Page 100 of A Stealthy Situation

30

BENNY

Acknowledging that I might need to be tested for a learning disability is confronting. Trying to convince Em he might need to do the same is near impossible. His suggestion of me also dropping college and then neither of us having to worry about it just earns him an eye roll, but I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t look like the only out.

The thing is, if I’m tested and something comes back, what do I do about it?

Tell the school? Ask for a waiver or assistance? That’s only going to open up questions about why it’s never been a problem before now. Hoo boy, the shit I’d be in if I admitted to cheating.

It wouldn’t just be Em who’s expelled.

“How’d it go?” Harrison asks the second I get back to my room from my doctor’s appointment.

“I have a referral.”

When he reaches for me and pulls me into his big arms, I go eagerly. I’m not used to this. The whole being vulnerable thing fucking sucks, and I know why Asher fights it so hard. I want to fight it too, but unfortunately, there’s no running away from my brain. It’s still a struggle to believe this is happening to me.

“Now we wait,” he says.

I drop my whole body into the hug, sagging against him and loving the way he holds me up. It’s hard not to get in my head about everything, but he’s been really good at distracting me. Not only with sex, either, but just … everything. The Halloween party we went to on the weekend as a tree and Poison Guy-vy was so fun, and helping him plan his plant dinner over these last few days has been perfect for redirecting my focus.

And surprisingly fun.

“I hate waiting,” I remind him.

“I know. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone more impatient than you are, but suck it up, babe, because you’ve only taken the first step.”

I press my face to his shoulder. “And if I don’t take any more steps?”

“Then you struggle. I’m not going to tell you what to do.”

“Be easier if you did.”

He laughs, shoulder moving under my face. “It’s not my place. I’ll give you my opinion and my support, but the rest is up to you. Not gonna lie, it’s probably going to get really bloody hard from here on.”

“You’re not supposed to be truthful,” I grumble. “You’re supposed to tell me it will all be okay and then feed me ice cream.”

“Ice cream, I can do.”

“And the rest?”

Harrison pulls away. “It will be okay, but that doesn’t mean what you want it to mean.”

I scowl and kick his shoes across the floor toward him. “Fine. I’ll settle for the ice cream.”

Harrison fist-bumps, and I’m tempted to knock his hat off his head. I don’t, but only because he looks hot as fuck with it on.

“Any luck getting Em to go with you?” he asks as he pulls his shoes on.

“Nope. He says he doesn’t need it.”

Harrison shakes his head, but he looks indulgent. “You Daltons are a stubborn bunch.”

“You’ve only met two of us.”

“About that …” He clears his throat, adjusting his cap a bit. “I thought, maybe if you want to, that we could talk about Christmas.”

“Christmas?”

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