Page 14 of It Happened Back Then
“Oh, that makes so much more sense, Meadow.” I roll my eyes.
“You’re young; you need to be dating. You spend all yourdays in this store, then you go home and spend your nights with Mom. The few times you have gone out, the guys are total losers.”
I shift another box on the shelf and sigh, brushing sweat off my forehead. The air feels thick today, like it’s got the same secrets I do.
Lately, Bennett has been on my mind constantly. I don’t know if it's the time of year bringing up memories or because I haven’t seen him in two years. Every time I think of Bennett, it’s like being sixteen again and losing my breath every time he looked at me. Only now, I don’t know if it’s love, or guilt, or both.
He doesn’t know the whole truth. He still doesn’t know why I pulled away when everything between us felt so right. Sometimes I think I’ll tell him, but I’m afraid, and the weight of it bogs me down again, like it always does.
Like it did back then.
I lift my hands before slapping them on my thighs in frustration. “Tell me how you really feel.”
“I am!”
I turn my back on her and open a box, checking the packing list against what’s inside. “Listen, I’m twenty-four; I still have lots of time.” I turn on her, pointing as I continue, “But you? You’re twenty-six; that’s almost thirty, ya know?” I snicker as she narrows her eyes at me. “Maybe you should be a little more serious about your own dates.”
I’m being mean right now because we’ve had this conversation before. Meadow is afraid of putting her heart out there. Our hearts were broken at a young age, and it's hard to move past that. Being the party girl is something she uses to protect herself.
“We’re not talking about my love life, honey. I do just fine.”
I eye her. “You’re going to marryjust fine?
She ignores me and keeps pressing. “What ever happened with Bennett?”
I close my eyes for a moment. “He’s too nice.”
“Too boring, you mean?” she asks.
“No, he’s too … good. He doesn’t need the drama that is our life.” The more I say it, the more I can continue to believe it. Even though I know better; I knowhimbetter.
“I know what you’re doing.” She steps close and becomes serious, and it makes me nervous. “You’re hiding. You’re too beautiful and happy to hide.”
“And you? Your party stage has gone on since he’s been gone.”
She turns from me, essentially dismissing me, not wanting to acknowledge she’s been out of control since dad died. “I handled it the best I knew how.” She shrugs as she turns back to me. “I can’t help that I’m a good time.”
We chuckle together, but losing dad is still one of the hardest things we have had to endure as a family. Some days the weight of grief is so heavy I can’t get out of bed.
“Anyway, I set you up. Tonight, at the Luxury. You have a date.”
I gasp, outraged. “Meadow, no! I don’t want to and that place is expensive.”
“So?”
“So, I can’t pay for it.”
“It’s a date. You don’t pay. Unless you want to.” She waggles her brows, and I slap at her. “You could use having your tits grabbed. Just go.” She squeezes my boobs, and I bat her hands away then turn away only to have her spank me instead.
“Whoa. Is there going to be Jell-O wrestling next?”
I turn toward the door, toward the voice that is always a constant sound in my mind. “Bennett.”
“Bennett?” Meadow pops a hip and lets out a whistle. “Well, baby Bennett sure did grow up.”
I slap at her once more and round the corner to get to him. He pulls me right into a hug with the strong arms I’ve been missing, all the comfort I’ve been missing. “What are you doing back here?”
“I just got in. I have an interview today.”
