Page 35 of When Ben Loved Tim
“He’s rich. Wait until we’re married. I’ll make him buy us each a house.”
“And one for his little girlfriend too,” Allison retorts.
“She’ll be ancient history by then,” I say confidently.
“I like it.” Allison consults the note again. Then the phone rings, her face lighting up. “My turn!”
“No!” I say, lunging for it.
Allison doesn’t try to stop me. “You promised!”
“Did I?”
“Yes!”
I relent and grimace in anticipation while watching her answer my phone.
Allison puts on a professional tone. “Good afternoon. How may I direct your call?”
I can hear a male voice on the other end but can’t make out the words.
“Benjamin?” Allison repeats. “I’m sorry, but it sounds like you do indeed have the wrong number. Oh wait! Do you mean Ben by chance?”
I’m already reaching for the phone, which she keeps pressed to her ear. “And who may I say is calling? Uh-huh. Let me see if he’s available, because Ben is averybusy boy. You’d be surprised how many handsome men call him each day, Tom. Hm? What’s that? I do apologize,Tim. Just a moment please.”
I’m pretending to stick my head through a noose when she finally stops torturing me. I toss the imaginary rope aside and grab the phone.
“Hey!” I say breathlessly.
“Hey,” Tim echoes while sounding uncertain. “Was that your mom?”
“No!” I say with a chuckle. “That was Allison, my best friend.”
“Oh.” The line is quiet a moment. “You don’t go by Benjamin?”
“No,” I admit. “Only you call me that.” Allison is staring at me, but oh well. “And I like it.”
“Oh yeah?” Tim says, the confidence returning to his voice. “What else do you like?”
“Want me to make you a list?” I offer.
“Tell me in person,” he suggests. “Let’s go for a walk later.”
“When?” We haven’t hung out since Krista nearly caught me at his house. I’m desperate to see him again.
“Eight.”
It’ll be dark by then, which is no coincidence, I’m sure. “Okay,” I say without hesitation. “Should I come by your place? Or do you want to come here? I’ll give you directions. It’s not far.”
The line is quiet again. “Do you remember where we first saw each other?”
“Do you?” I ask in surprise.
“I mean where you knocked me into the ditch.”
Which is roughly the same place. I wonder if he knows that. “Yeah, of course.”
“Let’s meet there.”
