“Hi, Ben. Thank you. You look good too.”
And he does. Dressed in black jeans and a crisp white shirt, the fabric hugs his broad chest and toned arms. It feels like forever since I’ve been wrapped in those strong arms, and the ache of missing him is almost unbearable.
A sudden throat-clearing from Laney snaps me out of my Ben-induced daze, and heat rushes to my cheeks. Forcing myself to look away, I turn to face her.
“Ashlyn, this is Aunt Kirsten and Uncle Milo. Kirsten, Milo, meet Ash."
“Nice to meet you, Ash,” Milo says with a smile.
“You, too,” I tell him, my eyes flicking from him to Ben.
Kirsten steps forward and pulls me into a hug. “It’s so good to meet you, Ashlyn,” she says. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You have?” I ask, hope flickering in my chest. Has Ben been talking about me?
“Of course,” she says. “Laney told me all about how you and your brother rescued her when she broke down, even though she was grounded.”
She throws a playful look at Laney, but the small spark of hope inside me fizzles out. It wasn’t Ben who’d been talking about me. It was Laney.
“Special occasion?”Laney asks, nodding toward the table where everyone’s gathered.
“Taylor’s birthday,”I say softly. It feels strange to be celebrating while Ben and Laney are still wrapped in grief.
“But you didn’t want to come?”she presses gently.
I give a faint smile.“Wasn’t really up for it, but Ivy wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
I glance toward Ben. He’s still looking at me, his face impossible to read.
“We’re just having dinner before Aunt Kirsten and Uncle Milo head out in the morning,”Laney adds.
I nod silently.
Just then, Seb and Taylor step through the door.
“Ben,”Seb says, reaching out to shake his hand. As Ben grips it, Seb pulls him into a brief one-armed hug.“I’m really sorry, man.”
Ben offers a faint, appreciative smile.“Thanks, Seb. This is my brother, Milo, and my sister, Kirsten.”He gestures betweenthem.“Guys, this is Seb, Ash’s brother, and his girlfriend, Taylor.”
Milo and Kirsten both nod politely in greeting.
“Happy birthday, Taylor,”Laney says quietly, her voice soft.
Taylor’s face brightens.“Thanks, Laney.”
“Are you just arriving, or just leaving?” Seb asks.
“Arriving,” Ben says.
“Why don’t you join us?”Seb offers.
Ben’s gaze shifts to mine, and my heart pounds in response. As painful as it is to see him, not seeing him hurts even more. And even if my whole family’s here, spending the evening with him is better than not.
“Oh, I don’t think–”he begins, but Laney jumps in.
“We’d love to.”
“Perfect,” Seb says. “I’ll grab the server.”
