That had been another reason she’d liked skating so much. It was something just for her. The Halverson and Burke connections weren’t what had gotten her to the top of the sport. Her aunt might have been her coach, but Amelia had done the hard work.
“You weren’t just a great athlete as a teenager,” Ben said. “You were also pretty smart. I mean, you managed to get decent grades, even though most of your focus was on your skating.”
“I didn’t like school a whole lot, but that was only because it meant I couldn’t be on the ice.” She glanced down at the last bite of her wrap that she held. “And the only reason Ididlike school was because… well, you were there.”
She looked up to see Ben grinning at her, his eyes sparkling with humor. When he winked at her, she rolled her eyes at him and popped the last bite of her wrap into her mouth.
Thankfully, it seemed that they’d moved on from the subject of her illness and spiritual life.
Amelia took a sip from the straw in her cup. However, even though they’d moved on, she wasn’t naive enough to think that this was the last time they would touch on either subject.
But she didn’t want to discuss her health with Ben anymore, now that she was aware that he didn’t really grasp what she was dealing with.
“I should probably get home,” she said, gathering up her trash. “Still need to make it through the rest of the week.”
Ben nodded, then put their trash in the bag the food had come in. When they got to their feet, Luca joined them.
After dumping off the trash, they walked the short distance to the SUV. Ben drove, while Luca sat in the back. With the bodyguard present, conversation was light, leaving behind the heavier subjects that had dominated conversation while they were eating.
When they arrived at her building, Ben got out with her.
“You don’t have to come up with me,” Amelia said.
“I know.” Ben flashed her a smile. “But I’d like to.”
After staring at him for a moment, she nodded, and then they walked across to the sidewalk leading to the front door of the building.
“Need a lift up?” Ben asked.
“While I appreciate the offer,” Amelia said as she unlocked the door. “It’s not necessary today.”
“I’m glad that you’re feeling better,” Ben said as they slowly climbed the stairs.
She might have been feeling better, slow was still her default speed. It had been a long time since she’d been able to run up a set of stairs.
And from the way things seemed to be going, she wasn’t sure she was ever going to be able to do it again.
When they reached her door, Ben briefly touched her arm. She turned toward him and found he’d slipped his hands into his pockets and stood with his head tilted down.
“I’m really sorry for pressing you earlier about how you’re viewing yourself and your situation. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You can’t fix me, Ben,” Amelia said. “Or my situation. Believe me, if this could be fixed by someone else, my dad would have already done it.”
“I get that,” Ben said. “I’m sure your dad has felt helpless because of that too.”
“He has,” Amelia admitted.
Her dad, more than anyone else, had struggled with what she was going through. He’d always been protective of her, given how her life had started out. When her birth mother had died of an overdose, her dad had stepped in to make sure she was safe.
He’d brought her to Serenity to raise her, where he’d reconnected with Charli Halverson and learned that Layla was actually his daughter. After they’d gotten married, they’d adopted Shiloh, who was actually Charli’s niece, and then had two more kids.
Given where she’d come from, Amelia was very grateful for the family she now had. Charli and her family treated her just as if she was one of their own, which wasn’t a surprise since the Halverson family was comprised of both biological and adopted children.
“Just know that I care,” Ben said. “And I want you to be happy.”
Amelia felt a rush of warmth at his words. They weren’t really a surprise considering he’d asked her out on a date. He wouldn’t have done that if he wasn’t feeling something for her.
She was just afraid that he was basing too much of what he was feeling on the person he’d once known, not on who she was now. Or that the person she’d be once she was “better” would be the same as she’d been back when they’d dated.
