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Thea blushes. “Hardly. You guys answered plenty. Like that basketball question? I had no idea. And the one about Sleepy Hollow? I grew up here, and I didn’t even know the answer. What about the question on encryption?” She squeezes my hand. “Ben’s the only one in the entire place who got that one right.”
I kiss her cheek, feeling the soft warmth seep into my skin. “We make a good team.”
“Are we doing this every week, then?” Thea turns to me, her brows arching up in question. “Do you think your mother would mind watching Laila?”
If Thea only knew. Smothering a chuckle, I say, “She won’t mind at all. Trust me.”
Chapter 8
THEA
“I just knew you two would get together.”
Ari beams at me from across the small table, her green eyes sparkling. “As soon as I saw you two at Thanksgiving, I could tell. Cash saw it, too.”
“Really?” This is the first I’m hearing of it. “You never mentioned anything.”
“Yeah. The way he looked at you when you went to look at books with Laila, and then all through dinner, like he couldn’t take his eyes off you.” Smile sobering, she adds, “I didn’t want to push the idea on you, and give you a chance to rule him out immediately.”
“What? Why would I do that?”
“Thea, I know you. Every time you’ve met a guy, there’s always a reason why it won’t work out.” Her tone is kind. “It’s not that I don’t understand, but I worry about you sometimes.”
“I’m fine, Ari.” I meet her gaze steadily. “There’s nothing to worry about. And maybe I was hesitant in the past. But things with Ben are different.”
“Good.” She pats my hand, the giant diamond on her finger flashing bright sparks in the light. “Because you deserve to be happy. Not to keep blaming—”
“I’m not.” My voice pitches up. “I know it wasn’t—” The familiar sick feeling resurfaces, just as it does every time I think about that part of my past. “Anyway. I don’t want to talk about that.”
“I’m sorry.” Ari’s face creases in apology. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. We’re here to talk about Ben. Not ancient history.”
“Hey. I thought we were talking about names for the baby. And the nursery?”
“Right. That.” Her mouth curves into a smile. “That was just my excuse to meet for coffee. I really want to hear all about Ben.”
Pausing, she amends, “Well. Coffee for you, at least.” As she takes a sip of her tea, her face wrinkles in displeasure. “Herbal tea. I keep trying it, but it never gets any better. I can’t wait until I can drink coffee again.”
“Soon. Just about a month left.” Excitement fizzes up; soon my best friend is going to have a baby, and I’m going to be the godmother. I can’t wait.
“I know!” Ari leans back and rubs her swollen belly. “I can’t believe it either. But”—she pins me with a stern gaze—“don’t try changing the subject. I want to hear about Ben.”
“What do you want to know?” I’ve been weirdly reluctant to talk about Ben too much, like somehow if I do, I’ll end up somehow jinxing things and popping this perfect new-relationship-bubble I’m in.
Is it a relationship? We’ve been on four more dates since the first official one at my house, plus visits to the library with Laila and texting or calling every night. It’s really only been a couple of weeks, but when I’m with Ben, it feels like we’ve been together much longer.
“I’m not sure what we are,” I blurt out. At Ari’s questioning look, I try to explain. “Are we dating? Is he talking to other women? Does he see something possibly long-term with me?”
“Hmm.” She taps her finger on her lips, thinking. “I can’t imagine Ben would be seeing anyone else. Cash said Ben hasn’t dated at all since he moved to Sleepy Hollow three years ago. It’s hard to believe he’d suddenly start seeing you and another woman.”
“Probably not,” I agree. “But—” I take a deep breath, exhaling heavily. “I’m scared, Ari.”
“Oh, Thea. Why?”
Forcing the words out through a growing lump in my throat, I say, “Because I really like him. A lot. I mean, I liked him all those months seeing him in the library, but now that I really know Ben… He’s different from any other man I’ve met. And I could…”
“What?”
“I could see myself falling in love with him.” As soon as I say it, my heart quickens. “When I’m with him, I feel safe. Cared for. And he’s so wonderful with Laila…”
