwe were more.

“Don’t overthink it,” he said.

Reading each other’s minds wasn’t always a good thing. It made me feel so transparent in his eyes.

Why kiss me if we’rejustfriends?

He shrugged and opened the blinds, letting the bright easterly sun hit me in the face. “You asked me to teach you. So I’m teaching you.”

“Teaching me? Are you kidding me?” Anger bubbled up my chest and straight out of my mouth. I sighed and grumbled at the same time as he gave me his dead look because he couldn’t hear me.

Just slow blinks.

Every time I spoke on instinct and he returned that expression, it felt like God was knocking the wind out of me. I turned and blinked back my stupid tears while scribbling something that was less about me.

Thank you for your help. I’m relieving you of your teaching duties. See you later.

Ben stared at the paper for longer than it took to read my words. “Thought you wanted to take me shopping,” he murmured without lifting his gaze.

You said no.

He looked at me. “Now, I’m saying yes.”

I wanted to give up and go home. Ben’s awful attitude stole my Christmas cheer. But I had presents to buy, so I nodded before pivoting to head down the stairs. Ben followed me.

“You got him out of bed. That’s a Christmas miracle,” his mom said as we put on our coats and shoes by the front door.

I mustered the best smile I could despite my crestfallen heart. “Yeah. He’s Scrooge for sure.”

Ben stared at the floor when I looked at him. He had been so cruel to me; I shouldn’t have felt sorry for him, but I did. It had to be awful knowing that people were talking around him, but he didn’t know what was being said.

Then again, it was kind of his fault.

I tapped the bottom of his chin, making him look at me. Then I signed, “Learn ASL.”

Of course, it only intensified said pouty face.

“Is that sign language?” Carmen asked.

I nodded, keeping my gaze locked with Ben’s. “Yes. I’m taking a class three nights a week, but your stubborn son won’t do the same. I don’t know a lot. But I know some basics.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, and I returned a tiny smirk.

“Wow, Gabby! This boy of mine doesn’t know how lucky he is to have you in his life. I hope you can convince him to learn it, too, because Alan and I want to.” She grabbed his arm to get his attention and slowly mouthed “be good” to him.

He frowned and nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

She hugged him while winking at me.

He could be the biggest jerk, but Ben loved his mom. And I loved that about him. If I ever had boys, I wanted them to respect me the same way.

After we pulled out of his long drive, I reached for the knob to turn on the radio but froze before turning my wrist. Then I slowly sat up and placed both hands on the steering wheel.

Ben didn’t hesitate before turning it on … all the way.

I flinched, fumbling with the knob to turn it off so it wouldn’t blow out the speakers in my car. When I shot him a scowl, he turned away, focusing out his window. Again, tears burned my eyes.

It wasn’t about me, and I resented my emotions for betraying my will to be strong. But witnessing the grief and the death of what felt like the essence of my best friend was too much for my immature heart to take.

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