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I nodded. “I’d never make you choose, even if I don’t see why you’dhaveto choose. You’re allowed to have friends. ButBen, up until a few weeks ago…I thought I had feelings for you.”
He frowned. “What do you mean? Romantic feelings?”
“Yes,” I said as I rubbed my hands down my jeans.
“What? So Abby wasright? You want me?”
My eyes went wide. “Um—no. I mean, maybe I wanted more between us a while back, but that feeling has faded. And that alone tells me they weren’t really true feelings at all. I think I simply felt comfortable with you.”
“Did you ever plan on telling me this?”
Glancing down at my hands wringing in my lap, I shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
When he didn’t say anything, I looked up to see he had his eyes closed. Then he finally opened them, and I saw the truth. He’d truly never felt anything more than friendship for me.
“It’s okay that you never felt that way, Ben. I just thought I should be honest. I care about you a great deal, and you’ve always been an important part of my life. I think that’s why I was so taken aback by your news. I hated the idea that our friendship might be ending.” I grimaced. “And I feel like an idiot for falling down after you told me about Abby.”
“You’re not an idiot, but Lily, I had no idea you felt that way. I honestly don’t know how I would have responded if you’d told me earlier. I could see myself falling for you, but…I love Abby now, and I’m going to be a father.”
“I know. I know. I’m not asking you to pick between us, I promise you that. But it breaks my heart that Abby won’t even let us be friends. And when you called me while she was out of town, wanting to hang out, it made me feel like I’d been reduced to some kind of dirty secret.” I held up my hand before he could reply. “I know you didn’t intend for me to feel thatway, but if I were Abby, I wouldn’t want my future husband sneaking around with a friend behind my back, purely because she’s a female.”
I sighed, then offered him a sad smile. “So…ultimately…I think Abby’s right. I think it’s best if we just part ways as friends and wish one another the best of luck. And Idowish you both the best. But I don’t want to be a part-time friend, only good enough when Abby isn’t around. If she can’t come to terms with our friendship, I don’t see any other option.”
“Do you blame her? You just said seconds ago that you had feelings for me.”
“Hadbeing the keyword, Ben. I don’t anymore. The past few weeks I’ve had my eyes opened to a lot of things.”
He frowned. “Is that so?”
I could hear the jealousy in his voice, which struck me as odd, all things considered. “Another reason I wanted to talk is to ask why you have such a problem with Maverick.”
Now a look of anger appeared on his face. “He’s not good enough for you, Lily. He works on a ranch talking to horses all day.”
Lifting my brows, I replied, “Uh…so do I. So do my mother and father. My brother. How are we any different?”
He shook his head. “I just don’t think you should be…doing things with him.”
My mouth fell open. “I’m sorry, what? You don’t have room in your life for me because Abby is jealous, yetyou’reso jealous of Maverick, you think you can tell me who I can and can’t be with? I’m sorry, Ben, but you don’t have that right.”
“You’re being stupid, Lily. I’m notjealousof him. I don’t even want you that way.”
I shook my head slowly. “Wow. I don’t know which statement to reply to first.”
“You wanted me, and now that I’m having a baby with Abby and getting married,youwant to act like a baby and stomp your feet and go running off with some ranch hand. Fine. You don’t want to be friends anymore? It’s a done deal. I hope you enjoy the rest of your life, Lily.”
What in the world just happened? Did Benreallyjust make my attraction to Maverick all about himself?
Ben headed to the door, flung it open, and stormed out.
My mother walked in a second later and said, “That boy is an absolute asshole—and I always thought so!”
Chapter Eight
MAVERICK
The moment that jackass opened the door and headed down the stairs, I followed. I’d thought for sure Tanner would stop me, but with all of us standing in the hall, I knew he’d heard the conversation as well—and most likely wanted to punch the jerk just as much as I did.
Before Ben got into his truck, I called out his name. He turned and glared at me.
