Page 39 of Unbound

“Ben?”

It’s Rhys, shaking my shoulder.

“Sorry. Just lost in my head today.”

My best friend smiles and skates backward over the quickly emptying ice. “I’m headed to dinner with my parents. I think your dad will come, too—do you want to come?”

Do I want to watch my dad watch your parents’ open adoration of each other and pretend not to be sad for my sake?

“Yeah.” I nod. “I’ll catch up. I have to do my routine first.”

“I’ll text you the address.”

I wait patiently for everyone to leave before Paloma comes in to help. We don’t speak, but her presence is enough to soothe me.

I walk her to her car like I always do, but this time I open her door for her and wait.

“I’m excited about tomorrow,” she offers. It warms my entire body, like stepping closer to the heat of a campfire.

“Yeah?” I ask. She nods. “Me too.”

My fingers ease up toward her face, daring to tuck back a stray strand of hair, letting the glossy feel linger across my skin.

“Good night, Bennett.”

“Night, P,” I whisper. She blushes at the soft hush of the nickname before settling into her car.

Chapter 19

THEN: Freshman Year, October

Paloma

Because I am sometimes a complete moron and, more likely, because I lose track of time when I’m in the water—I’m running late.

Quite literally running—I sprint across campus, slip-on clogs slapping the pavement, before bursting through the doors of Brew Haven at exactly 7:05 a.m.

Bennett is already there, as I knew he would be, but he stands when he sees me. My stomach swoops.

He’s in beautiful olive-green trousers and a white button-down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His mahogany curls are soft and set carefully along the angles of his face. A sleek watch adorns his wrist, an expensive one, gold gleaming against his lightly tanned skin.

I look down at myself, a little nauseous. A well-worn gray T-shirt and thrifted overalls. My hair is still damp, tied into a loose braid that smells strongly of my roommate’s expensive conditioner I used this morning.

Embarrassment floods my system, and I’m tempted to apologize for being so underdressed before saying anything else.

But Bennett is smiling, ocean-blue eyes almost crinkling as he waves for my attention. As if my eyes have gone anywhere other than to him.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt out anyway, hands to my reddened cheeks. “Should I change?”

His brow wrinkles sharply as he looks me over, seemingly for the first time.

“Why?” There is genuine confusion in his voice. “You look very beautiful.”

“Oh.” I laugh, blushing further as I slide into the booth. He waits for me to sit before he follows in across from me. “Thank you.”

Bennett shrugs. “You always look beautiful.”

He says it like it is the least interesting thing about me. My heart squeezes.