CHAPTER FOUR
Benny’s knee was bouncingagain, his gaze going back to his phone screen.It had been four whole days since Bethany Mayer had come crashing back into his life, and three whole days since she packed up her shit and disappeared again.
After her not so friendly ex banged down his door, she couldn’t get out of there quick enough.Benny hadn’t even had a chance to get her new number before she was cramming everything into a cab and shouting out her thank yous and goodbyes.He didn’t even know if she was still in town.And if she was, whether she was sticking around or moving back to Denver.
“You ready to talk about it yet?”his friend Zach asked as he bounced down on the raggedy couch next to him.
No.
Benny was back on shift at the fire station.And his friends apparently wanted answers.
“I know where she’s staying,” Zach added, knowing full well that would get Benny’s attention.
“The ranch?”he was quick to ask.Zach and his brothers owned the Evans ranch, so if anyone was going to know if she checked in, he would.
“Nope, word is, she went straight from yours to Lucy’s.”
What?“Lucy?From the diner?”
Zach nodded in confirmation as Benny tried his hardest to think back.Yes, Lucy had been in the same year as them in school, but he didn’t recall Bethany being anything more than acquaintances with her.Not that there was anything wrong with Lucy, she was sweet and everything, but she was on the shy side which was the complete opposite of his NeNe.
Your NeNe?
Damnit.He was doing it again.Ever since their almost kiss, his brain kept conveniently forgetting Bethany wasn’t his anything anymore.
“So?”Zach prompted.“You gonna tell me what’s going on?How it just so happened the only woman you’ve ever loved ran out on her wedding day—and ended up back at your place?”
The only woman you’ve ever loved.Ouch.
It was the truth, but still, those words stung like a motherfucker.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
“Really?”Zach wasn’t exactly convinced.“Is that why you’re sitting here with a face like a slapped ass?”
“A face like aslapped ass?”Benny finally managed to crack a smile while he shook his head in disbelief at his friend.“Man, you spend way too much time with Cat.”
Zach simply chuckled, not even attempting to deny he’d stolen that line from his wife’s British best friend.
“Who’s got a face like a slapped ass?”Luke snuck up from behind them, quickly planting himself on the creaky wooden chair next to the couch.
“Who’d ya think?”Zach grinned.“He saysthere’s nothing to tell, despite his ex spending her wedding night inhisbed.”
“He’ssitting right here.”Benny moaned.This was the problem with small towns and nosy-ass friends.
Never one to miss an opportunity to give him a hard time, Luke decided to pipe up next.“According to Hunter, you were waxing all poetic to her.Talking about soulmates and some shit.”What the actual fuck?“Dude!”Luke called out to the big man in question, who just so happened to be close by in the staff kitchen.“What was it you said Benny was calling his ex when you went over—Nona?”
Kill me now.
