Page 77 of Every Hidden Truth

“Excellent.” He leaned down and kissed me. “Wanna sixty-nine before we go?”

I smiled against his lips. “Is the pope Catholic?”

“My God, I hope so,” he said as he worked to open my jeans.

Throwing my head back, I laughed into the ceiling.

After somewhat sloppy mutual blowjobs, Ben and I cleaned up and redressed. When I offered to drive his Impala to the bowling alley, he hesitated, but since he was less steady on snowy roads, he relinquished his keys.

Even with the impromptu sixty-nining, we were only the second couple to arrive. Julian and Iris were already filling in the teams on our reserved lanes as we got our bowling shoes from the front counter. We searched for balls in the racks in the back—and, yes, I did make a pun about it. Ben rolled his eyes.

With my glittery purple, twelve-pound ball in hand, I sank into the seat beside Iris.

We made awkward small talk as Julian and Ben split those attending the night’s festivities into two teams. Kim, Caroline, and Jordan trickled in as we finished entering the names on the board, and Harris arrived a minute later.

Per usual, Ronnie and Esther were the last to show.

I made sure Esther and I were on the same team, which meant Ronnie and Ben were with us too. Jordan joined us, leaving Kim, Harris, Caroline, Iris, and Julian as our competitors. Julian and Ronnie trash talked as Kim and Caroline ordered drinks andsnacks for the table. It was decided the losing team would pay the tab at the end of the night.

“I suck at bowling, so we’re totally gonna lose,” I whispered.

Esther laughed. “Speak for yourself. I’ll make sure we win.”

Sure enough, Esther was the best bowler on our team, and I cheered as she achieved a strike on her first throw.

“Holy shit!” I clapped along with the others as Ronnie kissed Esther’s cheek. “You weren’t kidding.”

She shrugged, a pleased smile playing at her mouth. “I’ve been in youth group since sixth grade. This”—she waved at the lane—“is what we do.”

Handing her a cup of soda, I crunched our plastic cups together. “Well, here’s to riding your coattails for the rest of the evening.”

True to my word, I sucked royally, rolling gutter-balls more often than not, but I didn’t mind failing when it meant Ben would help me. He stood behind me, shadowing my every move as he tried to show me how to aim.

Like with his teaching on billiards, I was too distracted to soak in his wisdom. Instead, I drank up his warmth and the smell of spring soap.

Despite Esther’s valiant efforts, our team still lost, but I beat Caroline, thirty-two to thirty-one, so I wasn’t the worst loser of the group.

Back at Ben’s house, we bundled up in coats and gloves, then stood in the backyard, watching the fireworks. As the sky lit with crackling greens, blues, and whites, Ben framed my back with his body and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. His breath fogged the air beside my eye, his cheek pressed to my temple, and I hooked my hands on his forearms crossed over my chest.

At even intervals, he kissed my cheek or squeezed me tightly, as if to remind himself I was really there in his arms. I grinned and leaned into his body, secretly loving the way he held me. Inthe moments I wished he held me more securely, he tightened his grip and nuzzled my ear, like he knew my thought without me voicing it. He’d always had a knack for reading my mind. Half the time, he knew what I needed before I did.

As the sparkling explosions reflected in his eyes, I devoured his features. The second he felt me watching him, he met my gaze with a lopsided grin, and I returned it. Our eyes locked in a silent conversation I could never explain with words, but Ben didn’t always need words.

He cupped my cheek, his thumb grazing the rough hint of stubble scattering my jaw, then connected our lips. It was the barest of touches, soft and sweet, and I sighed pathetically. His kiss communicated exactly what my heart yearned to hear, the words repeating through my mind as we moved in sync.

When we inevitably parted, it was bittersweet, but the overwhelming joy lighting his face as his forehead met mine filled me with airy contentment. Maybe we weren’t forever—we were young and stupid, after all—but whatever this was between us was real. Even if it ended in flames and heartbreak, it didn’t diminish what we cradled in our hands right at this moment.

He was everything, and I’d fight for every second he gave me.

Later, after we’d ushered in the New Year with cheers and kisses, we got ready for bed. I changed into my pajamas and used the toilet, checking my phone for the expected but unwanted text. Unknown hadn’t disappointed.

Unknown: Happy New Year, Brigs.

I ground my teeth in frustration. Any doubt that Unknown knew who I was evaporated as I read my last name. Damn it.

Silas: Fuck off! If you text me again, I’m calling the cops.

It was an empty threat, but Unknown didn’t know that.

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