“I have a problem with you using her,” he snaps.
“I’m not,” Cole growls. “I’d never treat Eve like that. It’s not like you ever said I shouldn’t go for her. Do you think I’m not good enough for her?”
Benson narrows his eyes. “You said it, not me. I know how many girls you’ve run through.” His voice raises when he notices me. “My sister won’t be another one you’re with for a minute before someone else catches your eye. Eve?—”
“Hey,” Cole cuts in harshly, shutting my brother up by grabbing his shirt and holding him against the wall. “That’s enough. Say whatever you want about me, but I won’t let youmake a spectacle of Eve. Haven’t you already made enough of a scene? We can discuss this later—hell, I’ll let you punch me if you feel the need to take a swing—but you’re not going to ruin her moment.”
Benson’s silent, gaping from his best friend to me, then back. He drags a hand through his hair, considering us for another minute.
“Shit,” he mutters. “You actually care about her.”
“Of course I do,” Cole says. “Do you have a problem with that? Because if you’re going to be an asshole about me dating Eve, I’m telling you right now I don’t want you around her.”
“Guys. Don’t fight, please,” I say. “You’re best friends.”
I tug on Cole’s arm. He turns his back on Benson to hug me.
“It’s okay, Evie. He’s not controlling what we do. Either he comes around or he doesn’t.”
“Shit.” Benson slumps down the wall with a short laugh, rubbing at the dark circles beneath his eyes. “Okay, I get it. You love her, man.”
“I do. And I won’t let anyone hurt her. That includes her family.”
Benson nods. “You really have changed.”
“No, I haven’t.” Cole sighs, offering to help him to his feet. “I just never met anyone I wanted to be serious with. Not until her. So all that bullshit you were spewing about my past isn’t true.”
He mulls it over and accepts a hand up. “I’m sorry I didn’t notice.”
“You’ve been busy,” I say. “And Jess has been helping us keep it quiet.”
His brows jump up. “I knew I wasn’t going crazy.”
“So we’re cool?” Cole asks.
Benson hangs his head. “Yeah. I never imagined you’d go from helping me beat up the guys that made her cry to falling for her yourself.”
“I’ll still kick anyone’s ass that makes my girl cry.” Cole tugs me against him.
“Sorry.” He scrubs his face. “Seriously, all my brainpower goes to keeping my baby alive. I keep wondering how the hospital let us leave with her because it’s hard, terrifying work. Feels like I’m running on like five minutes of sleep a day. I didn’t mean to be a dick to you guys, I just—you surprised me.”
“It’s okay as long as you’re not going to do anything irrational about our relationship.”
Benson waves me off. “Nah. Now that I’m thinking about it, you two actually make a lot of sense. Who else knows?”
“Just you, Jess, and my friends,” I answer. “We haven’t told Mom and Dad.”
“Okay. They won’t hear about it from me.”
I sag against Cole, relieved that my brother is back on my side. “We want to tell them soon. I don’t want to keep it secret.”
Benson follows us when Cole leads me back to my table. “Now I’m glad I didn’t bring Mom. She wanted to come with me, but she’s fussing over Jess and the baby.”
I smile, pointing at the opposite end of the room. “There are handmade ornaments sold down that way. I already ordered some for her, but you should bring her back more.”
“Good call.” He starts to walk off, then backtracks. “Hey.”
“Yes?”
