Page 123 of My Heart Still Beats
I didn’t kill the guy, and I didn’t pull out his teeth.
But I found the pliers and gave them to Jerry, and that tarp wrapped around the poor sod is mine. We have to transport him to the bay in my truck.
This is so fucked up.
What the hell was I thinking?
One thing’s for sure—I will never stray again.
I will do my duty. I’ll go to school, get good grades, do my work after school and on weekends. Contribute to my household.
I’ll be the good son.
The best damned son ever.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Tessa
Ben looks so handsome today. He’s wearing jeans and a white-and-blue striped button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up.
I ended up going to Mass this morning with Mommy, Eva, and Aunt Lily. I didn’t want to, but I didn’t want to disappoint my mother. Not after everything else. When we got back, I packed up my stuff, and I was ready when Ben’s driver picked me up for lunch.
“So you’re sure you’re ready to go back to your place?” Ben asks.
I nod. “I have to. I didn’t go running home to Mom’s after Garrett.”
Though my mother did stay with me for a week. I don’t need to tell Ben that. He probably knows anyway because Skye knows, which means Braden knows.
“All right. I’ll take you back there, we can dump your stuff, and then what would you like to do for the rest of the day?”
“You don’t have to take care of me for the rest of the day,” I say.
“Who says I’m taking care of you? Maybe I’d like to spend the day with you. We could take a walk. Go to the zoo.”
I smile when he says that. “Ilovethe zoo. I love all animals. Da used to—” I sniffle a bit. “He and I both loved the zoo.”
“You sure you’re up for it?”
I don’t even think before I nod. “I am. It may just be the perfect place to finalize my goodbye to him.”
“Perfect.” He smiles. “It’s a date, then. I happen to love the zoo too.”
I take another bite of my egg casserole. It’s not as good as my mom’s, of course. She spices hers up with chile pequin.
My dad always used to joke that he never ate good food until he met my mom. His mother didn’t like to cook. My mom’s Mexican food is just delicious.
Before we went to Jamaica, I decided I wanted to learn to make all of my mother’s delicious recipes, even though I’ve never been much of a cook, except for guacamole.
Her recipes are my comfort food. I’d like to be able to make them for myself when I need them.
And I also want to cook them for Ben.
Ben, who is now more than just a friend.
More than just a date.
The thought doesn’t frighten me.
