Page 191 of His White Moonlight
Bennett came back after an hour.He scowled at me as he stalked past and kept his door open.Miranda and I didn’t talk, but I could sense she was bursting with silent commentary.
Five minutes before it was time to shut down, Bennett knocked on my desk to gain my attention.When I pulled my gaze away from my spreadsheet to look up at him, I regretted it.He didn’t look well.His pupils were blown wide, his jaw was twitching, and his hair was sticking out in a few places.
“Mom and Dad want to have dinner with us tonight.What would you like to eat?”
“A bacon cheeseburger?”I said it like a question since I didn’t want to set him off.
His expression slipped behind his mask again.
“You smell nervous,” Miranda said.“It’s making him smell nervous.”
His gaze flicked to her.She shrugged and closed her laptop.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said to me.“Maybe less attitude at dinner.”
Then she left me alone with Bennett, who still looked like a bomb that was one sneeze away from exploding.
“What time are we meeting them?”I asked.
“Do you still consider Miranda your friend?”
“Yeah.Why?Shouldn’t I?”
He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.“No.She’s fine.Can we talk in my office?”
“Sure.”
He followed me inside and closed the door.
“Are you still mad about what I said?”I asked.
“I’m not mad.I wasn’t mad when you said it.I’m…lost.”He closed the distance between us but didn’t reach for me.The mask slipped, and I saw his need and desperation.“Do I matter to you at all?Even a little?”
His words speared me.
“No,” he said, hugging me desperately to his chest.“Don’t feel guilty.I don’t want your guilt, Wrenly.”
I pushed at his chest.“I can’t breathe.”
He released me as quickly as he’d grabbed me and ran his hand through his hair again.
Understanding that I’d pushed him too far, I caught his free hand by his fingertips.He froze then slowly lowered his other hand to his side.
“I’m sorry.”
His expression turned pained.“No, Wrenly.You have nothing?—”
I covered his mouth.
“I'm sorry for being mean on purpose.Can I hug you to make it up to you?No timer.”
He nodded, and I dropped my hand to his waist, leaning into him.
“You do matter, Bennett.You always have.”
A tremor shook its way through him, and I felt his lips brush the top of my head.I held him until his shaking stopped, then pulled back to study his calmer expression.
“Do you think you can make it through dinner now?”I asked.
