Meet You There

Meet You There - Chapter 32

Chapter 32

"I don't really believe things happen for a reason," Bennett told me, later that night, after I'd explained about the message from Lily.

   It was after 10P.M. when he was knocking on the apartment door. I let him in, kissing him before he was even fully inside. I had really missed him.

   He'd brought me a Christmas present, which was a tiny box for me to unwrap. Inside was a necklace with a blue pendant in the shape of a water droplet. It was beautiful and I put it on right away.

   "You don't?" I asked him now, my head on his shoulder.

   He shook his head. "But by the sound of the message, it sounds like she just wants to say sorry."

   "Yeah, well, she tried. Right after it happened, and every day for two weeks afterwards," I said, shaking my head now.

   Bennett was just looking at me, truly looking at me, but I hated that he felt sorry for me now. I was fine, I didn't need pity.

   "I had sex with him, you know. My Ex. He was my first. I thought he was..." I said, looking away.

   "Iris... I lost my virginity at a party, in tenth grade. I was drunk and high and..." He let his voice trial off.

   "I wish I waited," I said, sighing.

   "Me too."

   He wrapped his arms around me, and I let him hold me. I didn't know what I would do about Lily, if anything. But for now I could just enjoy being with Bennett. That night was the first night that I fell asleep in his arms, in my bed.

   I liked being in control. Now, I could pretend I had never talked to my mom and that Lily had never sent me that message. I couldn't control my family falling apart when I was fourteen, but I could control this.

   Bennett and I spent the following week being lazy, watching a ton of movies, snuggling under blankets. We didn't even leave my apartment until mid week, when Maribella called. Caleb didn't seem to mind that Bennett was sleeping over. He trusted us. And I knew he liked that we were staying around the apartment, rather than out getting into trouble.

   "I can't believe we haven't hung out at all, during the school break," Maribella said into my ear, when I answered her call.

   "I know. You've been working, and I..."

   "You have legs, don't you?" she laughed. "The store is like ten minutes from your apartment." I knew she was teasing me.

   "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry. When are you off?" I asked her, looking at Bennett.

   "Now, just getting a coffee," she answered.

   "Stay there. We'll meet you in fifteen?"

   "Oh, nice. Okay, see you soon," Maribella finished.

   Bennett was pouting at me when I put my phone down. "Meeting Maribella where?"

   "Java Hut, for coffee," I told him.

   We were dressed, but under a blanket on the couch. We had a Netflix original movie on, but we hadn't really been watching.

   "Oh, well I could go for a coffee, but I'd rather..." He grinned, then pulled me close again.

   He kissed my neck, and I let him for a minute. But as he began moving down, kissing my collarbone and lower, I wiggled away.

   "I have to get a sweater, and brush my teeth," I told him, but didn't go anywhere, yet.