Page 60 of Just A Bet

“The Bentley’s made a bet about me and Lennox getting together.”

He purses his lips. “You guys seemed happy at the hospital. I’m surprised you’re upset about that.”

I’m not upset about the bet. I'm upset with myself. Lennox told me she loved me, and I froze. I hadn’t heard that word in so long; I didn’t know how to respond. I’ve always loved Lennox, but her saying it out loud made it real. And I haven’t had genuine love since my grandpa died.

“I didn’t tell Lennox how I feel about her.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m scared...”

My dad picks up on what I’m not saying. “You’re afraid she’ll use that love to hurt you or leave you.”

I shrug. “Maybe.”

My father sighs, and his hand shakes around his glass as he raises it to his lips for a drink. “I didn’t show you what love is, so it makes sense you’d be afraid. But if you’ve learned anything from me, it’s that you can’t learn anything from me.”

I shake my head. “What?”

“Your mother and I only did one thing right, and that was you. But we gave up too easily when things got hard. We each had our own destructive ways of coping with hard things, but you were never that way.” He coughs, then steadies his breathing. “Your grandpa taught you what I couldn’t. He taught you to be brave.”

My chest warms and I feel my grandpa right beside me. His comforting presence. Or maybe, for the first time, I feel comfortable with my father.

“Be brave, son.” He pats my hand. “Give her everything I never gave you.”

“I’ll do my best.”

I’ve already made that promise to myself and to her, whether she knows it or not. I want to give her everything. Starting with my love and ending with my last name.

Wow.I’ve been watching too many Hallmark movies with the Bentleys.

***

The drive to the Bentley’s house passes in a blur. It’s Christmas Eve, and I know exactly where they’ll be. At the dining room table, probably yelling at each other over a very long and gruesome game of monopoly.

Lennox will get mad at her siblings soon and then offer to make them eggnog, or some other drink, which she’ll destroy on purpose. They know what’s coming and they will drink it anyway because they love her.

Knowing this, I sneak in the side door instead of knocking. I tiptoe into the kitchen and wait. Five minutes later, I hear someone yell, followed by soft footsteps.

I hide behind the door and wait until she’s at the sink, then step out.

“Ah!” Grandma screams and clutches her chest. She staggers back toward the sink and I jump in to catch her before she falls.

“Mom!” Mark comes running into the kitchen, followed by everyone except Lennox.

“What happened?” Ms. B. asks Grandma.

Grandma narrows her eyes at me. “This little twit scared me.” She hits my arm, then stops and rubs my bicep. “Nevermind, I forgive you.”

I smile and make sure Grandma is steady before I release her.

“What are you doing in here?” Michael asks.

I scratch the back of my head. My brilliance was terribly misguided. “I was waiting for Lennox to come fix you guys a drink.”

“She did that thirty minutes ago.” Trent laughs. “Now she’s crying in her room.”

“What?” She’s crying? “Why?”

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