“Oh,because God forbid I want to spend time with you, Holly,” Ben snapped back andlooking over at him, I caught the hurt that had taken over, and I caught somequick glances from other people in our vicinity.
Istood up and grabbed his hand, pulling him along with me until we stood severalfeet away between a pair of bookshelves with a clear view of the unsuspecting,sleeping Anna.
“Ben,would you like me to walk into your dad’s office and just start hanging outwith you while you do your work? Would that be okay? You know, while you’resticking some dog with a vaccine or something, I could just barge in and say,‘Hey Benny, I thought I’d just come in and chill for a while.’ Wouldthatbe okay?”
“Job?”He snickered on the word as it rolled out of his mouth. “Holly, you hang outwith your niece all day. That’s hardly a job.” He smiled, looking down at me asthough I were the most adorable thing on the planet, and I resisted my hand’sdesire to smack him across the face.
Ilooked to the little girl still sleeping in a ball on the area rug, huggingGiraffe. I hoped she wouldn’t wake up to find that I was missing, and Lordknows what would have happened then. The longer I stood there with Ben, themore I knew I had to get back over there and the more I grew annoyed that hewas keeping me from the job he didn’t take seriously.
Turningback to him, I shook my head, ponytail wiggling furiously. “And you play withdogsall day, Ben. What’s your point?” I snapped, knowing very well he did more thanjust play with puppies and kittens, but I also did more thanhang outwith a little girl all day.
Heopened his mouth to throw another quip at me, and then stopped, scratching theback of his head. “Look, I didn’t come here to fight with you. I just wanted tocome here and …” He sighed, gazing his eyes towards the ceiling.
Inthe two moments it took for him to divert his eyes, I spotted a very curiousBrandon sitting several feet away in the café. I wondered if that’s how he spentStory Time those days; hanging out in the café while I kept the bean bag chairswarm. Seeing him there, watching me with the man he had to know was the one Ihad been seeing, I felt a squeeze of regret around my heart.
Withthe risk of Ben noticing, I nudged my head towards Anna, hoping Brandon wouldcatch my drift, and with two thumbs up, he headed over to take a seat behindthe sleeping little girl. A small wave of relief washed over me once I wasassured she would have someone familiar with her, in the event she woke upbefore I returned.
“Ben?”I asked, more out of impatience than anything. I mean, I didn’t exactly haveall day to stand there while he counted the ceiling tiles.
Hiseyes came back down from the fluorescent bulbs and scratched his forehead. “Iwanted to ask if you would come over tonight and spend New Year’s with Kayleeand me. I’m making crockpot chili and some rice, and maybe some other snacks ifthe mood strikes.” He snaked an arm around my waist, as if we hadn’t just beenon the verge of killing each other, and pulled me toward him. “Then after Kaygoes to bed, you and I can pop open a bottle of champagne … And maybe do alittle more than kiss at midnight …” He leaned into me and the softness of hislips played against my earlobe gently, a move that had brought me to my literalknees ona number ofoccasions.
Butinstead of sinking to my knees, my stomach was cartwheeling the hell out ofthere, and it had been since he mentioned theKword.
Thesheer possibility of meeting his daughter had been enough to leave mewhite-knuckled and nauseous. He had never mentioned it before, but I knew ithad been bound to happen sooner or later, as long as we continued seeing eachother.
“Uh...” I breathed unsteadily, willing myself to not succumb to his touch. “Iactually had plans for tonight.”
Benlooked up from his attack on my ear. “Plans? You didn’t mention anything aboutplans yesterday afternoon when I came to see you.” His other arm came around myback, pulling me further into him. “Come on, Holly,” he pleaded, nuzzlingagainst my neck. “You can’t leave me stranded for New Year’s. Who am I going tokiss?”
Iturned my neck, glancing at Anna, relieved to find she was still sleeping. Brandon,however, had occupied himself with the romance novel I had left on my bean bagchair and I hid my smile at the flushed pink of his cheeks. I hoped he wasenjoying it more than I was apparently allowed to.
“Ben,”I pleaded, my tone softening under his persuasive touch. “Seriously. I haveother stuff going on.”
Andthe last thing I want to do is meet your daughter.
Hollyfreakin’ Hughes. First-class asshole.
Bensighed with disappointment. “I can’t twist your arm?” I shook my head, standingfirmly with my bottles of wine and movie waiting for me back at home. Heshrugged, releasing my waist from his grasp. I could see the defeat pickingaway at the lines that sprouted around his furrowed brow. “I guess I shouldhave expected this.”
“Ben,come on. Please don’t be hurt.” I reached out to take his hand, and he pulledaway.
“No,don’t bother. It’s my fault. I sprung this on you, because I thought that maybe…” His voice trailed off as he shook his head, pursing his lips. “Never mind.Enjoy your night.”
Hetook a few steps back, giving me a little wave before stuffing his hands intothe pockets of his scrubs. With head hanging low, he shuffled his sneakersalong the patchwork quilt of rugs. I didn’t bother to watch him leave, andinstead turned back to the Book Nook.
Nothaving the strength to pull over another bean bag chair, I dropped myself tothe floor with an elbow resting on the chair Brandon occupied. My hand flew tomy temple, fingers massaging gently, as I listened to the end of Jessie’s storyof choice. Something about a New Year’s ball that was afraid of dropping. Turnsout, he was afraid that he would cease to exist once the clock struck twelve,but the other balls assured him that he would go on to continue falling everyyear for the rest of his life. Seemed bleak, but he was pretty happy about it,and they lived happily ever after, the end. Jessie concluded the tale with asmile and wished everyone a happy New Year before leaving us.
Onher way out, she walked past us, and I thought I noticed her smile.
Brandon,flushed cheeks and all, turned to look down at me and passed the book into myhands. He cleared his throat and crossed his legs. “Well, that was, uh,enlightening.”
“Youlearn anything?” I laughed, stuffing the book back into my bag.
“Yeah,actually,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “Women have veryunrealistic expectations of most men.” He raised his hands with air quotes.“‘The sinews of his rippled chest.’ Give me a break.”
Ismirked. “Youhave ripples.”
“Isaid,mostmen, Holly.” He looked down at me as his fingers nudgedagainst my arm. “Hey, you okay?”
