Marriage Matters

Eighteen

Chloe and Ben were still talking and laughing when the busboys began stacking chairs on the tables around them. The room had cleared out. Instead of murmurs of conversations, there was just a rhythmic swish-swish as the host ran a cordless vacuum over the faded red rug.

“Uh-oh,” Chloe said, looking around. Ben had paid their check a long time ago but they’d stayed talking long after the rest of the patrons had left. Their waiter was slouching next to the host stand, doing something on his phone. “I think that’s our cue.”

Ben also seemed surprised that the place was so empty. Shooting an apologetic look at their waiter, he mumbled, “That guy’s gonna kill us. He’ll probably jump us out front.” Getting to his feet, he tossed an extra twenty dollars on the table. “Sorry, man. Annoyance fee.”

Chloe linked her arm with his on the way out. “You are such a nice guy.”

“Nice?” Ben was horrified. “No way. I am passionate, dark and mysterious. In other words, incredibly sexy.”

“You must be.” Chloe checked the time on her phone. 12:45. “I haven’t stayed out on a date this late since undergrad.”

“Me, neither.” Ben nodded. “By this time, I’ve already got her in bed.”

Chloe laughed, punching him in the arm. Outside, the wind had turned chilly and she shivered. Ben looped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her in tight. With the scent of espresso wafting off their clothes and mixing with the gentle spice of the cologne he was wearing, she felt just heady enough to feel that spark of attraction for her friend.

As Ben raised his arm to hail a cab, she pulled it back down. “Let’s walk home.”

“You okay in those shoes?” He pointed at her ballet flats. “They’re not your typical tennies.”

Chloe looked up at the inky sky. She saw the faintest pinpoints of light shining through the haze of the city. “It’s so nice out,” she said. “It’ll be too cold to do this soon.”

“Alright.” Ben pulled her in closer, his arms firm and strong. “Let’s do it.”

As they moved toward the Lakeshore, Chloe felt the cool breeze whip against her cheek. They chatted about the restaurant and the meal, wrapping up tidbits of conversation and unfinished jokes. Then, as they passed by the various high-rise apartments stretching up into the night, they fell silent. Every once in a while, he made a comment about something in someone’s window but otherwise, they just enjoyed the walk. She tried not to think about the fact that they touched the whole way.

By the time they got to Wicker Park, her legs were heavy but her heart was light. “Well,” she said as they approached their four-story brick building. “This might totally be bad form for a first date but yes, I would absolutely love for you to come up.”

“Hot.” Ben laughed.

When they got to their floor, Chloe leaned against the door of her apartment, sad that the night was over. It was the best date she’d ever had, even if it was just practice. “That was so fun. Thank you.” Reaching into her purse, she pulled out her keys. “You’ve made me feel confident that I will not scare the good doctor away.”

“That’s it?” Ben’s cheeks were flushed a bright red and his hair rumpled from the wind. “You wouldn’t ask your date in?”

“Oh,” Chloe said, confused. “Did you want to come in?”

Ben shoved his hand into the pockets of his gray slacks and cocked his head. He raised an eyebrow, giving her a look as though to say, Really? You fell for that?

Chloe hit her palm against her forehead. “Oh.” She felt totally, utterly stupid. “Got it. So, don’t invite him in. And if he suggests that he wants to, I’m supposed to play hard to get.”

Ben grinned. “Something like that.”

“Okay.” She smoothed down her skirt. “Let me try that again.” Taking a step forward, she put a hand on his chest. It felt firm beneath the thin material of his shirt. “Ben, I apologize. I am going to have to call it a night. But I had a really good time and I hope we can do it again sometime.” Looking up at him, she gave a prim smile. “How was that?”

“Good,” Ben said. He moved a step closer, his eyes locked onto hers in a way that made her mouth go dry. Suddenly, Chloe noticed that her hand was still on his chest. She could feel the steady rhythm of his heart. Unless she was imagining things, it was beating rather quickly.

“But if he tries to kiss you goodnight,” Ben said in a low voice, putting his hand over hers, “you should definitely let him.”

She swallowed hard. “Got it—” she started to say, but before the words were out of her mouth, Ben had pulled her into his arms and was kissing her.

Chloe was so startled she squeaked. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was that incredible spicy scent that had been wafting off him all night, but somehow she managed to forget that he was her best friend and she kissed him back. Gently at first, then as his tongue parted her lips and melded into hers, she felt herself turn to liquid.

She gave up all pretense of not wanting him and pressed her body up against his. She pushed her hands up and under the fabric of his shirt, until she could feel the taut muscles of his back. Ben let out a low growl, shoving her up against her door. Chloe heard somebody’s hand smack against the wood, but all she could feel was the sharp lightning passing between them.

A door creaked open down the hallway and Chloe snapped to her senses. This was Ben. Her best friend. Her neighbor. What the hell were they doing?

Chloe pulled away, her face probably as flushed and panicked as his. “Well,” she tried to say. It was a valiant effort to make some sort of a joke, to tell Ben she understood that the kiss was just another step in the practice date, but words failed her.

Like that day on the bed in junior high, Ben’s gaze was locked onto hers. Chloe felt an incredible need to wrap her arms around him and kiss him again, but she knew that if she did not walk away in that moment, they would cross a line they could never come back from.

“Okay,” Chloe forced herself to say. Her voice was trembling. “Have a good night.” Without ceremony, she ducked into her apartment and locked the door behind her.