Page 91 of A World Without You
“I think it’d be too hard with work and Josie’s after-school stuff. I wouldn’t be able to give a dog the attention it needs. Plus, they’re more work than they’re worth.”
I gasp and clutch my dog-loving heart. “You monster!”
He flashes a sheepish smile. “Don’t tell my mom.”
“I’m calling her right now,” I say, reaching for my phone on the counter. He grabs my wrist, stopping me. “Hey, let go!” I yell, laughing, and he shoves a hand over my mouth.
“You’re going to wake up Josie,” he whisper-yells, nodding at the couch where Josie has dozed off.
I roll my eyes and pull him off me. “Oh, look at me! I’m Bennett. I’m all grown-up and responsible, and fatherly. I have a beard and muscles and think I can tell everyone what to do.” I mock him. He glares at me, shaking his head.
“Oh, look at me! I’m Liv. I grew up, and now I’m pretty and think I can be everyone’s favorite person,” he mocks back, and I laugh, shoving him on the shoulder.
It’s a playful gesture—a nothing moment—but for some reason, our laughter freezes in our throats, and we stare at each other for two and a half heartbeats. His mouth is turned down, and his eyes look sad, like he’s sorry—so sorry—for what I’m going through. The pity is almost too much. I don’t want to hear it, nor do I deserve it.
The moment of eye contact lasts way too long, so I say, “You know, even though I had some weird, outlandish plan to win back my ex, and it totally imploded, it does feel good to at least have him sort of forgive me. I mean, it’s like we never had closure before. I stayed in Roslyn. He blocked me out of his life, and then...bloop...surprise: I’m a temp at the office he works at. It’s all quite comical.”
Bennett shrugs, still holding onto my wrist, and the line between his brows deepens, but he doesn’t speak.
“You look like you’re about to tell me I’m too pretty to be this sad.”
“No,” he whispers, brushing his thumb across my wrist. “I was going to tell you you’re too smart to feel this sorry for yourself. And too amazing to feel this lonely. And I like you too much to see you this sad.”
Emotion rises in my chest as his words puncture my heart, and his warm hand encases mine.
“It’s snowing!” Josie’s impeccable timing interrupts us. We turn to see her awake, standing on the couch, bracing the window as giant white snowflakes fall from the sky.
We both retreat to the window and stare at the sky in wonder. It reminds me of all the times we would head to the mountain as kids to snowboard with our parents. I was too little for anything but the bunny hills, but I’d watch Bennett and my sister do the jumps, and I always thought they were the coolest, bravest, best people I ever knew. It turns out that opinion hasn’t changed at all.
I glance at my watch and my heart practically flies out of my chest it’s beating so fast. “It’s 5:55.”
“Make a wish!” Josie exclaims, and I whisper, “Yes. We should make a wish.” My wish reaches my mind before I can even think of it. I want to stay here. In this moment. With these people.
Bennett turns his gaze from the frosted window to look at me. “Do you want to stay?”
I hesitate for half a second. “I just chugged a glass of wine—probably should.”
“Stay.”
I look up at him. There’s no pretense in his eyes. No hesitation. Just a simple and practical offer for me to stay the night.
“Sleepover!” Josie yells, and I laugh.
“Are you sure?” I ask, and he shrugs.
“Why not? There’s plenty of wine, grilled cheese, and I have a spare room,” he suggests.
“No, she can sleep on my top bunk,” Josie says to Bennett.
I smile, my broken heart continuing to feel a little more whole when I’m with them. “Well, then, in that case, I’ll have another glass of wine.”
