“Alright,” she continues. “As the completely objective third party, it was pretty shitty of him to hide that from you. But also, like, extremely romantic? Not the hiding part. But the sexy billionaire that falls in love and wants to take care of his partner part? Sounds like a rom-com movie I would totally watch.”
“Ben’s not a billionaire. I think.”
She waves me off. “Whatever, you get the picture. I know I only met him briefly, and believe me, I’m not one to defend a man, but he seemed like a good one.”
“I think he’s hiding other things from me too,” I admit.
Sahara hums, starting to group the puzzle pieces by color now. “It seems like it’s hard for you to trust anyone, period. And with your dad showing up unexpectedly? That’s a one-two punch. So it makes complete sense you would have trouble trusting Ben after this.” She pauses, stopping to look me in the eye. “It really is up to you on whether you’d like to let him earn that trust back or if you’d feel more comfortable walking away.”
“The question of the hour, isn’t it?” My smile is wry and my heart is heavy. “I miss him.”
“He’s important to you.”
A traitorous tear trickles down my cheek. “Yeah,” I whisper. “He is.”
Sahara pats my leg before refocusing on the puzzle. “There’s your answer then.”
She stays for dinner and we chat about our love of true crime and our hope to one day do something meaningful in the world with our degrees. We finish the puzzle only to realize there’s one missing piece. After searching the entire rug, under the couch, upturning the cushions, we never find it. Long after she leaves, I sit there staring at the beautiful mountain scene with one small piece missing right at the peak.
It drives me crazy.
When I fall asleep later that night, I dream of hiking up that same mountain, only to fall into oblivion as soon as I reach the top.
It takes another three days for me to work up the courage—or maybe it’s to rage against how respectful Ben is being—to track Ben down for a conversation.
Starting at the coffee shop, I walk by the front windows several times to see if I can spot him working behind the counter. On my third pass, Thea comes out with her little-old-man baby strapped to her chest to shoo me away.
“He’s not here, stop being weird!”
“I fear I’ll never be able to stop being weird,” I reply. “Do you know where he is?”
She shrugs. “He’s off today, I’m pretty sure. He’s been particularly mopey this past week and a half. Are you about to put him out of his misery?” She waggles her eyebrows.
“Don’t do that”—I wave toward said eyebrows—“again. It’s very creepy.”
Thea’s shoulders hunch. “I’m sleep deprived. Be proud that I’m not having this conversation in a baby voice.”
“I am very grateful for that…” I clap my hands together. “Okay, I’m going to try his apartment next.”
“Good luck.” She smiles her warm, maternal smile as she lets herself back into the coffee shop. I watch as Jules rounds the counter, pulling a chair out for Thea and Emmett. He gives both of them a kiss before returning to work.
I want that.
Well, minus the baby. But stick Ernest in his place and, yeah. I want that.
Ben lives just down the street, so I leave my car at the coffee shop and walk over to his apartment. I knock and Gabe opens the door to greet me.
“Oh, hey, Cole!” He leans casually against the door, a smirk on his lips.
“Will you stop fucking doing that?” Ben calls from the couch, not even looking over his shoulder. “It’s fucking mean to keep getting my hopes up.”
Gabe gives a look that says,Ball is in your court.
“Tsk, tsk, Benjamin. It’s not nice to talk to your brother that way,” I tease.
Ben’s head immediately whips toward me and he’s up and over the back of the couch in seconds, shoving his brother out of the way. He’s got his glasses on and his hair looks like he hasn’t brushed it in several days. He’s so achingly handsome, it hurts.
“Sorry, sorry.” He’s breathless. “He’s done that five different times this week and it’s always one of our siblings or a very confused delivery driver.”
