Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46733 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
We’re standing on the beach, me, Banner, Sonya, and dad.
I keep trying to meet dad’s eye, but he’s staring out at the horizon, his hands stuffed in his pocket, an unreadable expression on his face. It’s how he would sometimes back away after mom’s death, making it difficult to judge his mood.
“First of all, tell me. Am I right?”
Sonya stares at me, looking poised and alert despite the time. She makes her PJ shirt and pants look like a badass businesswoman’s attire.
“Yes,” I whisper, lowering my gaze. “You are. We…we did that.”
Sonya turns to Banner, who stands at my side. He stands close, and I can sense he wants to place his hand on me for support.
I can feel his need to protect me, even from this.
“Is she telling the truth?”
Banner straightens a little. “Yeah, she is. We made love.”
Sonya turns to dad, but still, he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he stares stubbornly out to sea.
“Care to explain why?” Sonya huffs, turning back to Banner.
Banner sighs. “I can explain. But you might think we’re crazy.”
Sonya tuts. “It’s my wedding in a few hours. And you were doing that. Are you under the impression I currently think you’re sane?”
Finally, dad turns to us.
He folds his arms, looking at Banner and then at me. It’s still impossible to tell how he feels, at least for me. He’s hiding his emotions so well.
“Explain, then,” he says. “What exactly is going on here?”
We walk along the beach as Banner talks, with occasional input from me.
Banner explains about the party, going to Tokyo, and his desire for me. “It’s not just a fling. It’s not just…I’m sorry, Gil. It’s not just sexual. I want to be with Brooke forever. I want to marry her one day. I want to have kids with her.”
“I want all of that too,” I say quickly. “So bad. It’s like what I said, Dad, about being magnetized to each other. About not being able to fight it. I was talking about Banner.”
Dad pauses, causing us all to stop, tilting his head at me. “So you almost kissed a year ago. And that’s why you went to Tokyo, Banner?”
Banner nods. “Gil, I swear, I tried to forget about her. I tried telling myself I was going insane and had to stop. Think about it. I’d never talked about marriage, about having a family before. And then I just knew I had to have one with her. I knew I had to protect her, provide for her, support her in every way I could.”
My chest glows at his words, my cheeks heating up, my heart pumping warmly.
Dad runs a hand through his hair, staring at Banner. “If you were anybody else, I’d be swinging at you right now.”
Banner nods. “I get it.”
“But that’s the thing,” Dad goes on. “You’re… you. I know you’re a good person. I know you’re not the sort of creep to go around hitting on people just for the sake of it. The amount of stuff we’ve been through together….”
I wonder if he’s talking about when Banner’s parents died and dad supported him.
“I didn’t do this to hurt you,” Banner says. “I never wanted that. So I thought, maybe I’d be able to resist, get through this weekend. But all I can think about is having a family with Brooke, being with her forever, taking care of her.”
It’s difficult not to smile, which would be inappropriate right now. But his words are warming me like he’s wrapping me in a blanket made of the future. A promise neither of us will ever break.
“And I felt the same,” I mutter. “All this time. Exactly the same. I thought I was crazy too.”
“But don’t you want to live a little first?” Sonya says.
“I can live while being with the man of my dreams,” I tell her firmly. “Or, if by ‘live a little’ you mean sleep around, date a bunch of guys, then no. I don’t want that. I’ve found the man I want, and that’s it.”
“I’d prefer that, too,” Dad says quietly. “For you to find somebody you care about, settle down. It’s not like Banner would ever stop you from pursuing your dreams.”
“I’d help her,” Banner says fiercely. “I’d do whatever it takes to support her in every way I can.”
“I know you would,” Dad says, nodding. “I’ve got no doubt about that.”
Sonya turns to him. “I thought you’d be angry.”
Dad runs his hand through his hair again, teeth clenched, blowing out a slow puff of air.
“It’s like I said if this was anybody else. But I’ve known you, Banner, for too long. I’ve seen you help too many people. I know how sensitive you can be, even if most people would never believe it. I’ve never seen you use women. Even back in the day, when you tried to date, and it didn’t work out…you were always respectful, always kind.”