Page 7 of It Happened Back Then
He shrugs and plays it off. “It’s a different way of life out there.”
“You don’t have to conform to it! Get your degree and get your ass home!”
We watch as Savannah and my sister jump down from the bar. She stands a whole head taller than most of the women, and even some of the guys.
“You’re right. She’s not my type at all,” he says as he pulls his arm out from around me and lays his hand on my thigh. “I need something to hold onto.” He squeezes and I place my hand over his. Our eyes connect and that same energy that passed between us the night we gave each other our virginity happens again.
“I’ve missed you, Bennett. Why haven’t you come home more often?”
He looks past me, probably watching where Savannah is before saying, “I’m sorry, Peach. School has been hard. I needed to be there and study. I didn’t want to come back here and end up missing it more.”
“Missingmemore?” I tease him.
A shadow passes over his face. “I always miss you.”
“Bennie! This little town is the best thing ever!” Savannahcuts in, and her exuberance is so over-the-top it would feel like an insult if I didn’t know better. I hope it’s just that she’s never seen a place like Bluemoon in real life. Because that’s what Bluemoon is. Real fucking life with love and drama and all the country you could want.
She drapes herself on him, falling into his lap, and I’m forced against the wall of the booth. Meadow catches my eye and rolls hers before making a gagging face, and I stifle a laugh.
“Bennie!” Meadow mocks. “You better take your girl home before she yaks all over the place.”
“Yup. Come on. Time to go.” He stands and carefully moves her along.
“It was nice meeting you all,” Savannah mutters, her words slurred. “Especially you, Begonia.”
“Blossom,” I correct her.
“Blossom. Yes.” She waves her hand in dismissal, and my dislike for her rises.
“Spell begonia,” Meadow says under her breath. I jab her with my elbow as Bennett flips her off, and she bursts into laughter in response.
“Be safe guys,” I urge them from the booth, needing the space. “See ya next time you promise to come home,Bennie.”
He looks like he wants to say more, but when Savannah starts to make repulsive sounds, he ushers her out the front door of the bar quickly.
Meadow turns and looks at me with a look of utter disgust. “Sister. What in the actual fuck was that?”
I shake my head. I want to rant on how it’s a woman who knows nothing about Bennett, who doesn’t have the history we do, the love we do. But I can’t make sense of it, so all I get out is, “I don’t know.”
“If he’s trying to find the exact opposite of you, he succeeded.”
I frown and shrug. “It’s not like that with us anymore.”
“Sure,” Meadow drawls, obviously completely unconvinced. “Keep telling yourself that.”
Knowing this is a pointless conversation, I ignore her leading statement. “Can we go now? Have you celebrated enough?”
“Let’s go.”
BLOSSOM - TEXT
Me: Went on a date last night. Just thought you should hear it from me and not from the Bluemoon gossip train.
Bennett: Oh. Okay. How’d it go?
Me: Fine. He was nice. Talked a lot about his gym routine though. You know how I feel about exercise.
Bennett: I do. But gym routines are riveting. I hope you learned something.
