Best Kept Secret (Best Kept #1)

Chapter 23: Red

The silence of the situation was awkward. I'm not even sure that word covers it.

We were sitting in the kitchen at the table. Benji sat beside me, and my parent's across the way. My mom was sipping a cup of tea and my dad was leaned over the table on his folded arms. "So," my dad started, "what you're saying is that you want Benji to go with you tomorrow?"

I nodded, but didn't say anything.

"And stay in the same room?" He went on slowly and glanced at my mom.

Again, I nodded.

My dad pursed his lips and looked at Benji. With my dad's watchful gaze, I saw Benji straighten slightly from the corner of my eye. "I trust you, Benji," Dad said to him. "You'd take care of her?"

"Of course, sir," Benji answered without hesitation. "I'd never let anything happen to her."

"Then I'll have you know if one piece of hair is harmed, you'll be dealing with me. And I don't play nice." My dad's voice remained cool and easy.

And I wanted to crawl in a hole. "Dad," I warned.

"I understand, sir," Benji said quickly.

Dad smiled. "Good, then we understand each other."

Benji nodded.

Then Dad looked to Mom and said, "Do we need to tell them about the birds and the bees?"

My mom's eyes widened and before she could say anything, I did. "Dad! I'm eighteen, I know all about the birds and the bees. I'm sure Benji's parent's told him all about them too."

My dad just grinned at me. He was doing it to get under my mom's skin. "Then you know to use—"

"Dad!" I yelled again. "We get it. If it makes you guys feel better, the room has a couch. One of us will be sleeping on it."

Dad still had a grin on his face. "Okay, honey."

"I guess it'll be okay." My mom forced a smile. "We could still go—"

"I can do this alone," I assured her. "Benji won't let anything happen. I'll go visit Zoe and I'll go straight back to the room."

She sat her cup down and then a few seconds past before she nodded. "Okay, but please call me after you see Zoe. If you need me, call me and I'll be on my way."

"I know, Mom." I smiled. "But it'll be fine."

She nodded again and took a drink of her tea.

"Since that's settled." I stood up. "I'm going to walk Benji out to his truck."

Benji rose up too and told my parent's bye. He shook my dad's hand and then I pulled Benji from the room. My chest deflated from the breath I held in. The morning air felt nice right now. It didn't go as badly as I expected, but my dad...he can be really embarrassing. But it beat my mom yelling like she would've done if I asked to go to Mia's house.

I leaned back against Benji's truck and sighed. "I'm glad that's over."

His cheeks were still red. "Uh, yeah. And I take back that part about your dad not being scary. He scares the shit out of me."

I laughed and reached for the sides of the green and black plaid flannel he wore. It was the same one he was wearing when I met him. "My dad's quiet. It's something to worry about because usually they're the ones that could plan world domination." He let me pull him closer to me and he braced a hand beside my head.