Page 41 of Fighter
Serafina:Yes! Sounds good to me. I'll pick her up from the bus stop tomorrow.
Benjamin:Thank you.
My heart gave a littlethump. I didn't want this exchange to end on a business-like, cordial thank you. Didn't want this end at all, in fact. Despite the rustle of movement, life, and the smell of coffee from below, I felt too alone and too afraid. Talmage had agreed to give me time and space, but nothing felt stable anymore. My frazzled state of mind wasn't entirely Talmage's fault, either.
Benjamin owned this one. With his serious expression that I wanted to crack into a smile. The solidness of his very personality, like an immovable rock.
I wanted to text him back and say,can I bring you Sunday dinner?and then stay and eat with them and really see what Benjamin was like behind-the-curtains. All the time we'd ever spent together had been around other people. Except for the night in the hotel room, when I'd fallen asleep minutes after he'd arrived, I'd never really gotten to speak withhim.
But should I?
My resolve to keep it platonic for Ava's sake rang back through my head with dying power. Before I could fall into a worsening abyss of overanalysis and the guilt that might follow, my phone jangled in my hands.
Like a sign from the god of don't-do-this-you-might-regret-it and the other god of do-it-or-you'll-never-forgive-yourself.
Benjamin:Your parents must be heroes. Ava hasn't stopped talking about them since we saw you yesterday.
Serafina:They are. I adore them.
Benjamin:They seemed very nice.
Unable to resist the temptation, I typed my next message with my teeth sinking into my lip.
Serafina:Even Talmage? What did you think?
Several minutes passed before his reply followed.
Benjamin:Let's say that I hope Talmage and I never have occasion to meet under any circumstance that results from him hurting you.
Despite the fact that he spoke about my brother, a warm flutter moved in my stomach. Part of my love of living a nomadic life had been the way I could meet people through my waitressing jobs, and then spend my days off with myself. Traveling the world solo meant the quiet evenings were all mine to do with as I wanted.
Today, however, a quiet evening alone sounded exactlyoppositefrom what I usually wanted. Giggling with Ava or just being in the same room as Benjamin, even if I never once had his attention, sounded far better.
What an entirely new feeling.
Before I lost my courage, I sent my next message and held my breath.
Serafina:You up for a home cooked Sunday meal? My mom made way too much pot roast and I'm willing to share.
His reply came immediately after.
Benjamin:Only if you bring yourself over with it and stay to eat. We just rented a new princess movie, so you can't get out of that.
I let out a little squeal.
Serafina:Princess movies are my jam! On my way.
14
Benjamin
“Icome bearing gifts!” Serafina cried.
I opened the front door to find her carrying a massive crock pot, clad in fuzzy purple slippers that would have frightened a lesser man, and several bags over her arm. A pair of aviators hid her eyes from me, but didn't dim the immediate joy I felt seeing her again.
“You do way too much for us already.”
“I love it!”
