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“Wes and Lars’s place,” Prism said.
I glanced up the sidewalk to the warmly lit window. “Wes and Lars live here?”
Ben leaned into the car to undo the seatbelt still around me. “Max and Win too.”
“What are we doing here?” I wanted to know.
Ben helped me out of the car, anchoring his arm around my waist when I was on foot to support some of my weight. My crutches were likely still lying in the basement laundry room… a place I didn’t care to visit again. Still supporting me, he leaned down to adjust the seat so Matt could climb out.
The second he was upright, he tugged a pair of AirPods out of his pocket and stuffed the small white buds into his ears.
“Why do you always wear those?” I asked.
He froze, eyes firing to my face. “Uhh…”
“Come on. Let’s head in,” Ben said, trying to direct me away.
I let out a loud huff. “No wonder I don’t know anything,” I complained. “Whenever I ask questions, no one actually answers them.”
“Now, baby, drama will just bust another stitch,” Ben placated. Well, he thought he was placating. I thought he was being stupid.
Planting my fist on my hip, I said, “That is not funny, Benjamin Hayes.”
Prism snickered. “Shouldn’t have told her your middle name.”
Throwing out my arm, I jabbed my finger in his direction. “You’re in trouble too, Matthew Miller.”
Matt snapped upright, the smile falling from his face. “You told her mine too?” He accused Ben. “How could you do it to me, bro?”
“He didn’t tell me.” I spoke up. “I guess annoyance helps me remember. So go ahead and don’t tell me anything. I’ll remember it all eventually.”
Ben’s body clenched with tension, his muscles locked so tight I felt them vibrate against my side. His fingers spasmed at my waist, but his hold never waned. A pregnant, uncomfortable silence filled the night, and both boys shifted awkwardly but kept their lips sealed.
Wariness whispered over the back of my neck, prickling my skin with goose bumps and making me cold. The slight tension it left in its wake was uncomfortable, my body too tired to fight it off.
Ben cleared his throat and shifted so he was standing right in front of me, both hands on my waist. “We’re just worried about overwhelming you. Giving too much information too fast and too soon. Look at everything that happened the past few hours, you’re already overwhelmed.”
I wanted to argue, but he was right. I was overwhelmed. Still, I couldn’t let it go. “I don’t like being lied to.”
Ben’s unique eyes slid away, the muscle in the back of his jaw pulsing like he was grinding his teeth. Against my waist, his hands curled into fists. Fresh tension radiated off him in waves. Yet when he spoke, his voice was gentle. “We’re here because everyone wants to see you. They were gonna come to the hospital, but they’d have had to sit in that hell room and listen to those dragon ladies, so I told them I’d bring you by.”
Hell room? Dragon ladies? And he thinks I’m the dramatic one.
“Okay,” I said, suddenly feeling guilty for giving him a hard time. It made me a little emotional that everyone came here to see me.
“I don’t want to lie to you,” he said, voice heavy and slightly pained. “I’m just trying to protect you.”
I bobbed my head. “I know.”
He pulled back slightly, one of his hands sliding away. “I’m sorry.” The apology was gruff but dripping with so much sincerity it momentarily robbed me of air.
The little distance between us suddenly felt gaping, and in that space was a giant wedge—a wall of some kind trying to get in the way of the connection I usually felt between us.
Instantly, I hated it. It left me reeling like I was suddenly untethered and left to float in this big unknown world alone. Not only that, but his regret was painful. More painful than any of the physical wounds I currently had.
Afraid and craving comfort, I moved forward, looping my arms around his neck and curling into his chest, trying to make myself smaller.
His arms instantly closed around me, and I let out a muffled whimper of relief.
