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“Casey,” I hiss. “Why would you say something like that?”
She shrugs and flips her hair over her shoulder. Wrapping her hand around her mug of coffee she says, “You’re overreacting, Blaire. It’s just a saying.”
Ben places his hand on my knee in an effort to calm me, and the gesture does help a little. I’m sure I’m being a little testy what with the baby thing, work, and a wedding.
“No, no cold feet here.” Ben smiles. “My feet are nice and warm.”
Casey gives me a look as if to say: See, it was an innocent question.
Casey’s been my best friend for a long time, and we’ve never fought over a guy, but lately little comments she makes have me wondering if she has feelings for Ben. I know she’s dating James, but I don’t see that making it much longer, and I do know she had a brief crush on Ben when we were in high school. Regardless, I can’t see her doing anything to sabotage my happiness but … but, you never know.
“How’s work?” Ben asks Casey, leaning back in his chair.
She makes a face. “Same old, same old. I used to love law, but lately I want to throw a book at everyone I work with. They’re all a bunch of idiots.” Her voice spikes with irritation. “Even the old people that have been at the firm forever go around asking the dumbest questions. Sometimes I want to say to them, ‘I’m not the adult, you are. Get it together.’ But then I realize I am an adult and I’d probably get fired if I said that.” She takes a deep breath after her long-winded rambling.
“Whoa,” Ben says, holding his cup of coffee midway in the air. “That’s intense.”
“I should probably find another firm to work at, but they’re really all the same.” Casey makes a face like she tasted something sour. “Anyway,” she lays her hands flat on the wood of the table, “let’s talk about you guys. Any of you,” she adds, desperate to get the attention off her.
“I’m moving,” Hannah says.
We all grow quiet and stare at her. “Um, what?” I’m the first to speak.
“Not away,” she clarifies. “But, man, thanks to the look on your faces I know I’d be missed if I did. Anyway—” she waves a hand dismissively “—I’m moving into a new apartment. The lease on mine is up and I can’t take the roaches and rat poop anymore so I’m out of there.”
“It was that bad?” Chloe asks, completely appalled.
“Yep.” Hannah lifts her napkin and begins to break it apart. “It sucks.”
“Now I understand why you’ve never invited us over,” I add.
She nods. “The new place is really nice. It’s a studio apartment, so it’s small, but clean. It has exposed brick walls which I thought was cool.”
“Do you need help moving?” Ben asks her.
“God, yes. Would you help?” she begs. “I really don’t want to have to pay someone to help me. My brother already said he’d help, so another set of hands would be great.”
Ben nods. “Sounds good. I’ll let you know what my schedule at the hospital looks like and you can let me know what day works for you.”
We finish eating and chat for a little while longer before heading out.
Ben takes my hand on the way to the car. “Want to go shopping?” he asks me, and I shake my head. “Movies?” Another shake. He laughs. “What do you want to do then?”
“Just go home, I guess.” I shrug. “We can watch a movie there and resume your conversation from earlier.”
“Conversation?” His brows wrinkle in confusion. I wink and it’s all the answer he needs. “I like your idea.” He opens the passenger door and offers me his hand as I get in. He’s a gentleman, for sure. I tell him often that his momma raised him right.
We head home and pick out a movie to watch, getting cozy on the couch. I know I should’ve probably taken him up on his offer to go shopping, but I’d rather be here, in our home, with him.
I lay my head on his lap and he brushes his fingers through my hair. It’s soothing, and I’m tempted to fall asleep, but I don’t. It’s not about missing the movie—it’s this I don’t want to miss. Life itself. I’m scared of blinking my eyes and finding these little moments seldom happening. We’re both bound to get even busier with work, and throw in a baby …
It doesn’t matter, though. None of it. This is where I’m happiest. Right here with Ben and I hope that love and happiness never ever fades.
I lie sated in bed while Ben gets ready to go off to work. I’m not going to lie, we definitely took advantage of last night and today since his shift doesn’t start until eleven PM.
He steps out of the closet in his scrubs with a heavy gray coat over top. “Behave yourself.” He winks at me when he sits down in the chair to lace up his white tennis shoes.
“No promises when I have this big bed all to myself.” I rub my hand over the sheets.
