Page 88 of Every Good Thing
“I did it.”
She looks like she’s trying to share a secret with me telepathically, her eyes sparkling mischievously. Then, it hits me.
“You asked her out?” I gasp. “She said yes, right?”
“Better than yes.”
“What’s better than yes?”
“Only that we asked each other out at the same time,” she beams. “She said yes to dinner after inviting me to Wilmington Comic-Con on Saturday. She’ll be there signing her graphic novels. Anyway, she’s got us all tickets. Please, say you’ll come.”
“Me? To a comic-con?” I wince. “Ruthie mentioned it. Adam’s going as Spiderman, and she automatically wants to do whatever he’s doing.”
“She can dress up, too.” She turns her dark eyes toward me, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. “Maybe you can go as Chewbacca.”
“I am not dressing up.”
“But you’ll go with me, right? Hang out with me while she’s doing her thing? Ben can come, too. He’ll make a perfect robot.”
“Hmm, worth a shot,” I say, adding it to the family calendar. “But I won’t get my hopes up.”
She side-glances me. “How’d counseling go?”
“I’m working on active listening and facing problems head-on. He’s working on communication and trying to stop practicing avoidance—no more extra shifts or turning down my offers to spend time together.”
Dot looks skeptical. “How’s that working out for you?”
I shrug lightly. “It’s not. I haven’t seen him much. We’ll see how today goes.”
I fidget with the hem of my sundress and nibble the inside of my mouth. I knew counseling wouldn’t magically fix us overnight—it’s a process that requires work and time. But Ben didn’t want to be there. I did ninety percent of the talking—no surprise—and even Dr. Reese, who knows Ben well, couldn’t crack his code of silence. Counseling won’t help if he’s unwilling to give it a chance.
“Lena, babe. Here’s one way you can face problems head-on. Tell him not to take the job. That’s where the problems started—”
“No, we had problems before that. That’s just when I started to see them.”
“Still… it’s okay to say you have a problem with him working with his ex—anyone would. Maybe that’s what he needs to hear.”
“Or he’ll think I’m robbing him of a great opportunity, want the job even more, and resent me for keeping him from it. Then, he’ll take the job to spite me and run straight into Lauren’s open arms.”
“Dude, Ben’s your husband. He’d do anything for you and Ruthie. If you tell him the job’s a bad idea, he’ll listen.”
“I don’t want to be that wife,” I say, glancing at my outfit again. “Without Ben, I never would’ve dreamed of Saddletree, let alone pulled it off. Hell, he lives in my dream and supports me at every turn. How can I stand between him and a job he wants?”
“You and Ruthie are his dream, Lena. And Saddletree. He wouldn’t be so involved in making changes if he didn’t care about the place. He’s on the fence about the job. All I’m saying is to help him off the fence. Gently.”
“I don’t know. Maybe. But that’s not what today’s about,” I say, straightening my dress again.
Dot side-eyes me. “Are you nervous?”
“Yes.”
She scoffs. “Why? It’s Ben. It’ll be fine.”
“I don’t know how he’ll react… Can you stick around until I give you a thumbs up? Just in case he hates that I’m there?”
“He won’t hate—”
“Dot, please. I honestly don’t know anymore.”
