Derailed (Clayton Falls #1)(8)
Author: Alyssa Rose Ivy

“Hi, Ben.” I smiled, giving a small wave. Inside, my stomach did somersaults. I wasn’t ready for this.

“Wow, what are you doing here? You work at Marney’s again?” He placed a hand on the counter. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Boston?”

“Plans changed.”

“How so?” Ben was never one for mincing words.

“I quit law school.”

“Oh. How’d your fiancé take it?” He said the word ‘fiancé’ like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“We’re not getting married.”

“Oh… I didn’t know.”

“Yeah, I didn’t exactly spread the word. Did your dad really not tell you I was back?”

“My Dad?”

“I ran into him this morning. I figured he would have mentioned it, or am I wrong and you don’t work with him anymore?” Ben’s plans, aside from his music, had always been to work in his father’s marina sales and rental company and to take over one day. It was hard to pull him away from the water.

“He didn’t mention it.” His face scrunched up the way it always did when he was thinking. “But wow, I definitely didn’t expect to see you.”

“I’ve been getting that a lot.”

“So since you’re working here, does that mean you plan to stay around?” I couldn’t tell what answer he wanted.

I leaned up against the back counter. “Maybe… I really don’t know. This was kind of a last minute decision.”

“How last minute?”

“Meaning I walked out of class, packed up what I wanted from my apartment, and left the city.”

“That’s… cool.” Ben put his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah.”

We stood in awkward silence for a while, just looking at each other. “So, can I get you something?”

“Oh sure, the special.”

“Okay, coming right up.” I grabbed one of the chicken salad sandwiches I had spent so much time making and wrapped it up. “So what have you been up to?” I called over my shoulder.

“You know, work mostly—I’ve started a side business taking out fishing tours. It keeps me pretty busy. I’m still playing with the guys, though.”

“Yeah, I heard that.” I fidgeted nervously while holding his sandwich in one hand. Making small talk with Ben wasn’t easy. There was way too much we needed to say to each other, but couldn’t.

“We’re playing tonight at Gill’s. You should come.”

“Oh, I don’t know, but thanks.”

“Come on, you should. I promise we’re better than in high school.” He smiled, and I knew I was lost. It was impossible to say no to that smile.

“All right.”

“Yeah? Okay, cool. Maybe we can catch up after? It’s been a long time.”

“Okay.” I filled a cup with Coke. I assumed he hadn’t changed his drink of choice.

He looked torn for a moment. “Oh, and Mol?”

“Yeah?” I placed his drink on the counter.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you up in Boston.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“See you later.”

“Bye.”

As soon as the door chime sounded announcing Ben’s exit, Gail came out to join me. “Now that’s the old Molly. All it took was five minutes with Ben Mathews. I think we found your solution.”

“Ben and I had our chance years ago. It’s never going to happen.”

“Who says? The way the two of you look at each other, there is nothing past tense about you.”

“Come on, don’t you need me to do some clean up or something?”

“All right, if you’re asking to clean instead of talk boys, this must be serious.”

I laughed. It was good to be back at Marney’s.

Chapter Five

“Look at you, made up all cute.” Kelly laughed as she pulled out of my driveway.

“Shut up, I’m not.”

“Is that actually makeup on your face? Wow, little Molly has grown up,” Kelly mocked, taking a slow ride over to the bar.

“I had the time.” That was partially the truth. I also wanted to add some color to my washed out face. Lack of sleep was really taking a toll on me.

“So this has nothing to do with Ben then?” She was enjoying this way too much.

“Not at all. Don’t even start.”

“What? He did invite you to the show.”

“To be nice.” I crossed my arms.

“Nice is saying hello. This wasn’t to be nice. The poor boy still hasn’t gotten over you.”

“Yes he has. You didn’t spare me a second of his escapades with the girls around here.”

“Okay, he’s dated a few girls, but they never went anywhere, and I haven’t seen him with anyone in months.”

“He’s twenty-three, that’s normal.”

“Sure, but I don’t believe for a second the extra effort tonight isn’t for him. But if it wasn’t, and if instead it was for Gavin, your effort was wasted. They’re working tonight.”

“It’s not for Gavin,” I said quickly.

Kelly laughed. “He was talking poor Tom’s ear off about you today.”

“Come on, we talked last night about stupid, random things.”

“He told Tom he thinks you guys really connected, and he can’t wait to see where it goes.”

I slapped my leg. “He did not.”

“Uh huh. And don’t kill him, but Tom gave him your number.” Kelly looked ready for an onslaught.

“Is he crazy?”

“You know Tom. He’s just trying to help. He thinks you need a big, strong man to take care of you.”

“As compared to a small, weak one?”

“You have to admit, Gavin is big. He even makes Tom seem tiny. And he’s damn hot. I wonder if all of him is as big.” Kelly grinned wickedly.

“Stop, stop!”

“Come on. He’d be like your personal Brawny man.”

“Excuse me?”

“You know the guy from the paper towel ads from eons ago.”

“If you say so. Anyway, didn’t we just discuss this last night? And I distinctly remember telling you I wasn’t interested.”

“Uh huh, and I warned you that Tom was on a mission. But like I said, you’re safe tonight.”