Hunter Hill University: Reaching Rose Part 23

"Wow," my mother says, not at all expecting someone to say they don't cook their Thanksgiving meal.

Once we're done with the food, we set the table and call everyone to take their seats. This time, I remember to sit to Ben's left. And again, Terri sits on the other side of him.

Throughout dinner, I see Terri eyeing Ben and me. I want to say something, but I don't. Now's not the time to ask her why she needed to bring Ben clothes in the middle of the night.

"Mom, dinner was out of this world."

"Thank you, Patti."

"Yes, Mrs. Duncan, it was delicious. Thank you for having me," Ben says.

"Ditto for me too, Mrs. D."

"Oh, don't mention it," Mom tells them.

"Trevor sure was tasty," Dad adds.

"Trevor?" Ben leans in to me and asks.

"Trevor...our turkey," Dad says with a straight face.

Ben's hand flies to his mouth.

"Don't tell me you don't know where turkey comes from, son."

The whole table erupts in laughter.

"Dad. Ben doesn't like to think about that."

"What are you sayin', Rose?" Dad jokes.

I shake my head. "I'm sorry, Ben."

"I thought you didn't name your animals."

"We don't. Daddy's teasing."

"Trevor was tasty, Mr. D." Holly thinks she's funny.

Ben leans in to me again. "Your family's gonna cause me to go vegan."

I chuckle and apologize simultaneously.

"Don't laugh. I'm serious."

"Benny," Terri says, after overhearing him talking to me. "I think it's cute that you care about animals."

"I think it's more that I don't want to know I'm eating them."

"See? Cute," she continues. "So last night...in your room." Her voice is all seductive now. She's gotta know I like him. "Did you sleep well after I left?"

Holly chokes on her water.

"Uh...yeah...thanks for the clothes."

"Terri's grin is as wide as her a.s.s," Holly whispers from my other side.

I laugh beneath my breath.

"Did anyone show you the farm, Ben?" Terri asks, her smile cunning.

"Yes, actually. Rose did the last time I was here."

"Oh," she says, her grin still wily.

"By the way, Bruce," Ben addresses my dad. "Tomorrow, Rose and I are going to visit a buddy of mine. I was wondering if you'd mind if I took Rose out on an official date afterwards."

Oh my G.o.d.

"Oh my G.o.d," Holly says.

"Oh. My. G.o.d," I hear Terri say under her breath.

"Of course I don't mind. As long as Rose doesn't."

My stomach gurgles. "I don't mind," I whisper, looking at Ben.

"Good," he says, looking back at me.

We're all cleaning up the dishes after dinner when Dad pulls Ben aside and says, "You like football? Let's go watch the game."

Holly pulls me aside, away from the sink and the others, and says, "Ben did that for you, you know. He totally dissed Terri for your sake."

"That was pretty cool."

"So."

Speak of the devil.

"I thought you two weren't dating?" Terri asks snidely, her face contorting in a sneer.

"Well...we weren't."

"And...now...you are?"

I don't know what her problem is. "I guess."

"G.o.d, Rose. Yes or no? Make up your mind," she says.

"Obviously, he doesn't want you," Holly says to my sister. "He wants Rose. Hence, the date tomorrow night."

"Ugh." Terri stomps off.

"Is she a brat or what?"

"She's really not," I tell Holly. "I don't know why she's acting that way."

"Well, don't let her near Ben. But she is right about one thing...s.h.i.t or get off the pot, because you know Cali's friend, Tabitha?"

"Yeah?"

"She made a move on him too."

"What?"

"Nothing happened. She suggested, he declined...eventually."

"Eventually?"

"He was leaving the bar and she invited him to go home with her. He stopped, thought about it, and I kicked him out."

"So, like, he would've gone with her?"

"I don't know, Rose. Probably not, but if you don't let him know you like him...he is getting other offers."

"When was this? When Tabitha seduced him?"

"Uh. I don't remember...I drove him home that night. Oh...he said he was going out with you the next...day...uh. Oh."

"November eighth?"

"It could have been." Holly shakes her head.

"So he had a date with me the next day and he was considering going out with Tabitha?"

"Having s.e.x. Not going out."

"Oh. Helpful."

"Well, they're two different things."

I toss my hand towel onto the table and walk out the back door.

Holly follows. "Rose. He's a guy. That particular night, even though you guys had a date, which you canceled, by the way, he wasn't getting a vibe from you. He said he really wasn't sure how much you really liked him. Did you ever even tell him?"

"Well...no."

"See. He also said he thought maybe you weren't ready to date yet. That you were still struggling with the accident...and maybe he should stay away."

"He said that?"

"I don't remember exactly, Rose, but something along those lines. If you don't like him, that's one thing. But if you do, let him know you're ready."

"s.h.i.t."

"Or get off the pot."

"You're a freak."

"I know. But hey, you said yes to tomorrow night, so that's a start."

As we're walking across my backyard, I realize I haven't even asked how things with her have been. "Holly. I'm such a bad friend. How is Mick? I haven't even asked you, and then you had to go and send him home. Is he eating alone today?"

"Of course not. He's with his sister and his niece. He's good. Griffin and Cali are eating at Griffin's dad's restaurant. It's all good."

"But how are things with you and Mick?"

"They're great. I like having a steady boyfriend."

"Good. I'm glad."

"Yeah. You can have that with Ben too, you know."

"One step at a time, Holl."

"We're gonna have to do something about your sister, though. She's horrible."

"She's not. I'll talk with her. Something's up. She wouldn't just steal him out from under me."

"Ooh...kinky."

"Freak."

"Geek."

"There you are." Ben is standing on the patio when Holly and I return from our walk. "Your mother said dessert's on the table."

"You mind leaving right after?" Holly asks Ben. "I'd like to go see my boyfriend tonight."

"No problem. I have practice early in the morning, anyway."

Holly makes her way inside while Ben holds up his hand and silently asks me to stay put.

"Are you okay with what I said back there at the dinner table? About tomorrow night?"

"The official date. Yeah...I'm okay with that."