Page 42 of Resisting the Fall

My gaze shot to him. “There’s only one bed in here?”

“One bed and one bathroom.” He pointed toward the end with the TV. “But don’t worry. The couch is pretty comfortable, though you’ll have to share it with Finn because that’s where he sleeps.”

Hearing his name, Finn’s ears perked up.

“Sounds great,” I said, trying to appear unfazed by the turn of events. I’d only be here for a few days anyway. “Where should I put my stuff?”

Ben walked to the couch and pulled a drawer open beneath it. There was a blanket inside, which he took out and laid on the cushions. “You can use this drawer. What you don’t need—or won’t fit—I’ll put in one of the storage compartments under the trailer, along with your luggage, when I get home.”

“Where are you headed?”

“Out.” He made his way to the door.

“What about dinner?”

He gestured to the kitchen. “Help yourself to whatever you can find in the fridge.”

“We haven’t shared a meal yet today.”

“I’m sharing my food with you. It counts.” He patted his thigh and Finn followed him. “Don’t feel you need to wait up for us. We probably won’t get home until late.”

Before I could decide how to respond, both Ben and Finn were gone.

I drew in a slow breath, allowing my whirlpool of emotions to settle, then glanced at my phone. It was only eight o’clock. The last thing I wanted to do was to sit here and think about where Ben was headed until late. Not because I cared, but because it was exactly what he wanted me to do. Which meant I refused to do it.

My pride also prevented me from calling Carson or my mom, and though Main Street would be a quick walk, after the bingo game and subsequent interrogation by the Ednas, I was peopled out for the night. Which meant I’d have to find a way to occupy myself here.

Glancing around at Ben’s tidy little bachelor pad, a smile made its way onto my lips. This place could use a little rearranging, and not only had Ben granted me unrestricted access by leaving me alone here, but he’d also unintentionally informed me I had plenty of time to do a thorough job of the task.

I should have requested an out-of-school suspension. The quiet, empty room and the flickering fluorescent lights were enough to make me go crazy. Add the fact that I’d spent the day thinking about everything that happened last night instead of doing my endless pile of schoolwork made it worse.

I’d called Coach when I got home, so at least that awful conversation was behind me. But I hadn’t spoken with any of the guys yet. Or to Carson.

And, honestly, a part of me was nervous about seeing Maven. Clearly, I liked her—I wouldn’t be sitting here, mind-numbingly tapping my pencil eraser on the desk and watching the clock tick by if I didn’t—but what was supposed to happen next? With other girls, liking them hadn’t been a big deal. We saw each other at school and occasionally outside of school. Maven, though, was a constant in my life. The sister of my best friend. My liking her suddenly seemed like a really big deal.

When the final bell rang, I gathered my stuff like I was attempting to beat a long-standing record, then stuck my head into Principal Stevenson’s office. “Am I good to go?”

“You are. We’ll see you back here tomorrow. Eight sharp.”

I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

Making my way to my locker through the crowded hallway, I paused when Levi and his posse spotted me.

“Bennett,” Levi said, smirking. “What’s this I hear about you getting in-school suspension? What’d you do?”

I gripped the straps of my backpack. He was going to find out at practice anyway. “I broke into the auditorium.”

Levi looked at his friends with lifted brows, then back at me. “Of all the things you could do to get suspended, that’s what you chose?”

“Apparently.”

He chuckled. “Why?”

Carson stepped up next to me. “Because he’s a better person than you.”

I looked at Carson, trying to gage his expression. Maven wasn’t the type to keep secrets from her brother, but she was also calculated, which meant she might not have told him about the kiss yet.

Levi tipped his head to the side. “Aww! The two of you are so cute together.”