Page 49 of The Fear of Falling
He stares at me for a second, and then his eyes shift back to his phone as he starts typing.
Benson:
That’s a bad idea.
I roll my eyes.
Avery:
You said that already. And you’re wrong.
Benson:
What if I’m not?
Avery:
When did you start living so scared, Benson? It’s just sharing a table.
I see the moment he realizes I’ve turned his own words against him. His eyebrows dip low, his jaw clenches, and the hand not holding his phone curls into a fist on his knee. Maybe it was a bad idea, but I can’t let myself regret saying it.
“Benson,” I snap when he still doesn’t move. “Come sit with me.”
I’m so done with men not listening to me.
He sighs again and stands, slowly making his way over to my table like I’m asking him to give me everything he’s got.
“This seat taken?” he asks, a bit of growl in his voice.
“Yeah. By you.”
He settles in the chair, his eyes on the table. “Avery, this is a—”
“Bad idea. You and I are going to disagree on that.”
Chuckling, he lifts his gaze to meet mine and seems to choose his words carefully. “When did you get so bold?”
“When I met a guy in Italy who refused to let me hold myself back.”
Something lights up in his countenance, his frustration dissipating as he looks at me with a hint of a smile. “Sounds like a nightmare.”
“He was kind of the best thing to happen to me.” I hold eye contact with him, catching every bit of the surprise that enters his eyes. Benson can deny our chemistry all he wants, but I’m tired of keeping up this charade of disinterest and pretending nothing happened between us. It happened, and I’m not willing to let it go.
Then, to my complete and utter shock, Benson blushes. I didn’t know he wascapableof blushing, and the crimson that rises up to his ears bolsters my confidence. “Avery.”
“You picked my favorite restaurant.”
He tilts his head to one side. “What?”
“Here.” I gesture to the crowded dining area. “This is my favorite place to eat, and you chose to come here.”
A small smile plays on his lips again, and he relaxes a bit as he picks up the menu in front of me and starts perusing. “I’ve eaten here before.”
“But you still chose to come tonight.”
“It doesn’t mean—”
“Do you believe in fate, Benson?”
