“For hidden meanings or some type of riddle?”
“Maybe,” he smiled, holding the door for me.
I entered the house and headed for the kitchen, going straight for the leftover chicken in the fridge. I pulled it out and set it on the counter, and Ben and I helped ourselves.
“Well, next month my dad and I are heading down to San Diego for a few days… I was wondering if you wanted to come with us.”
I looked at him for a few seconds, surprised at the offer. “What’s in San Diego?” I finally asked.
“We’re picking up a couple of horses for Marlo—rescued horses—and bringing them back here to be rehabilitated. It’d be a good idea to have a vet with us. There shouldn’t be any problems, but just in case.”
I slightly nodded my head. “Sure, that sounds like something I’d be interested in. What days?”
“Uh, Marlo told them the tenth.”
“But you said a few days?”
“Uh, well… Just thought while I was down there, I’d enjoy a few of the sights. Padres game, naval museum…Sea World,” he smiled.
I chuckled. “You want to go to Sea World?”
“Sure, why not?” he shrugged.
I thought about that for a few seconds. “Actually I’d like to go to Sea World.”
“Would ya?”
“Yeah, I’ve only been once. I think my mom took me when I was about nine or ten. Oh, ten. I had to be about ten because that’s when my dad left for Chicago and it was kind of…a celebratory event, I guess. My mom sold something—I don’t really remember what it was—so we would have the money to go.”
Ben leaned against the counter and folded his arms across his chest as he listened.
“My mom…” I smiled at the memory. “I just remember her being really happy—playful, and just…carefree. Looking back I realize why. I mean what it meant from a grownup’s perspective, you know? But at the time it was just the coolest thing to have such a silly mom. That’s what I remember, her being really silly and goofy. We had a great time.”
Thinking about my mom and that particular memory really affected me, and even though I often thought of memories that made me cry, I really didn’t feel like getting emotional in front of anyone.
“Anyways,” I said, turning away to brush a stray tear. “Yeah, I’d like to go with you guys.”
I busied myself with eating, and when I heard the crinkling of a bag, I glanced at Ben with a bag of Funyons.
“Hey, where’d you get those?” I exclaimed.
He smiled and said, “My secret stash.”
“You have a secret stash in this kitchen?”
“Maybe.”
He taunted me for a few seconds, but then he eventually held the bag out for me to help myself.
“You like baseball?” he asked.
“Yeah, I like to watch it. My boyfriend in high school was a baseball player,” I added with a smile.
“Oh, yeah? What was his name?”
“Griffin McCoy,” I said
“Griffin McCoy,” he repeated. “Sounds like a pitcher.”
I chuckled. “He was. Nice call.”
“And whatever happened to ol’ Griff?” he teased.
“You mean why did we break up?”
He nodded.
“Well…I’m not really sure. Just one of those things I guess.”
“One of those things? Oh, come on, you gotta remember something. Like…he was a jerk, or he was too immature, or he was a terrible kisser, or—”
“No, he wasn’t a terrible kisser,” I smiled.
“No? You remember that much, huh? A lot of kissing going on behind the bleachers?”
I laughed. “Maybe. But I think we broke up because he was going away for college. He got a scholarship.”
“Oh? To where?”
“Uh, Washington State, or University of Washington… One of those schools.”
Ben slightly nodded.
“He did make it pro,” I added.
“Really?”
“Yeah. He got drafted by the Reds and I think he’s still playing in their minor league.”
“Hmm. Cool. You ever regret the breakup?”
“Why, because he’s a professional baseball player?”
“No, just…a boyfriend that you might miss.”
“Nah. I’ve actually talked to him a few times these last couple of years, but we’re just friends.”
He took another Funyon out of the bag and ate it, so I did the same.
“You have a favorite team?” he asked.
“You mean in the majors?”
He nodded.
“Mm, not really. I don’t exactly have time to follow sports right now. Well, I take that back,” I scoffed. “I follow NASCAR.”
“Whether you like to or not,” he smiled.
“I prefer to,” I replied, and he nodded his head. I didn’t have to explain it to Ben because he’d heard every opinion of mine on the subject.
He handed me the bag of chips and opened the refrigerator. “You heard from him?” he asked.
“You mean since Las Vegas? No.”
He grabbed a pitcher of iced tea and set it on the counter to pour two glasses.
“I haven’t called him either,” I offered voluntarily.
“I know you haven’t,” he replied. After a few seconds went by he asked, “So you have any other guys that you’ve dated before Austin?”
“Uh…there was one guy that I liked just before I met Austin, but…”
“But what?”
“Well, Austin came into the picture and that was all it took.”
“He stole you from another guy?” he laughed.
I took a few minutes to explain Levi, and how I was so set on not dating anyone. But I did decide to casually date him, and then Austin had to mess everything up.
“Maybe you should give Levi a call,” Ben suggested.
“What? Are you joking?”
“Why? Does he hate you for choosing another guy?”
“No, we weren’t that exclusive to begin with. But I have no interest in another relationship.”
“You’re still going to wait for Austin?”
I shrugged.
“For how long?”
I sighed, but Ben shook his head.
“Never mind,” he said. “I’m just suggesting that you start dating again.”
“Why?”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to.”
He shrugged as he put the pitcher of iced tea away. “Okay, I’m just trying to help. Maybe if you started seeing someone else, Austin would open his eyes.”
“Well guys are not the answer. You—all of you—make my life miserable.”
He chuckled. “Sorry.”
“Yeah, you’d better be.”
Two weeks later I was in Santa Clarita, spending time with my aunt and uncle. Later that night I met up with Autumn, and while we were sitting in Percy’s listening to some music, she frowned and said, “I need a man.”
I chuckled and took a sip of my drink. “No, you don’t. They’re just a hassle.”
“No,” she nodded, seeming deep in thought. “I need the hassle.”
Ben popped into my head immediately and I sat there, silently debating it in my head. “I think I have someone you should meet,” I finally said.
“Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve mentioned Ben, right? He grew up with Austin in Bakersfield?”
“Oh, yeah. The barn guy’s kid.”
I smiled. “Yeah, he’s Heath’s son.”
“Well I don’t mean to sound shallow, but is he at least good-looking?”
“Yeah, he’s good-looking. I mean I think he’s good-looking. I don’t know what you’d think, but I’m pretty sure you’d agree.”
“Well you’ve never mentioned that he’s a tasty treat, Nova. Tell me more.”
I told her what I could about Ben, and even though she didn’t get overexcited about it, she at least didn’t shut down th
e idea. By the time we left the club she wanted to meet him, so when I went back to Bakersfield the next day, I presented the idea to Ben.
He didn’t say anything at first and only smirked, but as he put away the saddle he’d been cleaning, he said, “We’ll double. I’ll go out with Autumn if you ask Levi out.”
I scoffed. “What? What kind of bargain is that?”
“It’s a fair one.”
“Why? I don’t want to go on a date with anyone right now. I’m content with being single and miserable until Austin comes to his senses.”
He stared at me for a few seconds. “Then I don’t want to go out with her.”
I groaned. “Does this have to do with me or you? –Because if you’re really trying to get me to date again, I’m honestly not interested. I’m in love with Austin and nothing is going to change that. If you’re insecure all on your own and need my help, then just say so.”
He sighed as he set the oil on a shelf. “Okay, I don’t want to go out with her by myself, Nova. I’m not sure I’m up for that.”
“Okay, and I understand that. But does it really have to be Levi? I mean I sort of pushed him aside and…”
He smiled and shook his head. “No, it doesn’t have to be with Levi. I mean I could set you up with Charlie…”
I kind of laughed, but I felt like it would be better than me crawling back to Levi. However, Ben had already warned me that Charlie had a crush on me and I didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.
“Fine, I’ll see what I can do.”
“What do you mean he doesn’t want to be alone with me?” Autumn asked when I called her. “I’m not that scary, am I? What have you told him?”
“It’s not you,” I said with a smile. “He’s just very…guarded. I told you this before.”
“I know, but I didn’t think he’d insist on having his mommy hold his hand for the date.”
“Oh, come one, Autumn. Why are you being so bratty? And what’s wrong with a double date?”
“Nothing, I’m just… Okay, fine. And you’re right; first dates are better that way when you’ve never met the guy.”
We made plans for the duration of the call, even discussing who my date was going to be. Even Autumn insisted on inviting Levi, claiming that he would definitely say yes. I just went along with it, not even caring one way or the other. If Levi didn’t mind putting up with me then I was fine with it.
But I wasn’t sure what had changed over the past year and a half when we all met up a week later. Ben and I met Autumn first for dinner, and just after the basic introductions, Levi arrived a few minutes later. For some reason I didn’t remember him looking so good. Even though I’d always thought he was cute, that night he just looked…better.
Autumn and Ben seemed to carry conversations with each other pretty well, so that left lots of opportunities for me to talk to Levi. He was funny and friendly, and there didn’t seem to be any kind of ill feelings on his part like I was worried about. He was just the same guy that I remembered from before.
Just better looking.
“How does that happen?” I asked Ben as we drove back to Bakersfield that night.
“Our perspectives change,” he said matter-of-factly. “Or maybe you’re just really—”
“If you say it I’ll hit you.”
He laughed. “Fine, we won’t talk about your needs.”
I sat there, quietly thinking over the night.
Finally Ben said, “So you think you’d want to see him again?”
“Levi?”
“No, the old man that tried to feel you up at the bowling alley.” I laughed and he said, “Yes, Levi.”
I thought about it for a moment. “Nah, I don’t think so. At least not to date him.”
“Why not?”
“Just because I think he’s cute doesn’t mean I need to date him.”
“Why not?”
I groaned. “Would you give it a rest? Because I’m in love with someone else, Ben. Why lead another guy on? Let’s talk about Autumn. You said you liked her, but how much? I mean what do you really think of her?”
“Mm, she’s not bad.”
“Not bad?”
“She’s a really cute girl.”
“You talk like you’re in sixth grade.”
“I feel like I am. You’re sitting there pestering me about it. Should I pass you back the note with my response?”
I had to smile at that, but I did say, “Sure. It says, ‘Will you go out with me again?’ ”
He pretended to think about it and asked, “What are the boxes to check?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes or no.”
“Not maybe?”
“Nope.”
“Fine, then sure, I’d go out with her again.”
I was pleased with the answer because I could tell that Autumn liked him as well.
But things became pretty busy for the next ten days and neither of us got a chance to go out with Autumn or Levi. At least I knew that my excuse was busyness since I had something going on both times Levi called me. And Levi knew from the start that we’d just be hanging out as friends. I hadn’t given him too many details—just that I was in an on/off relationship already. We did set a date for something casual after my trip to San Diego, and I was actually looking forward to it.
Ben only called Autumn once, and that was because he promised me he would. He basically told her he’d be busy for the next few weeks and that she probably wouldn’t hear from him. Autumn didn’t seem put off by it, but I was flustered with him. He had a few opportunities to go out with her but he chose not to.
We left early for San Diego on August 10th and we arrived at Hattie Burke’s ranch in La Mesa around noon. Heath and Hattie discussed the two horses while Ben and I spent time with them. They both still looked underweight and a little feeble, but they were a much better sight than the pictures we’d seen of them from before.
After spending the afternoon taking care of business, the evening found us at Petco Park for a game between the Padres and the Braves. I had a lot of fun, and it wasn’t my first time going to a major league baseball game, but spending time with Heath and Ben made the experience even better.
We got in close to eleven that night. Hattie had arranged for us to stay in a bed-and-breakfast that was just down the road from her. We each had our own rooms and mine was right next to Ben’s upstairs. I had just settled into my bed when I heard a noise in the corner of the room. I’ll admit that it scared me—I wasn’t one that liked the dark, especially when I was somewhere new. I remained still, hoping that I was just hearing things, but I heard it again, even louder. It sounded like something moving around in my room; something living.
After the third time I heard it, I couldn’t take it any more. I jumped up from my bed and sprinted to the door. After a brief pause in the hallway, I went straight to Ben’s room and just walked right in.
“What the—?”
He sat up in bed just as I shut the door behind me, but then it went completely dark so I flipped on the light.
“Ah!” he yelled, shielding his eyes.
“Sorry,” I said, flipping the light off.
“What in the world are you doing?” he asked. I could hear him searching for the lamp and then it switched on. He stared at me for several seconds as I just stood there in front of the door.
“There’s something in my room,” I finally said.
He just looked at me for a moment. “Like what?”
“I don’t know; something moving around.”
He chuckled. “Maybe it’s a big rat.”
“It’s not funny!” I hissed.
He laughed again and then got out of bed. “Fine, you want me to go slay the dragon?”
“Yes.”
He gave me a smug smile as he approached the door, so I opened it for him. Once we were in my room he switched on the light and asked, “Where’d you hear it?”
“Over there,” I pointed.
Ben walked across th
e room toward the dresser and paused, glancing around it and under it. “Well I don’t see anything.”
I entered the room a little further, very cautiously, and looked toward the closet. “Maybe it was in there,” I said.
Ben went to open the closet door and I observed from a distance. There was nothing there until he moved my backpack and something else moved.
“Ah, holy shit!” he yelled, jumping back from the closet.
It made me scream—really loud—and I jumped up onto the bed. “What is it!?” I cried.
My heart was racing pretty fast when he bent down and picked something up. With a big smile he held it with two hands and said, “It’s your dragon.”
“What the hell is that thing!?” I squealed.
Ben laughed just as Heath and the homeowner entered the room.
“It’s an iguana,” Ben told me. “Surely you’ve seen one of these things, haven’t you?”
“Oh my goodness, you found him!” Vera said, coming across the room. She held out her hands and Ben passed it over.
“That’s your pet?” I asked.
“I’m so sorry,” she replied. “He went missing about three days ago. He’s never disappeared for that long so I thought he got outside.”
I was still standing on the bed and Ben smiled as he held his hand out to help me down.
“Are you okay?” Vera asked. “I’m so sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I just heard something over there and… Well, at least you found him.”
“Yes, thank you so much. And this is Miles,” she said, stepping toward me with it.
I shrunk behind Ben out of sheer disgust.
“He’s friendly,” Ben said, nudging me for being such a dork.
“Uh, yeah, I see that. I’m sorry,” I said to Vera. “It’s just that it’s late and…”
“Oh, no worries,” she told me.
I reached over to pet the thing anyways, just to polite, and Vera smiled.
“Well, I’ll take Miles off your hands so you can get back to bed. Again, I’m so sorry.” She turned to Ben and added, “But thank you for finding him.”
She left the room and I let out a huge breath of air.
“You are so afraid of reptiles,” Ben murmured as he shut the closet door.
“So?”
He chuckled and turned to face me. “And what if you ever have to treat one some day?”
Nova Page 29
