Page 59 of Bittersweet Revenge

He chuckled. “Wow, that’s an enthusiasm I missed.”

I tried to pull away, but I realized my mistake as his arms stayed wrapped around me, his eyes detailing my face before lingering on my lips.

“I truly missed you, Esme. I missed everything we did together and all our missed opportunities,” he added before leaning down.

I turned my head at the last second, his lips connecting with my cheek.I wiggled out of his hold.

“I’m sorry!” He straightened up visibly embarrassed. “I just thought–” He shook his head. “The fiancé wasn’t with you. I thought–”

“No, Ben, don't apologize. My situation is complicated and I don't want you to think either way. I don’t know where I stand right now. I don’t want to make any promises I can't keep.”

“Please, Esme, don’t. You didn’t promise me anything. It was just me being…” He sighed. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“I–” I bit my lip. “Your help’s not in the view of–”

He growled. “Fuck, I really made a mess of things, didn’t I? No, it has nothing to do with my feelings for you. As I said, you’re my friend and that’s the right thing to do. Your friend Antoine gave me a burner and his number. I’ll text him when it’s done.”

“Thank you, Ben, and thank you for bringing my dad. It meant much more than you think.”

He nodded, straddling his bike. “It’s alright, Esme. I’m happy to help. Oh, and when things get less complicated, give me a call. I’ll be waiting.”

I smiled. “Okay,” I replied, but all I could think about was Caleb and that didn’t predict anything good.

When I walked back into the backroom, only Archie was waiting for me.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, I think so. Where did the crazy kids go?”

Archie rolled his eyes. “Taylor’s buying half the store. She wants to thank the girl for loaning the space.”

“I can understand that. Let's buy some stuff too.”

Eighteen hundred dollars later, we were on our way back to the car, weighed down by bags.

“Did you really need ten crochet blankets?” Antoine asked Taylor as he set the bags in the trunk.

Taylor shrugged. “They’re great presents. They were pretty and kitsch and shut up.”

The drive back was done in silence, but it was not tense as it’d been on the way to Port Harbor. We were all lost in our thoughts, me mostly thinking of Luke, Ben’s attempt at a kiss, and the stupid present I’d bought Caleb.

Thinking of Caleb, I decided to text him that we were on our way back. As usual, his answer was one word – ‘fine’. But then he was waiting for me by the main door as Archie pulled up in front of the house.

“Be safe,” Archie whispered kissing my forehead, his eyes never wavering from Caleb’s.

“Always,” I replied exiting the car and meeting Caleb by the stairs.

“How was Port Harbor?”

“Bittersweet,” I admitted. It was true for so many reasons, including us and the realization that the girl I had been was gone for good, that I could not long for a life that was not mine anymore. I was not Esme Danvers anymore, but I was not exactly Esmeralda Forbes either. I wasn’t sure who I was.

His face softened a bit and he trailed his knuckles ever so slightly against the back of my hand. “I have some good news for you.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“My father has been called away on business. He is leaving tomorrow for a week.”

I smiled, relief going through me. “Is your mom going too?”

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