Page 26 of Powerless

“It’s too much. I can’t do this.”

“Do what?” He takes a small step backward.

“This.” I gesture between us. “I’m not even seventeen yet, and here you are declaring your love for me and laying out our future together.”

“Wait, what?” Bennett retracts further and holds his hands up. “How old are you?”

“I’ll be seventeen in September.”

“How is that possible? You’re a senior who’s graduating. I thought you were eighteen or nearly eighteen.”

“I started school early, and I also skipped a year.” Bennett furrows his brows as his features harden. “I told you, I’m good at math.”

“How good?”

“Exceptionally. And to tell you the truth, being an analyst is below what my mom wants me to do to.” I’m getting sidetracked, not really wanting to discuss my age any more. But, judging by Bennett’s horrified look, I think he does want to talk about it. “I’m sorry, I should’ve told you.”

“I thought you were my age.”

I hang my head in shame. I probably should’ve told him earlier. “It’s barely two years between us, Bennett.” I look out the window again and take a sharp breath. “Besides, I came here today to break this off with you.”

“What?” Bennett’s posture stiffens as he lifts his chin.

“It’s not going to work,” I say adamantly. “And now, clearly, my age is a point of concern for you.” I pull my shoulders back and run my hands over my clothes, smoothing them out. “I’ll keep the secret. You don’t have to worry about me. But this is over.” I motion between us again. “Not like it ever really started.” I walk over to Bennett and place a kiss to the corner of his lips. “All I want is for you and Jen to be happy.” I take a step back and turn around. “Goodbye, Bennett.”

He doesn’t try to stop me, or even call out. Obviously, we were never meant to be together in the first place.

9

BENNETT

Liam and I are out in the back playing basketball. “Have you called Kathryn?” Liam asks as he passes the ball to me.

I dribble the ball toward the hoop and shoot. “No.”

“It’s nearly the end of vacation. You’re just going to leave it alone?”

“Yep.” I bounce the ball a few times before grabbing it and throwing it at Liam.

Liam grunts when he catches it. “Basically what you’re saying is you’d rather be miserable than call her.”

“What do you want me to do? She broke it off with me.”

“Broke it off?” Liam echoes in an elevated tone. “You hadn’t even started yet.”

He throws the ball back at me with equal venom, and I catch it and squeeze the fucking thing between my hands. “She was right. It couldn’t work out for us. Besides she’s not even seventeen.”

“You’re hung up about the age difference? Age is nothing in this case, Bennett. She’s smarter than you and I combined. Besides.” He steps backward off the court. “I think the real reason you’re like this is because you told her you love her and she didn’t respond the same way.”

“Fuck off.” I peg the ball at him and walk off the court. I pick my t-shirt up and wipe at the sweat clinging to my body. “It has nothing to do with that.” It does, because I scared her and she ran away. I told her I was in love with her, and she backed away from me.

“So why have you been an ass lately?”

“What?” I shrug back into my damp t-shirt. then look around for the ball. “I haven’t been anything.”

“Yeah?” Liam challenges as he grabs the ball. He walks beside me back into the house. “You’ve been an ass to me, and to Jen.”

“No, I haven’t,” I counter. I open the fridge and grab two bottles of water, tossing one toward Liam.

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