Page 107 of The Time It Takes
“I’ll probably crash there. Colleen and Beau won’t mind, so the house is yours.”
The corner of Ben’s mouth lifted as he continued to stare at me with a peculiar look on his face.
“What?” I asked impatiently.
He shook his head as he cleared his throat. When he looked at me again, his face was serious. He extended his pinky toward me. “I’m proud of you, kid.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. I reached out and locked mine with his. “Thanks, Benji.”
He rolled his eyes at the nickname. “And I have more news…” he trailed off making me anxious.
I straightened. “What is it?”
“We leave for New Orleans in fifty-two days exactly. So, I thought I’d give you a heads up in case you want to start packing now.”
The smile on both of our faces grew in sync. I lunged for him, wrapping my arms around his neck and squeezing. I drew back from the hug and laughed.
“Have I ever told you how much I love you?”
He shook his head with an airy laugh as he shoved my shoulder playfully. “You don’t have to. I already know these things,” he said before turning and disappearing back into his room.
I didn’t bother changing as I made my way back downstairs and out of the house.
I dredged barefoot through the sand as I walked to Oliver’s house.
I’m proud of you, kid.
I was going to spend the rest of my life making him proud.
My brother’s words made me realize that I didn’t need my mother’s. It had always been the two of us. We were all we needed.
It was Ben and I against the world and damn if I didn’t prefer it that way.
WHEN I STEPPED inside Ollie’s house, it was nearly pitch black. The moonlight poured through the windows and fell against the interior in interesting patterns.
No one was home, I realized.
Oliver had been quiet at graduation and when I asked him what was bothering him, he merely changed the topic by telling me how beautiful I looked.
I tip-toed upstairs despite no one being able to hear me anyway. When I walked into Oliver’s room, it was spotless as usual. Everything was in perfect order. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say their maid was responsible—but no, I knew Oliver. He always kept things in order. Everything about him was always so put together and steady.
I wasn’t sure if he was coming home anytime soon, so I walked into his bathroom and slid out of my dress and gown.
I showered using his soaps that smelled of spices and eucalyptus. When I was done, I wandered around his room in my towel for a while, wondering what he’d do if he came home to find me like this in his bed.
If his current mood was any depiction of what it was earlier I knew that probably wasn't a good idea. I was still his best friend before anything else.
Instead, I threw on a pair of his boxers and a t-shirt.
I lifted the covers and slid beneath them. I curled into his scent as I stared at the beach through the window. I thought back to the other night. How his kiss tasted and how his hands felt when they ran up and down my body. I laid my hand on the empty spot next to me.
Right there.
Right there in that very spot, he put his lips on mine and forever undid what every other boy never got the chance to do. He undid every possible thread, and, in my heart, I’d always known it had been him. No matter what, my heart would always choose him.
I nestled deeper into his covers, and even though I tried to fight it, eventually I drifted to sleep with Oliver on my mind.
It was hours later when I was awoken gently to the feel of the mattress dipping behind me. It bounced gently as he took off his shirt. I heard him fumble with his belt and then his pants dropping to the floor.
