A Mess of a Man (Cruel & Beautiful #2)(84)

“What? Don’t drink?” I ask.

“No. Don’t drink and cook!”

Now we all really laugh. Mom adds, “How about you stay away from the grill while drinking?” and she clears her throat loudly because Dad stands there with a drink in hand. Now he looks adequately chastened, and Mom goes up to him and ruffles his hair.

“I’ve only had one, Michelle.”

“I know, Randy,” Mom says. “Now go light the grill.”

Ben pipes in, “Care if I join you, Randy?”

“Sure, come on.”

Ben follows Dad out and that gives Laney the opportunity to attack.

“Dang, sis, he’s freaking hot!”

“Hey, what am I?” Evan asks.

Laney looks at him and says, “You’re my husband.”

“That makes no sense,” Evan says, pouting.

“Yes, it does. You’re hot, too, but we’re not talking about you. We’re talking about Ben.”

But that was enough to satisfy Evan so he smiles.

Laney turns her attention back to me and says, “So what gives? He looks like a real catch.”

“Wait a minute, you’re basing that on his looks only?” I ask.

She does have the decency to look ashamed. “You’re right. That was a leap, wasn’t it?”

“I’ll say. But, to your point, he is a catch, and not because of his looks. But you need to get to know him. So talk to him.”

“Okay, I will. But on another note, have you scheduled anything yet with the doctor?”

Shit. I’ve done such a great job of sweeping this aside, I’ve forgotten all about it.

“Samantha Calhoun, what the hell are you thinking? Oh wait. Clearly you aren’t thinking at all. This is your life you are playing with. You understand that, don’t you?”

Evan says, “Laney, keep your voice down.”

I look at my brother-in-law and say, “Thanks, Evan. Laney, I’ve been really busy. Work is …”

“Too busy to save your life? Have you told Ben yet?”

“No! And I don’t want you to either. Now drop it. This isn’t the time or place. This is a family dinner where he’s supposed to be meeting you all, having a good time. I’ll tell him, but I certainly won’t do it tonight at the dinner table.”

Laney’s eyes droop. She and I share the same hazel eyes. But now instead of hers being bright, they are dimmed by sadness. “I just don’t want to lose my baby sister to something she could’ve prevented by a procedure that she keeps putting off.”

Guilt weighs heavily on me. “I promise I’ll do something about it. I swear.”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with Ben, does it? Tell me it doesn’t.”

“No. He’s great,” I lie. He is great but I know I risk losing him with all of this. And right now, a broken heart on top of all this is something I truly don’t want to face.

Dad and Ben come back inside and Mom hands them a platter with the steaks. All the men traipse back outside to grill them while the women do kitchen duty.

“Mom, she hasn’t scheduled anything yet.” Laney is a tattletale.

“I had my appointment just the other day,” I defend.

“Oh, Sam, it was so hard on your father when I was sick. Please, I’m begging you, don’t put it off. If anything happened to you, I’m not sure he could handle it. And I don’t know if I could either. Just do it. Please. I know it’ll be hard. But look at Laney.” Mom’s eyes are almost ready to spill water, and I don’t want to ruin tonight.

“I won’t. I need to make another appointment is all. I lost an employee at work and I’m swamped, but I’ll take care of it.”

“You’re too precious to me, Sam. Please do it.”

Soon the men are back with the cooked steaks and we all head into dinner. I paste on my happy face, as does Laney. Ben sees right through it, though. He rubs my leg under the table, and his eyes question me, only I can’t provide the answers he seeks. I grin and laugh and act appropriately to make things appear normal. But dinner drags as my dilemma burdens me. I would love nothing more than to be able to talk to Ben about it, but that’s the one thing I can’t do. The thought of it has me cringing in fear, as I know it would him.

“Michelle, this is delicious,” Ben says. My mom glows under his compliments.

“Yeah, Mom, you outdid yourself,” I add. Then I tell Ben, “Save room for dessert. You’re going to die when you taste her peach cobbler.”

And when he digs into it, all he does is “mmm.” And who can blame him? It’s warm, gooey, and covered in creamy vanilla ice cream.

When he scrapes his bowl clean, he says, “Michelle, that was way past good. Thank you for such an excellent meal.”

“It was my pleasure, Ben. And you come back to eat here with Sam any time.”

“Thank you. I hope to do that.”

Laney and I help Mom clean up while the guys hang out with Dad. I’m sure Dad is entertaining them with all kinds of stories, as is his usual way.

Mom leans over and says, “Ben seems to fit right in with the men. He doesn’t hold back or seem at all immature.” I can’t contain my laughter at her statement.