Page 21 of A Good Book

“I have no interest in watching you fawn over Fumble Fingers.”

“Don’t!” I snorted and cracker crumbs flew from my mouth onto his lap.

Ben frowned, wiping them from his jeans. “Thanks for that.”

I covered my mouth and finished chewing. “Sorry.” I swallowed. “But you can’t call him that. I don’t want it coming out that I told you. It’s bad enough that he knows I know.”

“What do you mean?”

I shrugged. “I may have let it slip that I knew about the prom night incident.”

“Gabbs, how do you let that slip? This fantasy of yours is over. He’s never going to be anything more than a family friend now that he knows you heard about the most embarrassing moment of his life.” He leaned forward and plucked the box of crackers from my hand.

“How is that the most embarrassing moment of his life?”

“Oh, Gabriella,” Ben slowly shook his head while shoving his big hand into the cracker box, “you have so much to learn. The pinnacle of manhood is sex. A fumbled attempt is about as gut-wrenching as running over the family dog.”

That was ridiculous.

“I’m sure he’s recovered just fine,” I said. “If he has a girlfriend, he must have figured it all out.”

“Maybe he revirginized and is saving himself for marriage.” Ben dumped the last of the cracker crumbs into his mouth.

“You think?” I straightened my back with a jolt of hope.

Ben fisted his hand at his mouth and shook in silent laughter. “No, Gabby. I’m just kidding.”

“You’re mean.”

“Honest.”

“Well, you’re going with me tomorrow. Olivia’s not asking. I’m asking. And you can’t say no to me.”

Ben got a funny expression on his face. I hadn’t seen it before, so I couldn’t decipher it. But after a few seconds, he nodded and muttered a soft, “Yeah.”

“Okay. Let’s go,” Olivia said, bursting through the door and tossing her makeup bag onto her bed. An overwhelming perfume scent filled the room, and I coughed.

“Is your roommate in or out tonight?” she asked Ben as he stood.

“Out. Why?”

Olivia batted her mascara-laden eyelashes. “Since Gabby’s doing homework, I thought we could go up to your room after dinner.”

Ben looked at me, and again he had that weird look on his face.

I fiddled with my sleeves, not comfortable knowing that my roommate planned on doing dirty things with my best friend, and they were all but saying as much with me hearing everything.

Then I thought of Ben’s exposed abs, and I wondered if he was good at sex. Was he better than Matt? Did Ben ever fumble a condom? As I got a little hot, I cleared my throat and offered a smile. “Have fun,” I managed with a slight squeak to my voice.

“Need any help with homework tonight?” Ben asked, nodding toward the pile of books on my desk.

Olivia was offering him “the pinnacle of manhood,” and he wanted to know if I needed help with my homework.

My gaze shifted to my big-haired roommate standing just behind Ben. She gave me a quick headshake and prayer hands while mouthing, “please say no.”

“I’m good.” I smiled.

Ben continued to study me for a few more seconds. “Okay. Goodnight, Gabbs.” He tossed the empty cracker box in the trash while Olivia took his other hand and led him out the door.

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