“I don’t know,”I say softly, the words catching in my throat.
“Why don’t you call him?” Paisley suggests. “Or better yet, just go to his place. He probably wants to see you just as much as you want to see him.”
A flicker of hope sparks in my chest. “You really think so?” I ask hesitantly, nibbling on my bottom lip.
Paisley nods confidently. “Yeah, I do.”
I glance at Taylor and Ivy, who both nod in agreement.
“Should I go now?” I ask, still unsure.
“Yes! Go!” Ivy urges with a laugh. “We’ll stay here, drink the wine we brought, and wait for you to come back and tell us how it went.”
I can’t help but laugh too. “Okay.”
Twenty minutes later,I’m almost at Ben’s house when a wave of nerves crashes over me, making me question if this is the right decision. I want to see him more than anything, but showing up unannounced the day before his wife’s funeral might not be the best timing.
Pulling up by the curb, a little way from his house, I turn off the engine and pick up
my phone, hesitating before scrolling to Ben’s name. Taking a deep breath, I press the call button and bring the phone to my ear.
The line rings and rings until, finally, someone answers.
“Hello?”
I frown. The voice is male, but it’s not Ben. “Um… hi. Is Ben there?” I ask cautiously.
“Give me my phone,” I hear Ben say in the background, irritation lacing his voice.
“Well, you weren’t going to answer it, so I figured I would,” the other man responds.
My stomach sinks at his words. Was Ben screening my calls?
“Hey, Ash,” Ben finally says, his tone softer. “Sorry about that.”
“Hey. I just wanted to check in, see how you both are. If this is a bad time…” I trail
off, already feeling like it is.
“No, it’s okay. Just hang on a sec.”
There’s a rustling sound, and I assume he’s covering the phone. Muffled voices follow before, moments later, the porch light flicks on at his house. I watch as he steps outside, shutting the door behind him and then disappearing from view. He must have settled onto the steps.
“Ash, you still there?” he asks.
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“Sorry, that was my brother.”
“Your brother?” I ask.
He exhales heavily. “Yeah, he flew in for the funeral. Kirsten’s here too.”
I frown. We haven’t talked much in the past week and a half, but when we did, he
never mentioned his brother or sister being here, but I guess they would be if the funeral is tomorrow.
“How’s Laney doing?”
