Page 16 of Break Me
Benji’s lips twist into a smile. “Why’s that?” There’s no judgement in those words and I’m grateful.
I pick up my empty glass and shake the ice. “This right here is part of the problem.”
“Oh God,” Riley says quickly. “If you um, if you wanna do something else, we could swim or go out for dinner or—”
“No, no, no,” I interrupt her quickly, waving my hand. She’s acting as if my sobriety is her responsibility, which is kind, but unnecessary. “It was just a…” I clear my throat, wondering why the fuck I’m saying all of this. “Just a tough time.”
“Well in that case,” Benji says, turning back to the fridge, “want another drink?”
Riley glares at him again.
* * *
We spendthe next hour drinking, playing cards, and discussing the differences in life in Canada and life in the States. Now it makes sense, why Benji lit up outside of the English hall, right in front of a cop. Weed is legal in Canada, not to mention Benji seems like the kind of guy who does whatever the fuck he wants when he wants. He’s got a joint in his hand now, and Riley doesn’t seem to care about the smoke or the smell, but she’s shot him a glare every single time he gets another beer from the fridge.
Which has been like…six times now.
When Riley’s phone, on the dining room table in between all of us, starts vibrating and I see a hot guy’s face, blonde hair and blue eyes, flashing on the screen, Benji reaches across the table and denies the call with a loud laugh.
Riley snaps her head up to look at him, pounding her fist on the table. She seems more amused than irritated though, the way her lips tug into a reluctant smirk.
“What the fuck?” she snaps, shaking her head and throwing her cards down. “You know he’ll freak out.”
Benji’s laugh is a deep rumble. “I know,” he agrees, throwing down an ace of spades on our war pile. “That’s why I did it.”
Sure enough, the guy’s face flashes again, and Riley is faster this time, snatching the phone from the table and answering the call as she excuses herself from the dining room.
Great.
Me and Benji.
Alone.
He wins this round, as I give away my two of clubs. He swipes the cards with a small smile.
“Tell me something, Ava,” he says, tossing down a king of hearts.
I lose that one too, with a four of diamonds.
“What?” I ask him. He’s sitting at the head of the table, and I’m to his right. I watch the muscles flex in his forearms as he tosses down another ace, then his bloodshot, hazel eyes meet mine, his expression unreadable.
“Tell me something no one else knows about you.” His voice is low, and I feel something tighten in my gut.
Dumont. Tess knows, but otherwise…
We’ve all had quite a few drinks and I should really stop. I’d planned to crash at Tess’s on-campus apartment when I was done here but now, I can’t drive, and I’ll have to leave my car. But I need to make sure I actually leave.
I mean, Benji is fucking fine.
I’d thought we could have a heady one-night stand but he’s just too…intense. He’s polite enough, but like with denying Riley’s fiancé’s call and lighting up in her condo, he just doesn’t seem to give a fuck about crossing any lines.
But then again, I just met the dude. Maybe I’m being paranoid. Thoughts of Dumont and my mother are kind of screwing with my brain.
I give a nervous laugh as I throw down my last card. A queen.
Benji has another fucking ace. He tosses his joint in a crystal ashtray.
I throw up my hands in defeat and clutch my drink, leaning back in the red leather chair at the dining room table, smoothing my blue dress over my legs. This place is beautiful. Well-furnished. I wonder what Riley’s fiancé does up in Toronto, where she said he’s from.
