Page 99 of Resisting the Fall

Thanks to replaying those late-night moments with Ben on endless repeat before finally succumbing to sleep, I was having second thoughts about our lunch with Tom and Ann. It had seemed like a fine idea before, but after those kisses? Ones I definitely wanted more of and which Ben seemed perfectly willing to share with me? Somehow, it made lunch with Ben’s parents more intimidating. But I loved his parents, and they’d shown nothing but warmth to me since I’d come back. Maybe I just needed to get out of my own head.

The sight of Ben’s truck pulling up to my mom’s had me shoving my jumbled thoughts aside, and I headed out to meet him. When he saw me coming, Ben walked around to the passenger side of the truck and waited for me.

“Hey,” he said when I reached him, appearing slightly uncertain how to proceed after last night.

I tucked my hair behind my ear and gave a timid smile. “Hey.”

He opened the door and helped me in. Where the seatbelt came out of the frame, he pulled it down until it locked before pulling it upward again and wriggling it with his other hand. With a click, it released. “That’s the trick.” He handed me the buckle. “Pull down, secure it, then wiggle it while pulling up.”

I took hold of it momentarily, then allowed the seatbelt to retract. “Thanks, but I’d prefer to sit in the middle seat next to you.”

Ben’s shoulders relaxed, his smile making it clear he didn’t oppose in the slightest. Once he’d climbed in next to me and started the truck, he took hold of my hand, interlocking our fingers. How did such a simple gesture make me feel so completely giddy?

Ann was on the back porch when we drove up. She came at me with extended arms before my feet touched the ground. “Maven.” After a hug, she brought a hand to my cheek and looked at me with a smile that caused an unexpected welling of emotions to rise in my chest. It appeared she’d missed me as much as I’d missed her. “I’m so glad you came.”

“Thanks for having me.”

“Hello to you too, Mom,” Ben interjected, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. His timing was impeccable. Another moment or two under Ann’s concentrated attention, and I might be at risk of tears. This was not a promising start.

“It’s good to have you here, as well.” Ann smiled up at him before looping her arm through both of ours and leading us toward the house. “I hope you’re both hungry.”

Tom welcomed me with another hug. It was so full of warmth and love that I tucked the memory away, right along with my welcome from Ann. I could pull them out again on those hard days that would inevitably come when this was all over.

The four of us were soon sitting around the table, eating and reminiscing and laughing so much my cheeks ached. Tom retold the story of my big catch to Ann, for probably the hundredth time, and he didn’t leave out my favorite part—how Ben had hooked a ten-incher right after me that had needed to be released because of how small it was.

Ben leaned back in his chair with his arms crossed, pretending to be insulted by the whole conversation. “I’ll have you know, Maven just memorialized that fish of mine on a pumpkin.”

Tom’s eyes flashed with humor. “Do you have a picture?”

I pulled one up and handed him my phone.

He laughed a deep, full laugh. “I don’t know. This fish might be a little bigger than yours, Ben.”

It was impossible not to join in on Tom’s laughter.

“You’ll have to send us that one,” Ann said as she looked at it. “We’ll print it and put it on the fridge.”

“Here’s an interesting fact,” Ben said, leaning forward and sending me a pointed look. “Maven’s really good at climbing trees.”

Ann and Tom shared a puzzled glance, but I knew exactly what Ben was about to share. I gave a subtle shake of my head, my eyes threatening the severest of consequences if he told them.

He smirked. “That’s it. I just thought you both should know.”

Tom’s expression mirrored his son’s. “I thought you were about to share how Maven used to climb up the tree by your window to sneak into your room at night.”

Now it was me and Ben sharing a look. A hot blush settled onto my cheeks, but Ben chuckled, clearly not the least bit concerned. “You knew about that?” he asked.

“I’m a farmer. I’m outside before the sun. I saw her slip out a handful of times.”

I covered my heated cheeks. “It was just when my mom was working nights and Carson was away at school. I didn’t like being home by myself.”

“That’s why we had our boys share a room for so long,” Tom said with a smile. “It helps ’em stay accountable. Though it was a good thing Tate wasn’t sneaking girls in.” He flicked his chin toward Ben. “That one sleeps like a log.”

“Sleeps like a log and sounds like a lumberjack,” Ann said with a laugh.

“I don’t snore that bad.” Ben’s concerned gaze fell on me. “Do I?”

I tucked my lips in. “Your snoring is one thing I don’t miss about you.”