“She told me she gets bored walking her neighborhood, so she likes to branch out and walk other people’s neighborhoods.”
“Seems like a weird coincidence that she walked right by your house.”
“I agree.”
“What were you guys doing upstairs?”
“She asked for a tour of the house.”
Ben’s mouth tensed. “Is anything going on between you two?”
“No.”
Long pause. “Okay,” Ben said.
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Ben had always been slow to anger and quick to let anger go.
Natasha and Genevieve returned. “Ben!” Genevieve took hold of his shoulders. “She’s beautiful.”
“She really is,” Natasha echoed.
“I’m glad you two finally got to meet her,” Ben said.
The sisters went on and on about Leah.
Natasha, a mother of two, was currently on leave from practicing law. She was fit, blond, practical, and, in his opinion, slightly eccentric. She’d completed what she’d called “A Year of Living Austenly,” and this year had kicked off “A Year of Living C. S. Lewisly.” A few weeks back, she’d told him about the theology she’d been reading, the letters she’d been writing, and her determination to smoke a pipe before the year was out.
Natasha’s younger sister, Genevieve, had long hair, browner at the top and blonder at the bottom. He’d never caught her without makeup, nail polish, earrings, and a coordinated outfit. Outgoing and self-deprecating, she’d surprised him by building an extremely successful career as a Bible study author and Christian speaker.
“So, what’s the latest with you and Leah?” Natasha asked Ben. She and Genevieve settled on the island’s stools. “Any change?”
“Today’s the first time I’ve seen her in about a month. She was traveling, so we’ve been keeping in touch through texts. Here, look.” He pulled out his phone and passed it to the sisters. After they’d each taken a look, Genevieve turned Ben’s phone in Sebastian’s direction. The photo Leah had texted Ben showed Leah and Dylan sitting in a canoe, smiling.
“A few days ago, she suggested we go out for Korean food this week,” Ben said.
“Wait.” Natasha faced Ben. “What?”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” Genevieve asked.
“Because I don’t want to get my hopes up. I think it might just be a friend thing. Not a date.”
“Wear something semi-nice, in case it is a date in her mind,” Genevieve suggested. “Women don’t like to feel overdressed.”
They continued to talk in painful detail about what Ben should wear, what he should order, how he should handle trying to pay.
Miserable, Sebastian drained the last of his water, then peeled another clementine, even though he hadn’t been hungry for the first one he’d eaten.
CHAPTER TEN
An elevator carried Sebastian down through the center of the hospital on Wednesday night.
What was he feeling?
Jealousy. Why? Because Ben was on a date with Leah tonight.
Fear. Why? Because he was afraid that Leah would fall in love with his best friend. Which was self-centered. No one could make her happier than Ben could. Ben was the better man. Ben didn’t have the baggage Sebastian carried.
