Page 12 of One Weekend in Perth

“How did she get my phone?” Ben asked, coming to stand a little closer to Clara.

Was he staking a claim?

Was he letting Reed know the boundaries of their relationship were changing?

Or did he need the assurance that his best friend would be there for him?

Which she would, but she couldn’t help wishing it was the other two thoughts she had. They needed to talk but now wasn’t the time to do it.

“I gave it to her because she was screeching that we were all in on the big plan to humiliate her on her wedding day. And if you think I believe the two of you concocted this up, you’d be wrong. I know my brother and I know you, Clara. You’re not the type of people to deliberately hurt someone.”

Clara was surprised Reed gave Fern Ben’s phone, then again, the issue needed to be resolved, so it was the easiest way to achieve it. “Makes sense,” she murmured.

“Even after our conversation when I confronted her for cheating on me and being willing to marry me while she was in love with someone else, she still played the victim.” Ben shook his head. “Why am I not surprised?”

There was no frustration or anger in Ben’s tone, just acceptance.

“I think once the other guy turned up, nearly everyone there had more sympathy for why you didn’t show. Last we saw as we walked out, her parents were demanding answers. The other guy wasn’t looking as if he was going anywhere. He was staying glued to Fern’s side. I’m guessing you saw them together; that’s why you left?” Reed asked.

“I did.” His response was clipped, and Clara hooked her arm around his, leaning into his side to let him know that she was there for him.

Reed didn’t even raise an eyebrow at her latching herself to Ben. “It just reinforced what you were feeling though, wasn’t it? You had doubts.”

“Yep, that’s why I got out of the room. Then I saw Fern in the hallway. The rest, as they say, is history.”

“You’re going to be okay, Ben.”

Ben extracted his arm from her tight grip, and she fought the surge of disappointment that he didn’t want the connection like she did. But instead of moving away, he wrapped an arm around her waist, squeezing it tightly. She looked up at him and, like it had happened on so many occasions over their friendship, their gazes connected. This time though, there was something lurking in his eyes. Something she didn’t want to define because it gave that kernel of hope that persisted inside of her a reason to exist.

“I’m going to be fine.”

Chapter 6

The night airwas cool on Ben’s skin as he walked Reed out of the hotel. He didn’t need to do it. His brother could’ve easily found his way out, but Ben could tell that Reed wanted to say something to him. Something he didn’t want to say it in front of Clara.

Reed couldn’t have missed the way he basically announced his intentions toward pursuing something with Clara. His brother didn’t miss cues like that. Truthfully, Ben hadn’t done anything to hide it.

His brother faced him, his hands sliding into his trouser pockets. To the onlooker, Reed looked relaxed and ready to have a conversation. Reed was both of those things, but because of his military training, he was always aware of what was going on around them. Ben waited for his brother to collect his thoughts.

“If it was anyone else but you, I’d worry you were making big, emotional life decisions you shouldn’t be making. But it is you, and it’s with Clara. All I can say is, be very sure this is what you want. That Clara is the one you want, because that girl has loved you for years, and you have the power to break her heart so thoroughly that returning from it would be nigh on impossible.”

The thought of hurting Clara had his stomach clenching in knots. Hurting her would be like cutting off his own hand.

What Reed didn’t know was whathewould go through if Clara walked away from him. “She has the exact same power to do that to me too, bro. I need her,” Ben countered, not sure he really believed Reed when he said Clara loved him for years. That was a hope he couldn’t allow himself to believe. Now that the Fern scales were well and truly pulled off and he was finally being true to himself, Ben knew that he’d loved Clara for years. He’d been too stupid, and scared, to tell her.

Reed nodded. “I know that too, which is why I want you to be sure this is what you want, because there is so much both of you can lose.”

Ben sighed. A tiny hint of doubt crept into his conviction that he and Clara were meant to be. That now was their time and he would get what he wanted. He looked at his brother, imploring him to understand what Ben believed deep down.

“It’s time, Reed. I’ve been denying what I truly want for so long. I fooled myself into believing that I loved Fern. Likesoul deep, everlasting, die if I don’t have ittype of love that you have for Lauren. I didn’t. Do I look like I’m devastated that I found out what I did on my wedding day? That I’m standing out the front of a hotel talking to you instead of dancing with my new wife?”

Reed chuckled softly. “No, you don’t. If anything, you look more energized. Happier than you have been for months. I know you made the right decision and I know that you’re making the right one now. Don’t let her go, Ben. I think you know what Clara is to you.”

“Yeah I do.” Ben grabbed his brother for a hug. During the years that Reed had served, Ben had missed him like crazy. Now that he was back and living in Perth, Ben was glad he had his brother close.

“Not sure if you and Clara will want to do this, but we’re taking Charlee to the zoo on Sunday; you’re both welcome to join us, if you want. We plan on arriving at ten. No pressure by the way, just thought I’d put it out there.”

Ben saw that invitation for what it was. An offer to spend some time as a family. Give Lauren and Clara a chance to know each other, although Ben was pretty sure the two women were good friends anyway. Clara mentioned, when they’d had a chance to talk at Reed and Lauren’s wedding, that she really liked Reed’s new wife and had never seen his brother look so happy.

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