Derailed (Clayton Falls #1)(14)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Kelly doesn’t, but I can’t vouch for Molly.” Tom went to the fridge to pull out more beers, passing them out.

“You two also had such a death wish with those tracks. How many times were you caught partying out there?”

“Are we done discussing our juvenile delinquencies?” I could laugh at most of it, but I wasn’t ready to get into a conversation about the train tracks, not if I didn’t want to end up crying.

“Don’t you guys need to go check on the steaks?” Kelly saved me, giving me a sympathetic look before shooing the men outside. “Do you want a minute?”

“No, I’m good.”

“All right. Shall we?” She opened the patio door for me.

Dinner was pleasant. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a meal that didn’t consist of random foods thrown together, let alone steak. I ate everything on my plate and then had seconds.

“Geez, no one’s been feeding you, huh?” Tom joked, as I finished my second plate.

“No, we aren’t all lucky enough to have men like you in our lives,” I said in a sugary sweet voice.

Kelly glared at me, and Gavin chuckled.

“Very funny. Kelly can tell you that I help.”

“I bet, and the steak was great.”

“Thank you. I’m sure you realize you’re always welcome here for dinner.”

“Okay, you need to wait until after the wedding before you talk like you’re middle-aged parents.” I couldn’t keep a straight face.

“I’m not going to acknowledge that comment.”

I laughed, getting up to help clear the plates.

“You don’t have to do that,” Kelly said quickly.

“I don’t mind. I’ll probably get going soon, though.” I wanted to escape another invitation from Gavin. He seemed like a nice enough guy, and he was definitely attractive, but dating anyone sounded like a terrible idea. It’s not that I didn’t crave physical contact, I definitely did. I just couldn’t stomach the emotional side of things. Maybe Gavin would be more than happy to merely have a fling, but I doubted it. In the little time I had talked to him, he seemed like a man on a mission to find Ms. Right, and if anything, I was Ms. Wrong.

“All right, but before I forget, want to go shopping for bridesmaid dresses soon?” Kelly asked.

“Sure, sounds great.” I hoped I sounded more enthusiastic than I felt.

“Are you sure you need to head home already?” Gavin asked.

“Unfortunately yes, but it was great seeing all of you.”

I brought my dishes into the kitchen and took off before Gavin could offer me a ride.

Chapter Seven

There was a blue Ford truck parked on the street out front when I got home. I walked down the driveway to check it out, wary about who it could be. A quick examination made its owner abundantly clear. The variety of bumper stickers advertising Mathews Fishing Tours and the Grizzlies was a dead giveaway.

What was Ben doing at my house?

I assumed he was around back, but decided to go inside first to drop off my bag. I took one step inside and heard the music—Snow Patrol—a song I only had on a mix CD Ben made me senior year.

I took the stairs slowly, pausing at the door to my room. Ben looked up from his spot on my floor. “Hey, feeling nostalgic, huh?” He held up a few pictures from the box of mementoes I hadn’t returned to my closet yet.

“What are you doing here? And how did you get in?”

He grinned, stretching out his legs. “I used my key.”

I walked into the room. “You have a key to my parents’ house?”

“Yeah, you gave it to me when I came by to feed Pretzel when you went on vacation.”

“You still have the key we gave you junior year when you came to feed the cat?”

“You never took it back. You knew that. I used it a few times senior year when your parents went away.”

I definitely remembered those few times. Those were the only nights we ever spent together, and we did everything but sleep.

“So you just happened to have it with you tonight?”

“I guess I never took it off my keychain.” He shrugged. “But I wouldn’t talk. It looks like you kept everything.” He gestured to the pile in front of him.

“I was always sentimental.”

“We had fun together, didn’t we?” He held up a picture of us making goofy faces. It was from a photo booth at the local movie theater, and it was one of the many photos of us that used to stick out from behind my mirror.

“Yeah, we did. But you didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?”

“What does it look like? I’m looking through pictures.” He looked at me innocently.

“Come on, why are you in this house?”

“I thought I’d come by and surprise you and to make sure you weren’t swimming without me. Where were you anyhow?”

“Over at Kelly’s.” I specifically left out who was there. I had no idea whether Ben and Gavin knew each other.

“Have you two been catching up?”

“A little, it’s good to see her.”

“How about me?”

“What about you?” I asked hesitantly.

“Is it good to see me?” He pulled a pillow off my bed and lay down on the floor. Tired of standing, I sat down next to him.

“I guess.”

“You guess? You seemed really glad to see me last night.”

“You caught me by surprise.”

“Oh, was that all it was? So you don’t want it to happen again?” He sat up to lean on one elbow. “Are you sure about that?”

I nodded.

“I’m calling your bluff.” Without warning, he pushed me down, pinning my arms above my head as he hovered above me, his lips mere inches from mine. “Tell me you don’t want me to kiss you. I dare you.”

“I don’t want you to kiss me,” I said with far less enthusiasm than I intended. Kissing him was exactly what I wanted.

“Not even a little?”

“Nope.” I played along with the game we played in high school. We’d get into a fight, and Ben would always try to wriggle his way out of trouble by teasing me.

“Well, that’s too bad, because you don’t have a choice.” This was a new addition to the game. He always gave me a choice, and I always chose to take him back.

His lips met mine as he cradled my head with one hand. His other hand found my leg underneath my dress. As his tongue demanded entry, I opened up to him, reveling in the familiar taste and feel of kissing him. He tasted faintly like mint. I ran my hands down his back, slipping them under his t-shirt to feel the warmth of his skin.