“Lookin’ good boys.” Kate giggles, bumping her hip into Malcolm’s. I see his body tense, a longing in his eyes as he looks at her. She doesn't notice as she turns her attention back to the stage. She laughs at something off in the distance, squeezing his arm in the process. The twinkle in his eye from her touch is subtle, but I clock it. He catches me watching him and gives me a look—don't say a word—before darting his gaze back to the stage. I bite the inside of my cheek fight the smile trying to break through.
Your secret is safe with me, Mr. Geer.
“I don’t have a spare shirt,” Malcolm mumbles, rolling his eyes, as he continues drying off.
“Careful, Geer!” Garrett says over our heads, “You're gonna let everyone know you’re more jacked than Mr. B!” He chuckles when Malcolm unclings his soaked shirt from his middle. Kate’s eyes do a double take on the thin layer of fabric leaving nothing to the imagination.
Benny rests his chin on my shoulder, his thumb still in my pocket as his fingers rub trace circles on the top of my thigh. A shiver shoots down my leg and reaches my toes. “Are you having fun?”
“A blast.” I lean my head against his, the smile on my face pinching my cheeks. I can feel his smile against my cheek as he hugs me tighter. Iamhaving fun. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time. And it involves teenagers—who-woulda-thought.
“Your Homecoming King is . . .” Birdie directs our focus back to the stage with a suspenseful pause. Her mousey smile is on full display as she opens the envelope. “Mr. B!” she squeals, jumping up and down like she rehearsed it.
I gawk at Benny. Kate yells, “What?”Malcolm mumbles, “Dude.”All at the same time as Garrett points at Sarah. “I told you!”
“And your Homecoming Queen is . . .” Birdie stands up straighter and flips her hair subtly before opening the second envelope.
“She’s gonna be pissed,” Devon says as he walks up to stand beside Garrett.
Birdie goes ghost white for a millisecond before pulling herself together and reading the envelope out loud, “Ms. Bailey.”
Kate squeals. Malcolm mumbles,“Of course.”Sarah hugs me, all while Garrett and Devon high-five Benny.
Benny drags me up to the stage as the crowd claps and cheers at us. Birdie reluctantly places plastic crowns on our heads, then exits the stage. We stand there in the middle of the stage waving to the crowd like a true King and Queen. Benny is still soaking wet, I’m wearing a baseball cap underneath my crown, we look absolutely ridiculous. And yet, I wouldn’t change a thing.
Benny kisses me on the forehead, respecting the huge group of grandparents watching from the crowd, then leads me off the stage.
“I’ve had enough applause to last me a lifetime,” I joke as I remove the crown from my head.
“Not a big fan of the attention, huh?” Benny winks at me as he interlocks his hand in mine and guides me through the crowd. People we know, and people I don’t recall, clapping and patting our backs, giving thumbs up and big smiles as we make our way to the parking lot.
Benny’s truck is parked on the back row, far from the elation that is flooding across the strip. The walk is quiet as we walk instep, exchanging glances and smiles, but not saying anything. That peaceful silence I only get when I’m with him, where my brain doesn’t feel the need to overanalyze itself and can justbe.I inhale a long deep breath, letting that feeling fill me up and practically lift me off the ground.
“What are you smiling about?” Benny grins. We make it to his truck, and he opens the back, quickly throwing on a dry shirt and Glendale pullover.
“The quiet, it’s just nice.” I smile watching him out of the corner of my eye.
“It doesn’t scare you?” He’s sincere when he asks me. “The quiet?” he continues as he rounds the front of his truck and stands in front of me.
At this moment, I can’t remember if I ever truly shared with him why I hated the quiet. Why I needed New York, or constant client interaction, or the mindless doodling. Why I felt the need to avoid it out of fear of where my mind will go.
“Did I tell you—”
“You didn’t”—he takes my hands in his—“I just thought maybe it bothered you, the quiet.” He shrugs and looks down at our feet. Is it crazy that heseesme better than anyone?
“It can,” I say. He nods, still looking down at our feet. “But it doesn’t with you.” His eyes jump to mine, and I see myself in their reflection as they glisten from the sun behind me. They’re beautiful and hypnotizing as they move across my face and slow to a stop on my lips.
“I have something for you.” His eyes don’t leave my lips as he pulls an envelope from his pocket. “But”—his eyes level with mine again— “if you don’t like it, pretend I never gave it to you and we avoid any awkwardness, got it?”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.” Giggling, I reach for the envelope. He swipes it away from my reach, his eyes pleading with me. “Okay fine, I promise.” I smile at him.
He lets out a huge huff of air and hands the envelope over, shoving his hands into his back pockets. He looks nervous as he bites the corner of his lip. Rolling back and forth on his heels, it’s clear how he’s feeling right now.Anxious.
I hold the pink envelope in my palm, labeled with a simple heart doodle in the center. It feels lumpy, like it’s lined inside with bubble wrap. My eyes start to blur as I look at it. The fact that I cry almost anytime Benny does something sweet for me is becoming ridiculous, but I mentally digress and try to focus. It’s small and precious and the fact Benny is looking at me with hot anticipation makes me feel fuzzy all over.
“What is it?” I stare at it, grazing my thumb over the wobbly drawn heart in the center.
“Open it.” His voice is gentle and smooth as he waits.
