Evelyn's Girl | Lesbian Novel

XVII

Ben and I were getting ready for court. Evelyn had assured me it was all formalities and regrettably, she wouldn't be able to attend due to her flight being delayed.

We'd had the briefest of conversations that felt bittersweet. She'd been busy in Monaco and the majority of our conversations ended after a few minutes, usually leaving the both of us frustrated.

After the first three days, I expected the interruptions. Her voice would sharpen like the sharp edge of a knife while she swore under her breath, regrettably having to end our call. I found her short sighs and rather irritated tone to be extremely attractive, driving the tension between us to a record breaking high. These short moments of labored breathing and attitude had my heart thumping inside my earcanals.

I was buttoning Ben's dress shirt while he smoothed back his floppy hair. His eyes were glistening underneath my bathroom lights. Mostly because he was getting to miss half of the school day. I straightened his tie, the same way I used to do Nicolas'. Ben was staring at himself in the mirror, puffing his chest and standing a little straighter than usual.

"Hello, judge. Please don't send me back to the orphanage." He smiled at the mirror and we both laughed. His sense of humor was unusually charming but I could tell there was nervousness behind the confidence. Truth was, we were both nervous about the outcome of our court hearing.

"How do you feel?"

Ben shrugged his shoulders, "I think I could use another shave."

I was smoothing shaving cream over his adolescent face, quite aware of the singular piece of stubble against his chin. He was quite still while I brought the razor over his cheeks. We were almost silent while I rinsed the shaving cream off of its sharp edge.

Ben's eyes were steady against mine, "Do you think they'll let me stay?"

"Of course I do. I'm just going to tell them that we're stuck together like glue. Unfortunately, Judge McMahon, Ben has to stay with me because we are actually joined at the hip. That's what I'll say if she tries to split us up." I squeezed his cheeks and then proceeded to shave his upper lip. Ben seemed slightly relieved, his mouth curving into that infamous boyish grin.

"I don't think you can say that to her. She might not like it."

I shrugged my shoulders, "Oh well. She'll just have to get over it. I'm not letting you go again."

I wiped his face with a warm towel and he leaned into me. For the first time, he wrapped his arms around me and squeezed as if he was afraid to let go. My eyes watered involuntarily as I held his head against me. We were holding onto what could be the end of my temporary custody. It was a weight that we both carried in silence.

Ben was putting on his dress shoes while I did subtle eyeliner. I didn't usually do anything too dramatic but it was always a nice touch. Then we were holding hands and getting in the town car which was a courtesy of Evelyn.

The trip to the courthouse was silent and Ben was worried enough to forget that we were holding hands. The frown against his lips tore me to pieces but there was nothing I could do besides being strong enough for the both of us.

This false confidence carried us into the courthouse and had us waiting amongst others to speak before the judge. It was kind of interesting how many different people we encountered in the confinements of the waiting room. I was seated next to a man who had lived a couple of different lives, evident by how his tattoos peeked out of the sleeves of his blazer. Ben kicked his feet and did just about anything but sit still. It was making me anxious but I pretended not to notice his endless fiddling and yawns.