Page 84 of His White Moonlight
She caught my look and smiled.
“Bennett mentioned you were extra hungry last night and asked me to make something hearty.”
I shot Bennett a look.We both knew that eating his food had nothing to do with my appetite.
He pulled out my chair for me.I didn’t make any move to sit.The way he was watching me was making me nervous, and the thoughts from last night resurfaced.
What if you’re right?
“I know how to sit, Bennett.Go away.”
Frustration flashed in his expression.
“It’s called courtesy.”
“Courtesy is just another bar in the cage of obedience.”
His mask slipped into place, and he straightened away from the chair to take his seat right next to the chair he’d held out.I walked around the table to sit across from him and pulled the plate and silverware toward me.
“Is there a reason you don’t want to sit next to me?”he asked.
“It’s easy to see you this way.”
His gaze studied mine.
“What?No sniff to see if I’m telling the truth?”
“You seem…” He shook his head.
“Go ahead.Finish that thought.”
“You seem more confrontational today.Why?”
He was right.I was being confrontational and needed to stop.I needed him on my side for tonight’s conversation with Mom and Dad.But anger was safer than the other emotions I was trying to suppress—emotions tied to questions I was too afraid to ask.
“Talk to me, Wrenly.Please.I’m sorry for losing control yesterday.I want to promise it won’t happen again, but I won’t lie to you.My patience is?—”
“Not my problem,” I said.“You said you’re not my enemy.Well, I’m not yours either.So, stop taking your frustrations out on me, and we’ll get along fine.Now, less talking and more eating, or we’ll be late.”
Focusing on my food, I ignored him and followed my own advice.As soon as I finished, I stood with my plate.He stood too, his food mostly untouched, and took my plate from me.
“I’ll meet you by the car.”
His words were more subdued, and I pushed the guilt that wanted to rise off a mental cliff.Any hint of weakness and he’d revert to his bad behavior.Polite distance was better.Safer.
I ran upstairs to get my things.When I reached the garage, he was standing by the passenger door of his car.He watched my approach like he was waiting for another, “Go away, Bennett.”
“Thank you for driving,” I said instead.
Confusion and surprise broke through his mask.
“You’re welcome.”
He opened the car door for me and watched me get in, but instead of closing it, he reached in and had the seatbelt around me before I knew what he meant to do.It was the same thing he’d done the day before, but my thoughts were different now.Panic hit me hard when he turned his head and our faces were only inches apart.
His gaze swept over me as he inhaled and retreated.
While he walked around the car, I fought to take a calming breath and slow my racing heart.
