Fragments Of You, page 25
“You’re on, cutie.” A smirk stays affixed to his face as he whips the car into the lot and finds a spot to park. “I know a fancy Italian dinner is quite the sacrifice to make, but maybe loosening up is better for us, huh? Besides, we can go there on our next date.” His eyes flash wide in a look of embarrassment after he says it, and I know he’s caught his blunder.
That sweet, innocent presumption makes me smile as I slide out of the car and into the chill biting through the air. The weather is changing fast, and we’ll probably have our first snow soon. It’s way too evident when a breeze crawls through the knitting of my shirt. I shiver, wrapping my arms around me.
“Here.” The car beeps while Bentley locks it, and he passes a fleece jacket my way. “This ought to help.”
Shrugging into the coat, I’m thankful for its warmth and for the way it smells—I’ll be in heaven all night, but I frown when I notice there’s only one. “What about you?”
He waves his hand in dismissal, “I’ll be fine.” Propping his hand on the top of his head, he starts off our brisk pace. “I’ll warm up once I win all the stuffed plushies for you.”
“Okay, sure.” My eyes roll. “You won’t be winning any because they’re all rigged.”
“Hmm…” His brows waggle, and a confident swagger takes over his stride. “Wanna bet? They call me the Carnie Breaker.”
“The what?” A giggle slips out.
“The Carnie Breaker. You should know that.” His walking slows, and his lips part. “Actually… we’ve never been to the fair together, have we?”
I shake my head, bundling the coat around me. “That’s when you usually go home to see your parents.”
He chuckles. “I guess I forgot. Anyway, they call me the Carnie Breaker because I can win at any game.” There’s a light in his eyes as he talks. “My sister loves me. Every year I win all the games for her. We leave with a car full of plushies, and I mean the big ones!” He holds his arms out, demonstrating the size of the larger ones, the ones nobody wins.
I pucker out my lips and walk in silence.
“Still don’t believe me, huh?” He fishes out his wallet and pays for our entrance. After we step further in, he gestures for us to go to the games area. “Pick any one out.”
He’s so confident it should be painful because I know these games are going to crush his dreams. I fold my arms across my chest, shooting him a look of doubt. “Any of them?”
“Any.” His eyes go wide, and a smile tugs at his mouth, then it falls. “Well, except the basketball. They bend the rims in. It’s impossible to win those.”
“Oooh, okay.” I sigh, shake my head, and rake over the area. The first thing I spot is the bottle toss game. There’s a giant hot pink zebra pinned to the net above that’s calling my name. “The bottles.” Then I point to the plushie. “I want that one.”
“It’s already yours, sweetheart.”
He’s not even looking my way when he says it. His head is down while peeling out a few coins, but I can see the confident smile plastered all over his face. He’s so sure of his victory while he says it, and it’s so damn sexy. “Let’s go.”
I’m trying not to laugh as he barrels his way through the small crowd, charging to the game that’s going to be his demise. Growing up, my dad always tried to win this game for me. His strongest throw at most would topple over maybe two or three, and there’s six.
I bite back another giggle and press my lips together, creating a hard line. “You’re wasting your money.” The words leave me while coming up beside him. He’s just finished paying and is holding one of the balls in his hands, tossing it from palm to palm.
“Ha.” Humor dances in his gaze, and I’m loving his mood tonight—it’s putting the dazzling lights around us to shame. “You just watch, cutie.”
“Sure.” I fold my arms across my chest and briefly look skyward.
He winds back his hand and…
POP
A metallic clatter echoes in the air, then each bottle falls on its side. Every damn one.
I jump into the air, tossing my arms overhead. “Oh my God. Oh my––” I laugh. He does too. “But how?”
“See? What did I say?” Looking at the person running the game, he points to my prized zebra. “That one for the beautiful lady, please.”
Beautiful… A hoard of butterflies takes flight at the base of my heart. I almost don’t need the jacket, thanks to the heat flooding my body. The word is so simple, but when it comes from Bentley, it decimates more walls, making bricks of protection fall off from me. At this rate, I’ll be falling in love with him all over again.
A giggle slips out while wrapping my arms around the hot pink animal. “It’s even cuter up close.” My fingers stroke the fluffy mane, admiring the oversized cartoon eyes. I look up at Bentley through my lashes, awe for his skill stirring a touch of lust in my veins. Anger made me forget how effortlessly sexy he is, but tonight it’s on full display, and it’s reeling me in—the hook attaching deep into my soul. “You really can win any of these?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He widens his stance and cinches his arms across his chest. “Pick another animal. I’ll make sure you leave with it.”
His smugness uncages my hormones, allowing them to feast on my dirtiest fantasies––watching him knock down those bottles was the start. The windup, his muscles flexing… Bentley is wrecking me tonight. I try to downplay the need for him by scanning the booths.
Ring Toss is just down the way. A multi-colored pastel alpaca sways in the breeze, and I point, “That one.”
Pocketing his hands, he gives me a smirk that could make my panties catch fire and jerks his head. “Let's go get it.”
I follow after and watch as he wins it. Then he snags the monkey I want at the shooting game, then the teddy bear at the darts, and the puppy dog at the water gun booth.
Each time he succeeds, he grins at me in that boyish way, and each time, my heart sways toward him. The sweet looks he gives me bends my soul, melting the ice surrounding it until I’m aching to know all of him—because I’m starting to see it now.
Bentley is beautiful.
A beautiful, sweet mess that I want to keep close to my heart. I think Tessa is right. He never meant to hurt me, and there’s comfort in that.
I hum in contemplation while alone.. He’s gone to the car to drop off my animals and get us more junk food. I’m uncertain how I’ll stomach anything else.
Between the games, we’ve feasted on candy apples, hot dogs, ice cream, fried Twinkies, pizza, and cheese sticks.
When he rounds the corner with a funnel cake, I groan. “Are you serious?”
He tips his head back and laughs. “Giving up?” He digs his fork in and takes a bite. “I told you I could eat more than you.”
“I think so.” My stomach rolls with sickness overload when he takes another big bite.
A spark catches in his eyes, and he points. “Let’s go on the Ferris wheel.”
Ferris wheels. Known for secret handholds and stolen kisses. I’m so not ready to kiss him, but the thought of being near him—smelling that fresh scent and brushing against his natural body heat accelerates my pulse.
I nod. We walk that way while he polishes off the funnel cake.
Loading in, I wonder if he will sit close or drape his arm along the seat back. He does neither. He maintains a respectful distance, resting his wrists on his thighs. The consideration stokes desire in my veins.
Tonight, Bentley Harris is hitting nothing but high notes for me.
My fingers clutch to the plastic siding with the wheel's slow ascent. I do like this ride, but the sway of the seat does make me a little nervous. Blood whooshes in my head with another rock, but it dies with a new distraction. The sound of Bentley sighing. It sounds contented, and the expression on his face is amusement.
“What is it?”
He leans back, propping one ankle over the other. “I was thinking that this is full circle for me. The last time I was on the Ferris wheel—” His voice fades away as he looks out to the skyline.
Ivy? He mentioned her once at Flambé’s, but we never got to talk about what happened. My finger trails over my jeans. “Was it her… Ivy?”
“It was.” The acknowledgment isn’t laced with pain. It comes across as tepid and distant.
Intrigue prods me along as I lower my voice and tilt my head. “Do you mind telling me what happened?”
“Not at all, but actually,” a short pause ensues as the wheel finishes its first lap. His gaze snaps over to mine, a light smile playing on his mouth, “You already know what happened.”
I blink in shock. “I do?”
A pensive look pinches at his eyes. “Do you remember that high school ‘friend’ I told you about months back? The one I said who’d been cheated on?” His line of vision falls after I nod. “That wasn’t a friend. It was me.”
“Oh, Bentley.” Dismay shoots through my heart, and the jacket no longer blocks the chill in the air. I shiver and frown as I recall him mentioning the name of the girl who cheated on his friend––I hadn’t realized it until now. “I can’t imagine how that made you feel.”
“I’m fine now, really.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “It took way too long, but I finally got over it and realized I allowed her lies to fuck me over for no reason. There was never anything wrong with me, and thinking I could hurt her by being with meaningless people was stupid because she never cared. It never affected her––the only person I was hurting was myself.”
My brief time with Rich floods my mind, and I only sought his comfort after one time with Bentley. I imagine what it would be like to spend years with someone only to have it thrown back in your face. And from what I remember, Bentley told me the circumstances were extreme.
Who knows what I would have done. All the times I saw Bentley with different women flashes in front of me, and now I don’t see it as him having a good time. I see him chasing––pursuing away the temporary to forget what was possibly an ever festering source of pain.
How can you spend so much time with one person and know so little? A deflated sigh trails out of me as the wheel slowly reaches the top. “No,” I finally reply softly. “Not stupid, Bentley. Just human.”
“Thanks, Nora.”
The way he speaks my name is light, and there’s a slight twinkle in his eyes as I glance over. It competes with the skyline behind him. My breath is lost when his eyes sink to my mouth, and the tone of his voice lowers. I can hear the love in it, and my knees squeeze tight.
“And just for the record, screw ups and all, you were always different, Nora.” His forehead nearly connects with mine. “Always. I didn’t know it at first, but from the first day I met you, you were always… right here. ” He pats his hand against his heart and smiles.
My chest expands, taking in the sweet words, and the key he’s been using so desperately to open up my locked heart slides in and turns, unlocking me. It’s decided right then and there––I want to date Bentley, and I want to fall in love with him all over again.
But I don’t want to tell him. He has me, but I need more time. Unlocked does not mean healed—there are still a few bandages that aren’t ready to come off yet.
Scooping a piece of hair behind my ear, I turn my head away, not trusting myself with the look he’s giving—the tenderness in it teases at my secrets. A breeze encapsulates me while we sit at the top, watching the city lights dot the dark horizon. With a smile curling up my mouth, a minuscule piece of my hurt falls away, and a small confession leaves my lips.
“You were always different for me too, Bentley.” My eyes stay locked on the city while the thumping of my heart betrays my calm outward appearance. When I hear him hum with happiness, I still can’t look because he’s always been my Achilles, and right now, I’d surrender at his feet.
We finish our ride in gentle quiet, and then he takes me home.
Walking up to my front door, my pulse remains wild, quickening and skipping every time we swagger too close to each other. The breezes that bothered me earlier fail to draw out a shiver as tender heat runs through my body.
I doubt I'm the only one feeling the pull between us. While undoing the lock, I sense the same heat radiating off him, hitting my back. It’s causing a weakness in my knees—one I wasn’t sure he’d be able to resurrect.
When I spin around to face him, I hug the Gucci bag to my chest and hope it conceals the fact that I’m struggling to breathe.
One side of his mouth tugs up, and his gaze flies to the plushies creating a small pile outside my door. “Are you sure you don’t need help getting them inside?”
“No.” I sound breathless, but I can’t hide it. “I’ll manage, no problem.”
He doesn’t say anything, and we stare awkwardly at each other—small smiles working on our faces—minute shuffles occurring here and there. I have so much I want to say, but I can’t think of a way to form them, so I say nothing.
More time passes. At last, Bentley pockets his hands and blows out a huge puff of air. “So that was our third date.”
“It… it was.” My line of sight drops to the concrete, and my neck tightens. Please. Please ask me out. Part of me feels like I should be giving him the green light, but after all the tatteredness I’ve been through, I no longer know how to put myself out there. All I do is pray, my palms clammy and hot.
“So… uh….” He takes an audible swallow. When I stare at him, his body looks tense. “May I pick you up next Friday?” He shuffles side to side, and his eyes tighten. “That might be presumptuous. I mean…, if you don’t want to––”
“I do.” The words burst out before I can even think about stopping them. One of my shoulders pulls up, and I say it again—much calmer, “I do. I’d really like that, Bentley.”
His body relaxes, and those Grecian eyes look like a dream with the twinkle emitting from them. I swear they glow. “Good,” the word breathes out. “I’ll pick you up at the same time.”
“Okay.” My reply is a near whisper, and my eyes slide down to the keys in my hand. I’m happy. Then I look up and shriek, stumbling back.
Bentley is right in front of me—his eyes half-closed—his lips puckering out while his head strains forward. It has all the signs of a goodnight kiss.
“What-what are you doing?” One of my hands shoots out, blocking him from me. Dating this man and kissing him are two different things, and there’s no way in Hades I’m ready for a kiss. My cheeks light on fire. “Bentley––”
He holds his hands up, and he’s laughing. There’s no sound, but his smile is ear to ear, and his shoulders shake. He takes a step back. “It was just going to be on the cheek, I swear it.”
“But still...” My arms fold across my middle while my stomach somersaults. “I––”
“It’s okay, Nora.” One more laugh slips out. He unpockets his keys and walks backward for several paces. He comes to a stop and stares at me for a moment. His eyes travel up and down my body—his admiration far too evident when he speaks. “Good night, Nora.” The way he utters my name is love in itself. He turns on his heel and walks away.
I watch him until he disappears into the darkness. I do so because I’m his captive… bound to him and everything he does, and I always will be. He’ll always command my attention, even if I don’t want him to, but I’m done trying to fight it.
I listen to the motor start, then the crunch of tires as they roll through gravel, and finally the engine’s rev as it takes off on the main road.
With blood roaring in my ears and weak knees, I rest my spine against the front door. Moonlight beams high and bright tonight, and as leaves rustle, I bring my fingertips to my mouth and sigh.
“Yeah…” I whisper it into the cold air, witnessing a battered leaf break loose from a tree and flutter away into the distance. My heart is doing the same—breaking off even though it’s bruised. It’s rushing to a new experience, and my destination is Bentley.
Forgiveness for the wrong he’s done over the years sweeps over—drawing me deeper into its currents, trapping me in its riptide. I’ll never make it back to shore, back to the contempt I had for him. And I don’t want to. I can’t think of anything better than owning this man all to myself.
But make out sessions…?
Let’s just say he has a little way to go.
Chapter 32
Bentley
I’m leaving the grocery store with all my meal-prep necessities. All the calorie-heavy foods I’ve been throwing Nora’s way are starting to show. That carnival night didn’t help. When I woke up, the first thing I did was decide to jump back on the bandwagon for health. Letting myself go and getting a gut won’t do me any favors in wooing Nora.
The sliding doors for the exit pull open, and I come to a halt.
Fuck.
It’s Rich. We lock eye to eye, and he stills too. It’s the first time we've seen one another since his birthday. Looking back on it now, I realize I was a total dick to him, even body slamming the guy to the floor. Safe to say, I owe him a big kiss to the ass.
I release a big exhale and move outside. My nod is stiff while I make a slow approach. “Hey.”
He pockets one hand and nods back. “Hey.” His tone is flat. I don’t blame him, but he doesn’t walk off. He remains staring at me like he knows I have something to say.
A few people maneuver around us. We shuffle to the side, removing us from the line of traffic. Once we’re in a corner, I clear my throat and look up. If I’m going to cut the bullshit and lies out of my life, this includes Rich. Life changes must be an all-encompassing act, not a compartmentalized one—but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
My fists tighten around the loops of the plastic sacks. “I owe you an apology.” Even my voice crackles while I say it, but I don’t stop. “I was… upset that night.” My gaze flicks to the ground. “I said and did a lot of things I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”
“Eh.” He halfway shrugs. “It was a heated moment. Body slamming you into the wall probably didn’t help. Maybe our conversation would have been better if I hadn’t done that first.”
