Her eyes misted. “I don’t know if I’m ready for a new boyfriend.”
“That’s okay. You don’t have to be my girlfriend.” For the first time in a long time, he felt a genuine smile coming on. “But at least you’re not someone else’s girlfriend.”
“Vicks, you have to be honest with me. No more keeping secrets. No more holding back. Is there anything else you want to tell me?”
“No. Now how about if I drive home, put on some dry clothes, and think about your question without freezing my ass off?”
“Will you go to the winter dance with me?”
Ben groaned out loud. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“If you really were besotted, you’d do it for me.”
“I can’t. You know that. I’ll be in San Francisco. I’ve already booked my ticket and it’s not refundable.”
“You’d rather go on some wild-goose chase where you don’t belong, hunting down some lost cause rather than take me to the winter dance?”
“You want me to be honest with you, right? The answer is yes. And it’s not a wild-goose chase and you know it.” Her face was dejected. He said, “I went to homecoming for you.”
“But not with me.”
“Because you had another date.” He hit his forehead in frustration. “I’m crazy about you, Ro, but I am not going to the winter dance. I have to go to San Francisco and I’m leaving on Christmas. I only have a short time to talk to the family and get them on board.”
“Why don’t you let Shanks handle it? He said he’d call up the detective after he was prepared. Why do you have to be involved?”
“Committed,” he muttered. “I don’t know. I tilt at windmills. I’m going, okay.”
“You’ll be doing this forever until you find him.”
“Probably.”
“Give me the keys. I can drive now.” When he hesitated, she said, “Give me the keys.”
“I promise I’ll take you to prom if we’re still okay with each other.” She didn’t answer. Ben said, “At least your dress won’t go to waste.”
“I’ll have to get a totally different dress for prom, so it will go to waste.”
“Well . . . then I’m sorry.”
“You won’t take me to the winter dance?”
“Okay already!” Ben was shouting. “Okay, I’ll take you. I’ll change my ticket and everything. I’m totally whipped, okay. But going to the dance is a mistake. JD is going to make my life miserable, but that’s okay. I’ve known the guy forever and I’m used to his shit. But he’s going to make your life a misery. But if you want to go, I’ll transfer my ticket and take you.”
“Forget it,” Ro said. “You’re right. I am being ridiculous.” A pause. “It’s nice of you to offer. Sometimes it’s just the thought that counts.” She held out her palm and he gave her the keys.
Five minutes later she pulled up in front of Ben’s house. He said, “Do you want to come in?”
“Yeah, why not?”
He bounded out in the rain to open the car door for her. They ran to the front portal. Once they were inside, he could finally relax. No one was home and the house was warm and felt as comforting as a flannel blanket.
“Can I get you anything?” He rubbed his arms. “Hot chocolate, maybe?”
“What are you? Twelve?”
“Beer? Vodka?”
“You’re getting warmer.”
“Just let me change, okay. I’ll be right out.”
He was about to close the door to his room when she charged in, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips against his, holding him in a tight embrace while her fingers raked through his hair. Within moments, they were kissing hard and passionately. Ben felt dizzy and woozy. He was cold and shivering and burning with desire.
The front door slammed. “Anyone home? Ben?”
“Oh God, it’s Haley.” He broke away, grabbed some dry clothes, and locked himself in the bathroom, breathing hard, trying to put the brakes on his arousal. He could hear Haley in his bedroom.
“Oh, hi, Ro. Where’s Ben?”
He couldn’t hear what she said. He changed quickly, getting himself reasonably under control. It took a few minutes. When he went back out, he had a smile on his face. Haley and Lilly were staring at him with weird expressions. He said, “Where’s Ro?”
Haley said, “She left.”
“She left?”
“Yeah.” Haley looked at him. “Did you guys have a fight or something?”
“No . . . maybe.” He was panicked and confused. “I need privacy. Like right now!”
“Well, excuse me!”
Ben locked the door and called Ro’s cell. When she didn’t answer, he called again. And again. She picked up on the fourth try. He said, “Why’d you leave?”
“Why do you think?”
“Honestly, I have no idea.”
“Vicks, I’m sorry I attacked you—”
“Oh please, please, please don’t apologize for kissing me. It was the best thing that ever happened to me in my entire life! Come back!” She was silent. “Hello?”
“I’m still here.”
“Come back, Ro. Please?”
“Ben, you pushed me away!”
“I didn’t push you away. My sister came home. It would have been impolitic for her to see me in my obviously aroused state.” He heard her break into laughter over the phone. “Where are you?”
“I just pulled up into my driveway.”
“Come back.”
“I don’t want to. It’s pouring outside and I don’t want to drive.”
“Okay. I’ll come to your house.”
“Do you have a car?”
“I have a poncho and a bike.”
“It’s pouring outside, Vicks. Don’t be ridiculous. Besides, I don’t want to see you right now.”
“Why not?”
“Because I need to think, okay?”
“Ro, come back. If you don’t, I really will bike out to see you.”
“I don’t want to see you, Ben. I don’t want to see anyone right now, okay? I want to be by myself. I need space. I mean, you need space all the time. So how about giving me the same consideration that I give you?” When he didn’t answer, she said, “It’s not that easy, is it?”
“Okay. You need space.” He was pacing the floor. “When can I see you?”
“I’ll call you. And don’t come here or I’ll get really mad. Respect my wishes like I respect your wishes.” She hung up and Ben threw the phone across the room and onto his bed. “Shit! Shit, shit, shit!” There was a knock on the door. He swung it open and glared at Lilly.
She swallowed hard. “We’re baking chocolate chip cookies. Wanna help?”
“You need my help in baking? Seriously?” When Lilly was silent, he said, “I’ll be out in a minute. Do you know where my mom is, by any chance?”
“I think she said something about a board meeting.”
“That’s right.” Meaning he’d be without a car for at least the next two hours. “Give me a minute, okay?”
“Take your time, Ben.” She closed the door gently.
He leaned against the wall. Life was sincerely fucked, but it made no sense to take it out on the girls.
Go bake cookies. Distraction was the name of the game.
Chapter 27