I look at Ben for help, not knowing what to say. Despite the soda she’s drinking, she’s beginning to slur her words, and I’m guessing whatever she drank before Ben found her is starting to kick in.
“I think it’s time to leave. You good to go, Ash?” Ben says.
I nod.
“No! Let’s stay for another drink,” Laney shouts. “I haven’t heard all about yourrelationshipyet.” She spits the wordrelationship,and I lower my eyes, sipping on the last of my wine. The conversation seemed to be going okay, but something’s shifted, and now it all feels a little bit awkward.
“That’s enough, Laney. It’s time to go,” Ben says, standing. I follow his lead, hoping Laney takes the hint. Thankfully, she does, and Ben slips his hand in mine as the three of us walk through Eden and out onto the sidewalk.
“Why is the car parked so far away?” Laney whines as she stumbles in her heeled pumps.
“We ate at Franco’s before going to Eden,” Ben snaps. “If you weren’t drinking illegally, you’d be able to walk the five hundred yards to the car.”
Laney scowls, her gaze dropping to our intertwined hands, and my heart sinks. As much as I wish otherwise, tonight won’t be the night she accepts us. I was foolish to think one drink together could change her mind. Maybe when she’s sober, I’ll have another chance to convince her.
“Do you have to?” she spits.
“Have to what?” Ben asks, his voice laced with confusion.
“Be all over each other. It’s gross.”
“We’re holding hands, Laney, not having sex in the street.”
“Urgh, don’t put that image in my mind.”
I try to pull my hand from Ben’s, but he tightens his hold.
“Ashlyn is my girlfriend. I’m going to hold her hand, and you’re going to have to get used to it.” He squeezes my hand and gives me a small smile. I try to smile back.
Laney mutters something incomprehensible as we reach Ben’s car and climbs into the back seat, leaving Ben and me on the sidewalk.
“God, I’m sorry about tonight, Ash,” Ben says, wrapping me in his arms. “This isn’t how I wanted our first date to go. Laney is in so much trouble.”
I sigh. “Don’t be too tough on her, Ben. This must be hard for her.”
“Hard or not, she shouldn’t be drinking on a false ID in your brother’s bar.”
“No, but we’ve all done it.”
“I haven’t!”
I laugh. “Then you must have been a very good boy.”
He smiles. “And you must have been a very naughty girl.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “What can I say? I had four over-protective older brothers. I had to take my fun however and wherever I could get it.”
He laughs. “It seems Laney has more in common with you than with me.”
I smack his chest gently. “Cheeky.”
“It’s true! When I left home earlier, Laney was watching the same terrible reality TV show that was playing when I got to your place.”
I narrow my eyes. “Wet and Wild is not aterrible reality TV show.It’s addictive watching.”
“It’s people with hardly any clothes on competing for the attention of some jumped-up guy.”
“You have watched it, then? You know the plot!” I tease, a smile pulling on my lips.
