Bennett (On the Line Book 2)(41)

“I hope my present is finally meeting Christopher.”

“Ah, no.”

He furrowed his brow and stepped inside. James came out of the kitchen and a feeling of panic lodged in my throat. I’d trusted my historically-an-* roommate with my deepest secret. He could spill it to Liam right now, laugh his ass off, and leave me to pick up the pieces.

“Merry Christmas, Liam,” James said, turning to me right after my brother muttered a “Merry Christmas” in return. “I’m just gonna get a quick shower and go.”

Relief set in. My secret would live to see another day. But hopefully not many more, because I was ready to have everything out in the open. I just wanted Bennett by my side when that happened.

“Where’s Mom?” Liam asked, sitting on my couch.

“At the store.”

“How long is she staying here?”

“She hasn’t said. I tell her every day that she needs to go back home, pack her stuff, and leave Michael.”

Liam shook his head and looked disgusted. “She won’t. She’ll wait ’til he kicks her out.”

“Exactly. We know the pattern well.”

I was about to sit down by Liam when there was another knock at the door. I opened it and saw a uniformed messenger holding out a package.

“Charlotte Holloway?”

“Yeah, that’s me . . . hold on.”

I got five dollars from my purse and gave it to him. He passed me the package and gave me a mock salute.

When I opened it, there was a small, wrapped Christmas gift inside. My heart skipped a beat as I wondered if it was from Bennett. Part of me wanted to open it later, when I was alone, but another part was too eager.

I tore into the package and found a small black box. Inside was a pearl ring with little diamonds on each side of the stone. The June birthstone. I broke out into a huge grin as I read the card.



Merry Christmas, baby. Wish we could be together.





~B





“What do we have here?” Liam ripped the card from my hand.

“Give it back!”

“Aw, he calls you baby. How original.” He held the note in the air where I had no hope of reaching it and looked at me. “B? I thought his name was Christopher.”

“It is.”

“Then what’s this?” He shook the note back and forth.

I had to think fast. “It’s . . . my nickname for him. Boo Bear.”

“Boo Bear?” Liam grimaced. “The f*ck is that? Is this guy a pansy?”

“Give it to me, Liam. Now.”

“Why haven’t I met him?”

I glared at him. “It just never feels like the right time to introduce him to my overbearing brother.”

“A good guy would want to meet your family.”

“Who said he doesn’t want to?”

“Then where the f*ck is he?” Liam narrowed his eyes at me. “The only guy who’s stepped up so far is Riley.”

“He had no business calling you! Give me that note, Liam.”

“You ought to consider it. Where’s this Boo Bear * at? It’s Christmas, Charlotte. What about next Christmas? Will he be with someone else then, too?”

“I’m a grown woman,” I said through gritted teeth. “And right now I’m a very pissed off one. Give me that note.”

He handed it over, shaking his head.

“I just want what’s best for my niece or nephew,” he said.

“I do, too. You need to trust my judgment. Riley is a complete *. And I don’t have to be with a man to be a great parent to my child.”

“So you’re not with him, then? Christopher Van Douchenozzle, I mean.”

“If I wanted you to know anything more, I’d tell you.”

The apartment door opened and Mom came in, her arms full of grocery sacks. Liam walked over to take them from her. I went into my bedroom and typed out a quick text to Bennett.

Me: I got the gift. It’s beautiful. Thank you.

Bennett: You’re welcome. Miss you.

Me: How’s Christmas with your family?

Bennett: It’s good. Wish you were here.

Me: Better go help my mom cook. When will I see you again?

Bennett: Leaving on a road trip as soon as I get home tomorrow. Gone for three days.

Me: Okay. Don’t forget the 18-week appointment is Friday.

Bennett: I couldn’t forget that. Pick you up for it at your office?

Me: Sure.

I tossed my phone on my bed and went to the kitchen, trying not to think about how long it would be until I saw him again.





Charlotte

The office was quiet and nearly empty this week. Most everyone had taken vacation time between Christmas and New Year’s, but I was working because I wanted to save my vacation days for some extra time on my maternity leave.

It was just Riley and me working today, which was why the door to my office was closed. There was no court today, so I was spending the morning organizing files. Bennett would be picking me up late this morning for my doctor’s appointment, and I was dying to see him.

Riley opened the door to my office and leaned against the frame. “Hey, how was your Christmas?”