CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Over the past few weeks, Benny and Bethany had settled into a couple-like routine.They spent every night he wasn’t on shift together at his house.Talking, cooking, watching the terrible reality shows she liked, and getting busy on every surface.Once a week, they’d hang out with his friends, usually dragging Lucy along, too.It felt good.Easy.Like this was what his life was supposed to look like.And while she still refused to label what they were doing, it was pretty obvious to him and the rest of the town what was going on.
He did want that label, though.Badly.But he didn’t push for it.He was too much of a coward, too afraid of losing her again if he did.
“Can I open my eyes yet?”Bethany asked.
“So impatient,” he tutted, guiding her through the double doors.
Bringing her to a stop in the doorway, he felt the need to brace before giving her the go ahead.“Okay.Now.Now you can open them.”
The afternoon light filtered in from the front windows, catching the dust swirl in the air.At first glance, the space wasn’t anything special.A long-forgotten hardware store, a few doors down from the fire station.But as soon as Benny had seen it, he’d felt it.He just hoped Bethany felt it, too.
Watching her take a tentative step into the room, he stayed where he was, his hands going into his jean pockets as he propped himself up against the doorframe.The floorboards groaned as she took another step, then another.Her gaze first darting to the walls where old tool shelves had left their outlines and then up to the exposed beams decorating the high ceilings.A small smile tilted her lips as her fingers trailed over the scuffed wooden counter.And when she came to one of the rooms off to the side, she audibly inhaled.
She feels it.
Bethany’s eyes flung to him, her whole body twisting to face him.He didn’t wait for her to speak before saying, “You can see it, yeah?”
“How?When?”She shook her head.“Why?”
Okay, so he had to admit that this was a little out of the blue.They’d only spoken once about her wanting to maybe, possibly, open a clinic in Woodvalley when she was done with her residency next year.Perhaps too excited by the prospect, he’d got carried away with the idea.
“One of the guys at the station was talking about this rejuvenation project the town council have put forward.There are all these new incentives to try and get some of the empty shop fronts filled.And I thought about this place and I just...I don’t know.I just thought of you.Of your practice.The space has so much potential.You could get a really good deal on the lease and take your time getting it ready, setting it up like you want it.Me and some of the guys could work on it, too, in our spare time, seeing as it’s down the road from the station.”When she remained silent, his hand went to his neck where he began to rub.Suddenly, he felt embarrassed.It was presumptuous of him to assume she was even staying in town.He’d overstepped.
At that thought, his eyes hit the scratched floor.
Learn some fucking boundaries, man.
He was too busy berating himself to hear Bethany approach, and it wasn’t until her fingers were under his chin, pushing his face up to meet hers that he felt like he could breathe again.
“I love it, Benny,” she beamed.“It’s perfect.”
“Yeah?”He felt a hopeful smile stretch all the way to his ears.
“Yeah.”Her voice was soft as her lips brushed his in a kiss infused with gratitude.She rested her forehead against his, her breath warm against his skin.“Thank you for thinking of me,” she murmured, her fingers curling lightly in his shirt.“Thank you for volunteering to help.”Another kiss followed, deeper, slower, leaving his heart to stumble over itself.“And thank you,” she whispered, eyes glittering.“For being exactly who you are.”
Well, fuck me.Does this mean she’s staying?
Like the coward he was, he didn’t ask.Even though he was dying to know what she meant.If she was going to take the space.If she was going to stay here, in Woodvalley, with him.Forever.Instead, he took her hand and led her into the first room off to the side.
Clearing his throat, he went on.“Both rooms are the same size, but this one has a storage space off to the side that you could use for equipment, medication, stuff like that.”
He didn’t need to look to know she was grinning as she looped her arm around his waist and leaned into him.“I just can’t believe what good condition everything is in.I mean, I remember this place closing when we were teenagers and it doesn’t look like anyone has been here since then.”
They hadn’t.
“There will be some building work, we’ll need to put in toilets, maybe a small kitchen area...there’s a stock room out back that I think could work.Everything else, though, will be superficial.A lick of paint, polish up the floors, furniture, that kind of thing.”Feeling her eyes on him, he dipped his head to look at her.“What?”
“We?” She smiled.
He drew in a breath.“Yeah, NeNe,we.If you let me, I want to help.You don’t have to do anything alone anymore.”Or ever.
He held her stare, her expression going from teasing to thoughtful as she searched his eyes.When was she going to get it?He wanted her.He wanted this.
“Okay.”She gulped.“Tell me more about these incentives.”
