Consume my broken heart

Chapter 12

I still can't believe we are going to Greece." Mom gushed, flashing a dazzling smile.

"Believe it, mom. In two months you're on a plane with dad. I'm so happy for the both of you." I continued, changing my attention back to the television.

"I know it was your doing, dear. Dad wouldn't have made that step on his own. He's so worried about the business." Mom admits with a small smile, putting an oreo cookie in her mouth.

"Well, it's all taken care of now," I assure her. Suddenly my cell phone light up, and I grab it from the coffee table. Mom was busy watching her favorite soap 'The days of our lives'. I'm not sure why I watch it with her because there's so much drama. People die, people return to life. So much fantasy it makes my head spin.

I unlock my phone and there appeared a text from an unknown number. I hold my breath for a moment, already certain it will be Aiden. Swallowing hard, I open the message.

When I notice it's from Ben, I relax. Why does he use another number? I step out of the sofa and strode to the kitchen, dialing his new number.

"Hi there." I greet him friendly.

"Hi, can you believe what happened an hour ago? Stacy threw my phone into the water at the lake. She was freaking out at me and I wanted to call a cab for her when she grabbed my phone and threw it in the water. Then she stormed off to God knows where. Crazy woman." Ben hissed angrily.

"Wow, that's crazy. Why did she do that?" I ask him curiously, a small side of me giggling from the inside. I felt pity for Ben, but knowing him the girl probably had her reasons to act the way she did.

"I don't know because she's fucking crazy obviously." He snapped irritated.

"Hey, if you want to cool down first..." I answer him agitated by his tone toward me. I don't like the turn of this conversation. I hate it when men snap at me.

I can hear him sighing, and the silence stretched between us.

"I'm sorry." He apologized softly. "I didn't mean to snap at you. You aren't the one throwing the phone into the water." He explains calmly.

"I wouldn't have drowned your poor phone, I would have smashed it with my foot," I say boldly, a small smile creeping up.

On the other line, Ben chuckles at my response. "You're a madwoman." He says with a lighter mood.

"Yes, I am." I giggle proudly. Surely, I'm certain I can take care of myself now unless one of those three would stand before me. My confidence would lower to the floor and I forget who I am. I am a Stone, a rock. Try to break me and you'll find out what you're against too.

"And what are your plans for tonight?" Ben asks curiously.

"I'm watching 'The days of our lives' with mom," I tell him with honesty.

"Do I need to come and safe you from that terrible soap?" Ben chuckles from the other line.

"No, I'll survive. But thanks for asking." I answer with a big smile. "And what are you going to do tonight?" I ask him.

"I'm meeting a girl." He blurted without shame. "Don't worry it's casual, nothing serious." He adds.

I roll with my eyes and shake my head in disbelief. "Keep your phone safe this time, will you?" I chuckle.

"Yeah, yeah. I will. When are you going out with me? Besides, then I wouldn't have to seek other company all the time." Ben said sheepishly.

"That's tempting, but no thanks. Maybe soon, okay?" I add.

"Promise?" He asks sweetly.

"It's a promise." I smile, knowing I'll have to keep my promise to Ben or else he'll kidnap me to go with him.

"Okay, then. I'll visit you next week if that's alright with you?" Ben asks calmly.

"Of course, you're always welcome here, you know that," I answer him quickly.

"Have a lovely night, Grace." He says before ending our phone call.

I lower myself back on the sofa, laying myself in a comfortable position. Mom watches me with her hawk eyes. "So who was that on the phone?" She asks with expectation, her eyebrows crunched in curiosity.

"Ben," I answer shortly. "His ex tossed his phone in the lake," I say, a grin creeping up just by telling it to her.

"Isn't that the perfect time for you to get closer to him?" Mom asks, her facial expressions change right after her insinuative question about Ben and me.

"Mom, you know I don't see Ben as a future boyfriend. He's just my friend and nothing more, okay?" I repeat myself for the tenth time on a short notice.

"I know, and I'm sorry for pushing you, but he's so good for you. He has a stable job and not to mention he's your best friend. Isn't that a combination that can succeed? It's what every girl wants, a man she can talk to and a compatible understanding." Mom explains softly.

I'm not sure why I can't see something romantically between me and Ben. Maybe it is because we have always been friends for so long. The bond between us never changed because we were in the friend zone. What if I try to change that, just to get a glimpse of Ben as a potential lover?

"I think he fancies you but he's too afraid to come clean with you," Mom adds out of the blue.

"What?" I ask in astonishment. She's delusional.

"I have seen the way he looks at you. He's too delighted to see you every time he's here. I'm almost one-hundredth percent sure he sees more in you." Mom explains with a broad, not apologetic smile on her face. She seems certain about her case and I'm not even sure how she came up with this information. In a blink of an eye, my look at Ben changed drastically.

"Thanks, mom. Now I'm constantly going to search for clues when he's around." I sigh hard. This thought is depressing. This can change everything between us. What if she's right, and he fancies me? I'm not sure what to think about that matter. I can always ask him face to face. However, knowing Ben he would laugh the topic away like a breeze hitting you, but when you notice what hit you the breeze is already gone. That's Ben, a hurricane that can hit you in a rather crazy way.

"I'm not saying you need to study him. Hold it as an option and don't think about it too hard or else you're going to behave like someone else that's not you. Sweetheart, you are still young and you've made such enormous steps in your life. I'm certain you'll find your match who cares for you as your dad cares for me." Mom stated calmly with pride.

I gaze at her for a brief moment, a cautious smile appearing on my face. "I have thought about it lately, you know having someone at my side. Not about Ben I mean, just fantasizing of how it could be." I blurted with a flushed face.

"Wow, that's splendid news Grace!" Mom answered too cheerful. "It's a start, don't you think?" Mom adds with a bright smile. The joy visible from her face gave me a warm feeling.

"It's a cautious start, but it's just fantasizing mom," I admit, hating to talk about this kind of stuff, especially because it's so out of my comfort zone. The dreams weren't sexual. It was sweet and loving. A man brushing his hand over my cheek and kissing me on my forehead. It was pure love. It was a sweet encounter with a man that truly loves me. The man is always unrecognizable and the weirdest part is that I always dream about the same scene. I'm always visible, but the man kept me on edge, his face unrecognizable. It frustrates the hell out of me. Why would I dream about an unrecognizable man when I'm the one dreaming? Can't you fix your dreams?

An idea popped into my head. Maybe I can search for how you can guide your own dreams. I have read about it before, but never thought it was possible. But I guess it's worth the try. After all, what do I have to lose?