“This is going to sound stupid. It’s nothing major, I swear. But I, uh, I might have supplemented your rent last year. And the year before.”
Judging by the look on Gabby’s face, she hasn’t a clue what I mean. So I explain how I paid part of her rent because I knew she was paying for college on her own and wanted to help.
“Tío Julio sent Tía Carmen money for your schooling, but when I told him I didn’t think any of it had actually been given to you, he was pissed. So he gave me extra money to help you.” I swallow. “Since I had such a hard time talking to you, what with my panic attacks and all, I thought it would be easier to pay your rent. Sorry I didn’t talk to you about it back then. There might’ve been other things you needed instead.”
Fuck. Until this moment, it hadn’t occurred to me that maybe I should’ve just given her the money. Why did I think I knew what she needed in the first place?
Ignoring the bout of nausea that’s taken residence in my gut, I wipe my forehead and wait for her to say something. When she starts crying, I feel like complete shit.
But then she leans over Sienna and hugs me so hard, I almost choke.
“Thanks, Benny. You don’t know how much that means to me. I love you so much.” She lets go to dry her eyes. “I always knew that sweet boy I grew up with was in there somewhere.”
Just like that, we’re good. We smile at each other, but then she pokes me hard in the chest.
“Okay, now focus! I want to talk about Lily, but first I need to know, how did you and Sienna end up together?”
That’s easy.
“Well, Cinderella here lost her tennis shoe...”
35
SIENNA
Frowning, Ben stares at the security pad next to the front door. “How’d you manage to get a security system installed so quickly?”
“Oh, um, I have a family friend in security who pushed this to the front of the line.” A twinge of guilt builds in my chest over the half-truth. It’s not a lie. Not exactly. But do I need to spell out that the guy who outfitted my rental also works with foreign dignitaries? I’m just relieved my landlord didn’t mind. “Here’s the code.”
I hand him a Post-It! with the numbers and show him how to activate and disengage the system.
My stomach is in knots over this dumb thing, which wouldn’t even be an issue if my house hadn’t been vandalized. But the only way I could get Melvin to keep the break-in from my father was if I agreed to have a security system installed, which Melvin expedited. He also confirmed what Ben had heard from Janelle’s father.
According to geotag locating features on Janelle’s phone, after she stopped at my house in Charming, where I’m guessing she ransacked my bedroom, she left for Dallas. But before she landed at her parents’ house, she stayed overnight with someone named Paul E. Wagner, who goes by his middle name, Ernest.
So Amelia wasn’t wrong or lying when she said Janelle was meeting up with her ex.
I haven’t quite found a way to explain all of this to Ben, but since he already got that message from Mr. Lopez, the info isn’t imperative anymore. Not like when we thought she’d been abducted.
I’m surprised when Ben hooks an arm around my neck and kisses my forehead. “That’s great, sunshine. I want you to be safe. I’ll be gone a lot this semester, especially when I have away games.”
He pauses and looks at me. Opens his mouth. Closes it. “I mean, if it’s cool that Lily and I stay here past the summer. Not that I’m expecting to necessarily. I hadn’t, you know, processed things that far.”
“Whatever you want is fine with me,” I say cautiously. He has that deer-in-the-headlights look about him, which sets me on edge.
His expression is so serious, I just want to kiss him, but it’s obvious he has a lot to say, so I wait until he’s ready to let it out.
He clears his throat. “It’s just... this is kinda fast, huh? Moving in together.”
“Having a kid. Playing house,” I add with a hint of amusement. Not that Lily is mine, but it looks like Ben and I are taking care of her without Janelle. At least for now. I adore Lily and her broody father, so I’m more than happy to let them stay.
If Ben wants to stay.
We’re at that awkward stage where neither of us is willing to put ourselves out there. I get it. I’m afraid this will go sideways too. Having never navigated a successful relationship, I’m sure my odds of making a go of this are probably low, but I’m willing to risk it.
I remind myself of the promise I made to myself to live in the moment and appreciate what I have. And I love having Ben in my life.
I grab his hand and squeeze. “The only thing we’re missing is a white picket fence, but you’re welcome to build one for me if you want.”
His low chuckle makes me smile. “I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable. Hopefully you don’t feel like Lily and I are the house guests from hell who never leave.”
It’s my turn to laugh. “I like having you around.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely. As long as you don’t hog the covers, we’re good.” We’ve done away with the pretense that he’s staying in the other room, which now serves as Lily’s nursery.
“You’re easy to please.” He gives me a kiss that’s way too brief. “Oh, before I forget, my uncle spoke to Janelle’s parents. They offered to help pay for the extra childcare and anything else we might need.”
I’m relieved they’re supportive even though they’re being super-secretive about what’s going on with Janelle.
After he collapses on the couch, he tugs me onto his lap. “Thanks again for interviewing babysitters. I’m not sure I’d know where to begin.”
“No prob. And thank you for watching Lily while I teach a yoga class.” I’m so excited to get back to Good Vibes.
I’m doing the first round, and when I’ve narrowed it down to the best candidates, Ben will meet them too, and we’ll pick someone together. “Your sister gave me tons of input and set me up with interview questions and everything.” I laugh when I think about the first time I met Gabby. “Can I tell you a secret?”
“I definitely wanna hear your secrets.”
Ignoring the big one about myself I’m loath to discuss, I share how Gabby had a list of interview questions last year when she was meeting prospective roommates.
“Except I got nervous on my way over because she sounded intense on the phone. So I pulled over up the street and vaped, but I might have accidentally overindulged because I was a little loopy by the time I got here. Pretty sure I made an ass of myself.”
The smile on his face is huge. “So... you got really high and then interviewed with Gabby?” When I nod, he laughs. “That’s priceless.”
And then I might’ve heckled Rider, Gabby’s now-boyfriend, who lived across the street at the time, but that afternoon is a little fuzzy, so I decide we’re all better off not remembering those details.
“I should add that I’ve never gotten high when I babysit. I wouldn’t do something like that.”