Page 72 of Let's Call a Truce
Clara ran over and threw her arms around Ben, and my heart expanded like my chest could hardly contain it.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
I thanked him with a hug, too, whispering in his ear, “You’re never going to top that, you know?”
“Watch me.” His chuckle sent goose bumps along my arms, and I let my hand run down his back before stepping away, wishing I could thank him more thoroughly.
“I’m a little annoyed, though. Now my presents look like crap.”
He shrugged happily. “I got you four tickets, Clara. You can take your family and one extra friend.”
“Or,” Sophie said, and I tensed in anticipation, “I can stay with you and Paris. Then she can taketwofriends and I won’t have to sit through a soccer game.”
“Sophie, stop inviting yourself places. You don’t know what Mr. Ben’s schedule looks like, and he got a ticket for you, too.”
“Actually, Mom, if Sophie doesn’t come, I can take OliviaandAutumn.” Her two friends bounced next to her, anxiously awaiting my decision.
Sophie’s luck let her get away with everything. Saying no would prove a point, but it was Clara’s birthday, and if Sophie didn’t want to go, I wanted to let Clara use the tickets the way she wanted. Ben gave me the subtlest of nods:I can keep Sophie, but I won’t say it out loud in case you want to say no.
This was what I had missed most since Jason died. Obviously, I had missed sex, the heat and intimacy that comes from joining your bodies. But this was something deeper, truly joining your lives and acting as partners. The silent conversations and support. The knowledge that, no matter what, there was someone in your corner. I was shocked by how quickly we fell into those patterns.
“Fine.” I sighed, but sent a small smile Ben’s way.
“Yes,” Clara and Sophie yelled together.
“Mr. Ben, what are you getting me formybirthday?”
Sophie was born two weeks after Clara’s birthday, so it was fresh in her mind, but the question was still inexcusable.
“Sophie Elizabeth, what in the world was that? Keep it up and you won’t be getting presents from anyone.”
She sulkily apologized and ran off after Paris.
Ben tried to hide his smile. “You’re still going to let me get her a present, right?”
I groaned. “Yes. I swear, I don’t intend to let her get away with this stuff, but she seems to plan it so perfectly. I’m pretty sure she will be a criminal mastermind one day. Or maybe a politician.”
He subtly squeezed my hand, his eyes shining while we watched all three girls playing together. “I do have a present in mind for Sophie, by the way.”
“Is it going to top soccer?”
“Maybe. I was thinking about taking us all to Broadway in Orlando.Wicked is playing right now, so if we went the Sunday after her birthday, we could still make it.”
“Ben, that’s too much.”
“It’s not terrible. Paris would want to go anyway, and thetwo of them run around singing the soundtrack at the top of their lungs all the time. After seeing Clara’s reaction, I want to do something special for Sophie, too, if that’s okay.”
I thought my heart might explode, and it took everything in my control not to kiss him right there in front of everyone.
“Let Paris spend the night tonight. You can sneak back in after the girls fall asleep.”
He smirked, his eyes heating. “Missing me that much already, baby?”
“Come over tonight and I’ll show you just how much.”
“I’ll be there.”
Ben said good night and “headed home,” waiting for my text that the girls were asleep so he could come back in for a night together. I impatiently paced by the girls’ bedroom door. Their giggling and determination to stay up all night was making me crawl out of my skin, a powder keg on the verge of explosion. I busied myself by touching up my makeup and fluffing my hair, though the humidity had poofed it up beyond redemption. I changed into my least frumpy bra and underwear set, thinking I should invest in some nicer things now that someone would see them.
