Page 34 of Forget About Me

By the time I get home, thoughts about today’s rehearsal are all mixed up with memories from high school. Hanging out with Ben in the car on the way home from rehearsals was an unintentional gift from my brother. Then, as now, I’m not only aching to kiss Ben again, I want to laugh with him again.

It occurs to me that doing theater in high school really changed Ben. He stepped out of my brother’s shadow for the first time since he’d moved to the neighborhood. When Ben woke up, girls started noticing him. Girls like me. I didn’t have the moxie to go after him until a couple of years later, but I’d wanted to. Suddenly, he wasn’t just my brother’s friend, my goofy almost-brother. Ben was sexy.

He still is. But still, there’s something broken inside. And stupid me, I really want to fix it. I just don’t know if I can do that without getting into trouble again.

Guess I’ll find out tomorrow.

CHAPTER TWELVE

"Teenage Kicks" - The Undertones

Lucy’s May the Force Be With You Mixtape, Song #4

BEN

“Okay. Dinner ingredients are ready to assemble. What else?”

Puck gives me such thoughtful look I wouldn’t be surprised if he actually answered me. I always thought people who talked to their pets were crazy. Either I’m crazy, or it’s just what happens.

He doesn’t answer, but I do remember that I should light the candles I bought, hoping it doesn’t look like I’m working too hard to make things romantic. In the living area, I rearrange the video cassettes on the coffee table, going for,Oh yeah, I just picked these up from Blockbuster to watch over the weekend. The truth is, I agonized over the choices so long that it threw off my whole dinner prep. I rentedRoxanne,Broadcast NewsandThe Princess Bride, hoping one of them would tempt Lucy to sit next to me on the couch for a couple of hours.

Puck barks and a knock sounds, making me fumble the cassettes. She’s here. Wiping my suddenly sweaty hands on my khakis, I open the front door.

It’s not Lucy, though. It’s my dad.

“Dad?” I can’t hide the surprise in my voice. This is the first time he’s climbed the steps of my place since he got home from the hospital. “Everything okay?”

He glances over his shoulder before shoving his hands into his armpits, his brow furrowing. “Ah, I thought I’d take that dog of yours for a walk. You been bugging me so much, and Mrs. Rosen across the way called and asked if I’d walk with her. I couldn’t say no to her, but I thought if I had the dog, it would be less awkward.” He shrugs, looking about as nervous as I feel.

I bite back a grin and put on a mask of concern. “Mrs. Rosen’s a widow now, huh?”

“Yeah, Myron died a couple years ago. Since then, I go over there and fix things every once in a while, and she cooks for me sometimes. She said she needs to exercise but doesn’t want to go by herself, especially now it’s getting dark earlier. So I’m helping her out. Anyway, can I have the dog?” He holds out a hand. Puck’s already dancing between us like he’s all in.

“Sure, I guess. Um, Lucy's coming over for dinner in a little bit.”

“Lucy? Lucy Minola?” He smiles, something I haven’t seen for a long time. “She cooking?”

“No, I’m cooking. She’s been training Puck for the show I’m doing. I’m paying her, but I thought I’d cook her dinner to thank her.”

“You’re cooking?” He frowns. “Not that healthy crap you tried to get me to eat, I hope.”

“Dad, you just have to get used to it.”

“All I’m saying is, if you’re trying to impress her, that ain’t going to do it. I’ll keep Puck till you come get him so we don’t interrupt… anything.”

“It’s not like that, Dad. It’s Lucy.”

“Uh-huh. He can watch the game with me. He likes that.”

“Okay. I’ll come get him after I walk her home.”

“All right. C’mon, Puck.” He grabs the leash from a hook by the door, chatting with the dog as they head down the stairs. “Don’t know why you’re named after a hockey puck. Didn’t even know Ben was a Bruins fan.”

The kitchen door shuts behind them just as Lucy appears around the corner of the garage.

“Did you think I forgot how to get here?” she asks as she climbs the stairs.

“Oh, no, I was just—my dad came to take Puck for a walk. That’s okay, right? I mean, in terms of his training?”

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