Page 106 of Dreams of Falling
“You should see the other guy.”
“Hang on,” I said. “I’ll bring ice.” I bumped my head again in my haste to get back inside; then, leaving the window sash open, I rushed downstairs to the kitchen, grabbed one of Ceecee’s dishrags, and filled a bowl with ice from the freezer. I tripped over the rug runner in the hallway as I rushed to the back door and threw it open.
Bennett was sitting on the back steps. I sat down next to him andwrapped a handful of ice in the dishrag. I held it in front of his face, unsure where to start.
“My eye,” he suggested.
Gently, I pressed it against his swollen eye, making him wince. “Easy,” he said. He took the ice from me and held it to his eye while I surveyed the rest of his face.
“You look like you’ve been in a wreck,” I said.
“Yeah, well, if it’s any consolation, Jackson looks a whole lot worse.”
“Is he in the hospital?”
“He would be if someone hadn’t stopped me.”
“Who else was there?” I asked.
He managed to look sheepish even with the swollen mouth and dishrag held to his eye.
“Tell me,” I insisted, pretty sure I knew what he was going to say.
“Some girl who works in his office. She was at his house when I rang the doorbell.”
“Oh,” I said, sitting back. “What a jerk.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said, although I’ll admit to using stronger language. That’s why I gave him one last punch. I think I may have broken his nose.”
“Good.” I looked at him in the light of the porch. The bruises on his face somehow added to his appeal. “But why, Bennett? When you left, you were so angry with me. And disgusted. I didn’t think you’d ever want to see me again.”
His one good eye widened in disbelief. “I was angry. And disgusted. But not with you. Never with you, Larkin. You’ve always been this fearless, free spirit. So brave and original. Remember that talent show...?”
I put my hand on his arm. “Please stop.”
He started to smile, then winced as his lip cracked. “Yeah, well, listening to Jackson tonight made me angry at myself. Everybody knew what happened nine years ago, I guess, except me. Either I was really oblivious, or the guys knew I’d never have let it happen, so they didn’t tell me. Jackson needed to have the crap beaten out of him backthen. Maybe I could have protected you from what happened tonight. Maybe I’d have protected you back then if I’d just been paying attention. I’m sorry. I know that’s pitiful and way too late, but I am really, really sorry.”
My chest got warm as if my heart were expanding, pressing against my ribs and making it hard for me to breathe. I took his free hand in mine, careful not to touch his scraped knuckles, then gently lifted it to my mouth and kissed it. “Thank you,” I whispered. “I know that’s pitifully lacking, but thank you.”
His one good eye regarded me in the dim light, and my stomach did a little flip. I had to remind myself that this was Bennett, the boy I’d grown up with. The young man who’d given me a standing ovation at every performance and clapped like he meant it. He’d called me fearless, brave, and original. And for the first time in my life, I thought I could begin to believe it. I leaned forward and pressed my forehead into his neck, breathing in his scent, as familiar as it was enticing. “I want you to know that I didn’t know about the bet, either. If I had, I wouldn’t have gone out with him again. Even my stupidity has its limits.”
I felt him smile. “Larkin?”
“Hmm?”
“I know you don’t like talking about that talent show, but I thought I should mention something about it that might change your mind.”
I sat up, our faces close. “What?”
“That was the night I realized I was hopelessly and pathetically in love with you. I still am.”
I opened my mouth to speak or breathe or do both because I needed to, but only a single sound came out. “Oh.”
The door behind us opened, and Ceecee poked her head out. She wore old-fashioned bristle curlers held in place with bobby pins—insistent they were better than curling irons or anything invented in the last forty years—and my grandfather’s plaid robe, belted tightly around her slight frame. “I thought I heard people talking.” She caught sight of Bennett. “Oh, my. You’d better come in and let me take a look at your face.”
Bitty appeared behind Ceecee, and the two older women clucked and fussed over Bennett as they brought him into the kitchen. Ceecee went to the sink and began filling another bowl with warm water as Bitty got close to Bennett.
“Your beautiful face,” she said with a wink. “I like this rugged addition.” She leaned in closer. “Jackson, I presume?”
