Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
At the mention of Ben, my heart seizes. I pray my expression remains the same, hoping I’m not giving anything away. I look down at my blotter and act like what’s there is super important. “Ben’s good. He took a corporate job before Christmas, remember?”
“And that’s why he didn’t come to the lodge for Christmas?”
It takes me a moment to remember my lie. There have been so many over the past few months. I honestly thought once the holidays were over, Ben and I would be back together and this thing going on between us would be water under the bridge. Clearly, I’ve thought wrong. I’m about to say yes when I remember I told my family Ben wanted to see his mom. One of the worst lies of my life.
“No, he went to see his mom.”
“Oh, right,” Quinn says. “Odd, though. Ben’s always spent the holidays with us.”
I shrug and hope Quinn takes my hint.
“It’s too bad he wasn’t at the Super Bowl.”
“I know.” I continue to keep my eyes on my blotter and write down things I need to do. This is the second time Quinn has asked about Ben and I’m starting to wonder why. Surely, Ben would’ve texted and let me know if Quinn had been over. “Are you here to talk about Ben or to work?” I ask, avoiding eye contact.
“Elle,” Quinn says my name softly and in a brotherly tone. I can’t help but let my building tears spill over. I cover my face and shake my head. “Why?”
“Why what?” I ask, my voice muffled.
“Why the lies?”
“Because I thought this was a hiccup and we’d be back to normal already.”
“Have you tried?” His tone is accusatory, and I look at him instantly.
“Have I tried? I try all the time but Ben,” I pause and shake my head, “I don’t want to talk about this right now, Quinn.” I spin away and stare out my window. I don’t have a view of much, but at least I can see outside.
“You need to go see him, Elle.”
I shake my head, even though I doubt Quin can see me doing so. “I’ve tried, Quinn. For a while I texted him every day, and nothing. No response. I went over there to get clothes, and we fought.”
Quinn appears in front of me and kneels. “Can I help?”
“Not unless you can set a date for our wedding,” I tell him. “Or what would’ve been our wedding. A date is what caused all this crap between us. Ben says things are over. He says he doesn’t want to see me so I’m giving him the space he needs.”
“You really need to go see him.”
“Why? So, he can remind me that I broke his heart because I won’t get married at the courthouse? No thanks. I want a wedding where Dad walks me down the aisle. I told Ben I’m sorry everyone’s schedules don’t match up, and eventually they will if we keep looking at dates, but that isn’t good enough for him. And even if we got back together, I don’t think we should rush into marriage. Look at us.”
Quinn takes my hands in his and looks at me with the sincerest gaze I’ve ever seen from him. “You need to go see Ben.”
“I don’t think I can. I literally feel ill thinking about not seeing him and then the anxiety kicks in. He doesn’t love me, Quinn.”
“I think he does, but he’s hurting, and he needs you, Elle.” I spin back to my desk and grab my phone. After unlocking it and pulling up Ben’s texts, I show the screen to my brother. “Does this look like a guy who needs me? Does this look like a guy who wants to talk to me?” Dragging my finger over my screen, I show Quinn numerous messages from me that Ben hasn’t answered. “He made himself very clear, and honestly, I’m done talking about it. He broke up with me over a date,” I point out. “Maybe it’s for the best.” I go back to my desk and toss my phone down. “Leave, please. I have work to do and the constant badgering about my ex is giving me a headache. I know he’s your friend, and honestly, I hope you remain friends with him, but Ben and I . . . he doesn’t want to be with me.”
I open the first email regarding Plum and start to type my response. I can hear Quinn moving around behind me, and when he lets out a heavy sigh, it takes everything in me to ignore him.
“Elle, if you take anything away from what I’m saying, take this—Ben needs you. You need to go out to the house and see him before it’s too late.”
The “before it’s too late” part catches my attention. By the time the words register in my mind, Quinn is gone. As tempted as I am to go find him, I don’t. He could mean nothing by it, other than he wants Ben and I back together.