Page 59 of Feels Like Love
If only I could forget about Bennett as easily, but he was never far from my mind.
* * *
Bennett was sittingon the couch, typing on his phone, when I returned. He was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, his hair wet as if he’d just showered. He glanced up and smiled before setting his phone facedown on the coffee table.
“So…?” he asked.
I kicked off my shoes and sank down on the couch next to him. He smelled good—really good. Fresh and clean, with an undercurrent I couldn’t quite discern. All I knew was that I suddenly had the urge to lick him.
“Wren? Arlo? The date?”
“Oh. Right.” I shook my head. What the heck was wrong with me? I licked ice cream, lollipops, not…men. Though the way my body reacted, I certainly wanted to lick him, every single inch of his skin. Just to see if he’d taste as good as he looked.
“I brought pastries.”
“What?” I jumped up from the couch, glancing around for the telltale white bakery box. “Where?”
It didn’t matter that I’d already had an Elementary cupcake at 221b Bakery—chocolate with a surprise chocolate cookie and strawberry inside. I loved Asher’s pastries.
“First, tell me about the date.Then, pastries.”
The bakery had been a hit, and Arlo and I had a great time. I’d loved hearing about his life in Australia before moving to the US. Even just listening to him speak in his accent had been fun.
“I have a better idea. How about we eat the pastrieswhilewe talk?” I took a few steps toward the box.
“Nah. Ah. Ah,” he chided. “Sit.”
“Fine.” I plopped back down. “It went well.”
“Any embarrassing moments? Word vomit?” he asked, trying—and failing—to hold back a smile.
“Nope.” I tapped my finger on my thigh, eyeing the pastries. “Looks like your coaching is paying off.”
“This is all you, Wren.”
He said that, though Bennett had been the one who’d suggested a daytime date in a more casual setting. He’d been the one giving me pep talks, giving me the confidence I’d lacked when it came to dating. I’d even gotten two new messages from Ben during the date, and I hadn’t been anxious at all about responding while Arlo went to use the restroom.
“Can I please have my reward now?”And can we please stop talking about this?
“Not yet.” How was he so calm? I could smell their sugary goodness from here. “Tell me something. If it’s going so well, why do you seem on edge?”
“Because…” I gnashed my teeth. “I’m getting hangry. Ineedthat pastry.”
“Mm-hmm.” He held the open box out to me, and I had the hardest time choosing between the hazelnut chocolate and the passion fruit.
Finally, I selected the passion fruit, thinking it might be something Arlo would enjoy. Passion fruit was a thing in Australia, right?
But the thought of Arlo had me tensing up again. The date had gone so well. He’d been funny and sweet. And he actually seemed interested in me. So much so that when we were leaving, he’d leaned in as if to kiss me, and at the last minute, I’d turned my head. Giving him my cheek instead. He’d been cool about it, smiling as he said, “No worries.” But I’d left feeling like a total dork.
“There,” Bennett said, pointing at me. “You’re making that face again.”
“What face?” I frowned, quickly trying to school my features into something more neutral. “I’m not making any face.This—”I pointed to my head, making a circle“—is my face.”
“No. You look like you’re constipated or thinking too hard or something.”
I laughed, my cheeks flooding with heat. “Well, that’s embarrassing.” Though at least I could trust Bennett to be honest. And I’d had enough constipation to last a lifetime.
“Come on, Wren. You can talk to me.”
