Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(125)

“Big stud?” Sean asked. Marcus winked.

The waiter showed up and took all their orders. It wasn’t a big menu, featuring steak, more steak, and a chicken option. They all opted for steak.

“So, inquiring minds want to know,” Marcus said as the waiter bustled away. “How are you going to work out the distance gap? It’s a cheap flight, so long-distance until one of you buckles and moves toward the other? Maybe meet in the middle?”

Sean got uncomfortable and fiddled with his napkin.

Apparently it was left to Krista to break the news. “Clean cut.”

Five pairs of confused eyes looked at Krista. One pair stared at his napkin.

Kate was the first to recover, “Wait, what the f**k do you mean, clean cut?”

“Sean has to stay, I have to leave. Not much else we can do.” It was Krista’s turn to look at her napkin—she didn’t want to cry in front of everyone.

“That’s…”

“Not our business,” Ray cut Kate off.

Kate’s eyes got dangerous as she looked at Ray. Then she shook her head, threw her napkin on the table, and informed them all she was going to the bathroom.

“She gets that way,” Ben apologized to Sean.

Sean just shrugged, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

“Well, how about office sex?” Marcus said, wiggling his eyebrows. “Or have you already?”

“Also not our business,” Ray said, failing to hide a smile.

“No fun, Ray!” Marcus laughed.

“So tell us about your new home,” Ray said to Krista kindly.

Krista couldn’t. Not without crying. Instead, she changed the subject to something safe. “Actually, how about I give ideas for drinks after dinner?”

“I’ll be too full,” Ben said.

Krista looked at him in warning—she was great at peer pressure.

“Well? I’ve been here before. They give you a lot of food, and it’s too good not to finish. Then you’re too full to drink.”

“You’re going,” Jasmine said.

“But Jaz—“

“Shut up. You’re going.” Jasmine was pretty good, too.

After dinner they hit a bar down the street. It was the Marina, so all the boys looked about the same; spiky hair, button-down shirt, slightly baggy jeans, and literally the exact same watch. Originality must’ve been forbidden in that neck of the woods.

“Marina boys,” Marcus said as he surveyed his options. “They’re all g*y at heart, but so far in the closet they live in Narnia. Well chosen, though, Sean. No distractions for me.”

Sean smiled as they reached a booth in the back of the bar. Sean ushered Krista in, then slid in next to her. “I know you too well.”

Marcus slid in the other side, everyone else following suit.

“Why didn’t you tell the world about my acting?” Sean asked when everyone was settled.

“You had enough rumors. Then there were the problems with you and Krista. It just didn’t seem like you needed any more distractions.”

“Well, thanks, man. I appreciate it. All of you. It would have been embarrassing, to say the least.”

“Don’t worry, Sean,” Kate said, waving at the waitress. “I am doing reconnaissance to launch a counter-attack on the ol’ crones. I am currently digging up dirt. The gossip will commence as soon as I have something solid.”

“I meant to do that in the beginning, but then I got busy and never got around to it,” Krista admitted.

“I have plenty, honey,” Marcus said to Kate. “You just come see me. I’ll give you something to work off of.”

“What’s your story, Ben?” Ray asked. “How did Tory get you? We know he offered Marcus more money, but what was your turning point?”

Ben, oddly quiet all night, shrugged, “Part of the reason I went to Dexico was because of Krista. Sure, money and resources were good, but I got there by working with Krista from our dining room table. Now I am being offered more money, with more opportunity, with a tuition reimbursement program—Krista seems to be my lucky penny. I figure I best stick with her.”

Krista’s eyes teared up, “But I’m moving away.”

“So am I,” Ben said. “I have a year left in school, but I think I’ll complete it online.”

There was a stunned silence. Ben shrugged again. “If not for you, who’d do my finances?”

Out of the corner of her eye, Krista saw Sean’s head bow again.

Chapter Thirty-Five

The month was a blur. Krista gave Abbey and her job a month to find someone new. She packed everything up with the help of a pissed-off Kate and a teary Jasmine. Krista had finally met Tom Earnshaw, Mr. Montgomery’s boss, as he offered her a bigger raise and her own office. She told them what she was getting from Tory, and it turned out it was nearly what Mr. Montgomery was making, so they in no way could match it without causing some serious rifts within the department.

Since Ben would be moving, too, Abbey was furious. She constantly bitched about the art and boxes. The boxes because they were left everywhere. The art because the day after the issue with Jim, Ben started on a new piece. It was a large one, and again staged in the middle of the living room amid plastic sheets to protect the furniture. It was mostly abstract, hinting at a person in movement, except for a pair of liquid coal eyes so hate-filled the painting immediately put the viewer on edge. It managed to portray Jim’s danger, insanity, and all-around nightmarish quality. The trick of the painting, and why it was his best to date, was that the fear Ben was portraying—his fear—was not on the canvas. It was inspired by the work and felt by the viewer.