Page 78 of Because of You
“Eighteen-year-old Ben is fist pumping right now. He finally got his girl,” he says into my ear.
I laugh and hold onto him tighter because my personal and professional life are currently a disaster, and I have no clue what to do next, but I have Ben. My soft place to land. My safe place when everything feels like too much.
“Say it again,” he whispers into my ear.
“I love you, Benji. So much.”
He pulls back, eyes blazing with emotion, and wraps his hand around the back of my head, bringing my mouth to his. He drops his other hand to my waist, gripping tight. His tongue slips against mine in a kiss that is full of passion and fire and all the promises we are making to each other. None of them need words.
Ben tips my head back to take the kiss even deeper, and I feel it all the way to my toes. When we break apart, Ben’s mouth hovers over mine.
“You are mine, Hallie girl. Always. Forever.”
“And you are mine right back, Benji.”
He smiles again and pulls back, tucking my head under his chin. I rest my head on his heart, letting the steady rhythm calm me. I might not know what’s going to happen at work, and my best friend might not ever speak to me again. But in this moment, I hold tight to the happiness that is Ben and me and the future we can build together.
It’s enough for now.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Ben
“Fucking hell, Ben, are you trying to kill me?”
I snap out of my thoughts in time to catch the barbell I’m supposed to be spotting for Jordan before it lands on his chest. I’m at the gym with him, Jeremy, and Eric Casey trying to get my mind off everything and doing a terrible job of it. It’s Sunday—five days since Hallie and Julie’s fight, and it’s been radio silence from Jules. She won’t talk to me, and she won’t talk to Hallie. I know she has been to the office because Emma told Jeremy. I don’t know what the deal is with all the time they’re spending together, but I’m grateful for it now because it’s given me at least some information.
Julie has been shutting herself in her office and burying herself in work. She’s at the office every day, but she won’t say much to Emma or Molly either. Hallie is alternating between weepy and resigned. She can’t seem to find her mad. She does better when she’s a little bit angry, but she can’t quite get there. And even though she opened up to me right after the fight, she’s been keeping her thoughts close to the vest the last few days. She’s been working at home, and I’ve been staying at her house at night. I know she’s sleeping like shit, but I have no idea what’s going through her mind, and it’s driving me insane.
“Sorry, man, my head was somewhere else.”
“Yeah, no kidding. Maybe we call it a day and talk about whatever’s on your mind?”
I clearly need some advice here, so I just nod in agreement.
“Hey guys, wrap it up,” Jordan calls to Jeremy and Eric. “We’re having breakfast at the diner next door. Ben needs our sage counsel. And I need to avoid having my chest crushed by a barbell.”
Ten minutes later we’re all seated at a table in the diner, coffee in front of us.
“So, this is about Hallie and Jules, right?” asks Jeremy. “Emma filled me in, and it’s not pretty.”
“What’s the deal with you and Emma? You seem to be spending a fuckton of time together.” I wasn’t going to ask, but I’m glad Jordan did, because I’m curious as shit.
“It’s nothing. She’s helping me with some stuff for the foundation. So, Ben, what’s the deal?”
I know there’s more to it, but I let it slide because I need their help. I fill them in on everything from Hallie’s opportunity with Charlie Callahan’s adoption practice and the fight, Julie’s refusal to talk to either of us, and Hallie’s willingness to talk to me about everything except this.
When I’m finally out of words, Jordan lets out a low whistle. “That’s some shit, dude. So, what are you going to do?”
I grit my teeth and try to stay calm. “If I knew, would I be here talking to you assholes about it?”
Eric speaks next. “I know I don’t know all the girls as well as the rest of you do, but I do know Hallie. She worked with us for years on Maya’s case. Without her, Jen and I would never have our family. Hallie was made for this work.”
“I know she was. And she wants it badly. If Julie hadn’t reacted the way she did, Hallie would already have acceptedCharlie’s offer. But she feels like she has to choose between her best friend and her career, and that’s a shitty place to be.”
“It’s not your place to tell Hallie what to do. I know Jen would kick my ass for the mere suggestion of what she should do with her career. But maybe it wouldn’t be overstepping to talk to Julie? If she’s not returning your calls, just go to her. I don’t know Julie that well, but it’s possible she doesn’t know what to do next either. She’s your sister. You can talk to her in a way no one else can.”
“He’s right, Ben,” Jeremy says. “You might be the only person who can get through to Julie right now. You at least have to try. I just texted Emma. Julie’s at the office.”
