Page 11 of Before You
Fucking snap out of it, JJ. This isn’t the first time you’ve talked to a girl.
I recover, flashing an apologetic smile. “Sorry, yes. I do know her. She’s friends with my mom.”
“Would you be able to point me in the right direction?” she asks, skepticism crystal clear on her face after I malfunctioned.
No. Wait—she can’t leave yet. I don’t know anything about her, and my gut is telling me I have to know more.
“I’ll do you one better. I can take you there myself.”
I have nothing better to do today anyway. Mom is out taking pictures in the mountains with Bailey, and Dad is with Hunter and Mirabelle on a run. I came into town out of pure boredom.
“No, it’s okay. I really only need help finding the way,” she says, and I take a step back in case I’m overwhelming her.
“It’s really not a problem, but I understand. If you go down there”—I point toward the street to my right—“and then take a left at the flower shop, it’s two doors down. The house covered with ivy.”
Her shoulders relax, and I feel bad for making her feel uncomfortable. “Thank you, I really appreciate it.”
Every fiber of my being is screaming at me to stay where I am, to stay by her, but I shove it down to walk away from her.
I don’t even know her name.
“Wait!” she calls out after me, and I instantly turn to face her. “If you don’t mind, maybe a guide would be better than instructions?” she asks, and I’m surprised, but I’m not going to blow this.
I can’t help smiling. “On one condition.”
“You’re going to make a condition after you already offered to take me?”
“I guess I am,” I say, laughing quietly. I like her.
“What’s your condition?” she asks, crossing her arms, and I walk up to her.
“Your name.”
“Marley . . .” She hesitates again. What has her so nervous she won’t tell me her name? “Just Marley.”
Okay. I can play this game too. I offer her my hand to shake. “I’m JJ. Just JJ,” I say, winking at her, praying to God she’ll smile again.
She does.
~
I shake my head.
It makes sense now why she didn’t tell me her full name. I’ve replayed the moment we met in my head hundreds of times, wondering why I didn’t press harder for her last name. I guess I was just satisfied with the fact she asked me to stay.
Marley’s aBenson.
I don’t care, though.
It’s easy for me to say, because I know my future will always be comfortable, regardless of whether I’m drafted after college. Don’t get me wrong, my family has more than enough money, but the Benson’s are in a whole different tax bracket.
The money means nothing to me.
I only want her.
Seeing Marley today was more than I could have ever hoped for.
The only thing I would change is the wordfriendcoming from her mouth. I absolutely hated it, but not as much as I hated seeing her look at Trent with her incredible smile. I don’t know how to bejusther friend, nor do I really want to. I’ve finally met the person I’m incapable of saying no to.
