Page 35 of Feels Like Love
I thought about it for a moment, but I already knew the answer. “No. I love it here. I love being near my family. I love the sense of community. And it’s so beautiful. I’d like to travel more—Harper’s really opened my eyes to that. But I always want to come back home to Alondra.”
“It’s a great place to raise a family,” he said.
“You sound as if you’ve considered it yourself.” Bennett was so great with River, I just assumed he’d want children of his own someday. He’d always been very nurturing.
He nodded but said nothing more apart from, “Would you want more kids, or are you done?”
“I’d love to have more kids—with the right person.” At least, if my body could handle it. My doctors assured me that was the case, but I was scared, especially after how difficult River’s labor and delivery had been. “And I know River would love being a big brother.”
“Yes.” He rubbed his ankle. “He’s always been great with kids younger than him.”
I smiled, surprised he’d noticed that, though I didn’t know why. Bennett had always been very observant. Even when we were younger, he’d spot a ladybug when everyone else would walk past. He’d pick up a snake from the dirt and let it crawl along his arm, studying the shapes of its scales.
“I’m glad River has you in his life,” I said.
“It’s my honor. And thank you for letting me live with you. I know it’s disruptive to your routine, but it’s been really nice.”
“It has been really nice,” I said, thinking of how much I’d miss Bennett when he moved out. We stared at each other for a moment, before I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned my attention back to the TV.
“The uh, repairs are coming along on my house.” He shifted. “Now they’re ripping out the floors and walls.”
“Exciting or nerve-racking?” I asked.
“A bit of both, to be honest. Harper’s friend, Lauren, is helping with the redesign.”
“Oh, that’s great! I’m so glad it worked out. Harper has the best contacts from living in LA for so many years.”
We settled onto the couch, and he started the show. He draped his arm over the back of the sofa, and the energy in the room shifted. My stomach pulled tight, and while my attention was focused on the screen, I couldn’t stop wondering what Bennett was going to do.
After a few minutes, he said, “Okay. Now, pretend we’re on a date.”
I stiffened. It was as if the word “date” triggered something in me. But it was more than that. I’d foolishly believed he’d draped his arm over the back of the couch because he wanted to touch me. Because he liked me. Not because he was my dating coach.
“Wren?” Bennett grazed my bare shoulder with the tips of his fingers, and I nearly leaped off the couch from the jolt of it. “Relax.”
I pulled my bottom lip into my mouth and nodded. “Mm-hmm. Yep. Relax.”
Right. Like that was going to happen.
He chuckled, the sound threading deep within me, reaching down to my core.
We fell silent for a minute, crickets chirping outside as a car passed in the distance. It felt as if we were suspended in time—just Bennett and me. I forgot that he was my brother’s best friend. I forgot about my sucky date. About everything on my to-do list, and I focused on him.
We laughed at some of the jokes on the show. Drooled over the desserts. And the longer we sat there, the closer our bodies seemed to drift. I didn’t know how it had happened, but his thigh brushed against mine. I was tucked into his side, his arm around me. His skin on my skin. His lips close to my ear when he spoke.
I was warm and fuzzy—the combination of decadent pastries and Bennett making me relax. I’d lost count of how many episodes we’d watched, but my eyes had grown heavy, and I was struggling to stay awake.
I could remember nights spent like this in middle school. Asher, Tristan, and Bennett crashing at our house. Me sneaking down to watch the scary movies with them after Mom and Dad went to bed.
“Come on,” Bennett rasped, hitting pause.
I yawned, lying down. “I’m fine. It’s fine.” I didn’t want to move. I didn’t want to say goodnight.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
I clenched my thighs, need thrumming deep within my core. “Can we stay out here? Just for a little while?” I tugged on his hand so he’d join me.
He didn’t.
