Ben pulled me closer and I leaned into him, loving the warmth. My insides melted like the processed cheese on the burgers sold at the Golden Arches.
“Let’s keep the picnic, okay?”
“Okay,” Ben said, giving my hip a quick squeeze.
We ordered coffees—cream and sugar for him, only cream for me—like we did this all the time. And strangely, it felt like we did.
15
Ben
Back in the car, I gulped my coffee. “Not quite as good as an Americano made by you, hence the cream and sugar,” I said while glancing at Murphy.
“Why, thank you,” she said, playfully bowing in her seat.
“Do you like it still? Working at the Bean?”
Tucking a loose hair behind her ear, Murphy turned to look at me. “I like it fine. It’s good to be here in Vermont. I’m liking Hunnie more than I thought I would. In fact, I have this idea for her. Oh—” Murphy stopped short and bounced in her seat. “I remembered these fancy honey sticks from the city. It’s like a straw filled with honey that you snip the top off of and pour into a drink or whatever.”
I nodded, not wanting to interrupt.
“It could be cool for syrup too, you know?” she said, her excitement making her words come out fast. “Anyway, it cuts down on all the sticky mess of a big jar, and it’s super cool. It could look so funky with her infusions. I’m not sure where she would get them manufactured or the cost, which is why I probably won’t tell her about it. It’s just an idea.”
More than anything, I wanted to pull over and look Murphy in the eye, but we had to make it on time to the movie. With Vermont roads, you never knew what type of obstacle you could come upon.
“Murph, you should tell her. Listen to you—you love this idea. I’ll bet Hunnie will too.”
“I don’t really know enough to suggest it. I’m not sure I’m equipped to figure it out.”
As I cleared the emotion from my throat, my heart beat overtime. “You are more than equipped. You could and should figure it out. And yes, it would work with syrup. I’d love to know more about it.”
Running her palms over her thighs, Murphy stared straight ahead. “Well, I’m not sure you’re qualified to say what I’m equipped for, Doctor Ben. Ha, I’m just kidding. All of this makes me nervous. It’s all new to me, sticking up for what I want. I’m not Hunnie.”
Now my heart went into triple time. I knew I should tell Murphy about the apps and the business stuff I handled on the side, but I couldn’t stop being cautious. Inside, I was a poor boy looking for approval from the rich girl.
“Of course you’re not Hunnie. You’re you. Think about it, okay?”
Murphy nodded.
The rest of the drive passed quickly, filled with mindless chatter and music. I learned Murphy loved Ed Sheeran and refused to turn him off when he came on my satellite radio. I pretended to protest, but anything that made Murphy smile was good with me.
“Look at all this green,” she said, staring at the trees as we zipped past. “It’s so ... I’m not even sure of the word. I don’t think I appreciated the surroundings when we went to Pressman.”
“Definitely seemed like most didn’t, except when it came time to ski.”
“I’m sorry about that,” she said, turning as much as she could to focus on me. With her green eyes blazing, she almost looked like she was going to cry.
I reached over to grip her knee. “It’s no big deal. I could ski, but I didn’t have all that fancy equipment. But enough about that.” We were heading into dangerous conversation territory, and I didn’t want to spill how I felt the need to provide Branson with more.
“Well,” she said, “it’s like I’m seeing this part of the country through new glasses this time around. The unfiltered beauty. I’m sure that was a selling point of Pressman to my parents, but it went over my head.”
“Lucky for you, you’re having a second chance to see it. And lucky for me that I’m getting a second chance with you.”
Murphy’s eyes widened as she stared at me, looking surprised. Even luckier for me, we pulled into the parking lot for the Fairlee Drive-In.
“So, this is it? A motel?” Murphy asked, cocking an eyebrow at me.
“Just you wait.”
