No Strings

When we finally arrive at a roped-off area housing a group of about fifteen people, I notice they’re everyone we know. Lucas and Laura are slow dancing in the corner. Amalia and her husband are sitting at a table, holding hands and talking. My eyes land on Scott, who thankfully seems to be on a date since he has a woman sitting sideways on his lap. He texted me once after our date, and not wanting to lead him on, I told him there wasn’t a connection. I told the same thing to Toby Jennings when he texted me—after Ben and I made the decision to date—and asked me to dinner.

I find Brianne standing and talking to a girlfriend of hers I’ve met once while Marcus has his arms wrapped around her from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. We lock eyes, and she leaves the person she’s talking to, to come over and hug me.

“What happened to your double date?”

“They’re downstairs dancing while we make a pit stop. Ben wanted to come up before we head to the movies.”

“Hey,” Amalia says, giving her brother a one-arm hug because he’s holding my hand and not letting go. “The event is running smoothly. I’ve already checked in with the other locations, and everything is going well.”

“Of course it is,” he remarks. “You’re running it. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

His sister lovingly rolls her eyes before her features turn serious. “Have you heard from Dad? Gerald and I have some news, and I wanted to tell you both at the same time, but he hasn’t returned any of my messages.”

Ben frowns. “He’s probably busy with the quarterly reports due soon.” But as he speaks, I can see it in his features that he’s worried.

“Yeah, maybe,” she says, not sounding like she agrees. “But, um… he hasn’t been in his office all week.”

“What do you mean?” Ben’s back goes ramrod straight.

“I stopped by, and his secretary said he hasn’t been in all week.”

“That can’t be right…” He pulls his phone out and hits a few buttons, then puts it to his ear. A few seconds later, he hits end and pockets it. “He’s probably out with some woman. It’s Valentine’s Day. I’ll give him a call tomorrow and get it sorted out. What was it you wanted to tell us? Is everything okay?”

Amalia’s lips curve into a huge grin, and Gerald wraps his arm around her. “Everything is perfect. Gerald and I found out we’re expecting a baby!”

“Holy shit,” Ben says, letting go of my hand and pulling his sister into a hug. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you. The timing probably isn’t the best with the restaurant and—”

“What? Stop. We’ll handle it. Family first. This is awesome news.”

Amalia’s eyes go wide as though she’s shocked he’s said that. While Ben shakes Gerald’s hand and congratulates him, Amalia steps closer to me and wraps me in a hug. “Thank you,” she murmurs. “Thank you for giving my brother back to me.” When she pulls away, her eyes are glassy, but she’s smiling brightly.

She turns back to her brother, and he asks her how far along she is, but I don’t hear her response because Brianne tugs me gently to the side, giving me a knowing look. “Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay. I’m not so unstable I lose it every time someone announces they’re pregnant.”

“I know, but it’s okay for it to hurt. I just don’t want to see you bottling it up.”

I give her a hug, loving that she cares enough to make sure I’m okay. “I promise you, I’m okay. I’m focusing on what I do have these days and not on what I may never have… Like an amazing job and a best friend like you…and Ben…”

“Oh my God,” Brianne whispers. “You’re in love with him.”

My gaze goes to Ben, who’s talking to his sister but looking at me with adoration in his eyes, and that makes my heart swell. All those years with Neil and not once did he ever look at me like that. And because I never experienced that look, I didn’t know it was missing… until now.

“Yeah,” I admit, “I am.”

Chapter Twenty

Benjamin

Around this time last Valentine’s Day, I was balls deep in some woman I met at a party at one of my clubs for a quickie in the office. I couldn’t tell you her name or even what color her eyes were. Once we both got off, I threw the condom away, zipped up my pants, and then we parted ways. I went back to my place and spent the rest of the evening getting lost in my work. That was the norm for me. The occasional hookup. Working too damn hard. Not being enough of a father to even know what my son was doing on a day supposed to be about love.