The Line That Binds (35 page)

I stayed away from the barn until our shift was over, giving her the same space I had the rest of the week. After we said goodnight, she slowed her pace beside my Honda. I watched as her eyes lingered on the bike.
Is she thinking about our ride?
I didn’t ask her, though, and that was cause for another restless night.
Was that a silent cue I should’ve acted on?
I didn’t want to scare her away, but I still needed to show her I was here.

The following morning I woke late with the sun searing my eyelids. Pop was nowhere to be found again. His truck was gone so I guessed Simone had sent him out on errands for the property. The last-minute event was scheduled today, which meant no riding until later. And with no work on the grounds, I used the downtime to catch up on a back pile of homework.

Early afternoon brought a knock at the door. I opened it to Simone.

“I gave Randall his yesterday,” she said, handing me the pay checks and backing away from the door. She was wearing her typical button-down dress shirt and pants. The only difference today was the pair of black flats covering her feet.

“Good morning to you, too,” I responded, looking down at her. I’d forgotten how much shorter she was without her standard high heels.

“I guess you could say that,” she said in a clipped tone. “Happy birthday. Hope everything goes well with your appointment later.”

“Thanks,” I replied to her back as she tramped through the grass like she was seven feet tall instead of barely five. She didn’t turn back. There was a good chance she was pissed that I would own part of Stockton Estate in a few short hours. I could understand her reasons. If I were her, I’d probably be upset too.

I walked over to LJ’s and knocked on the door. Smacking her check nervously against my palm while I waited, I thought about the way she’d looked at my bike yesterday. Maybe I should’ve invited her for a ride. Maybe I should stop overthinking it and ask her now. I had nothing else to go on so it was worth a shot.

Gavin opened the door with a smile and a chin tilt. “What’s up, Ben?”

“Hey. I’m just dropping off LJ’s check. Is she here?”

“Yeah,” he whispered then glanced over his shoulder. “But she said not to tell you. Sorry, man.”

I nodded. “It’s okay. Thanks for letting me know. How’s she been?”

Gavin shrugged and swung the door back and forth lightly. “Okay, I guess. She’s been in the basement a lot. She usually cleans a lot though so that’s pretty normal.”

“Would you mind letting her know that I’ve got an appointment in a bit, but I’m planning to take the Honda out later. If she wants to go out for a ride, tell her I’ll be out in the barn around seven-thirty. Hopefully, the last-minute event Simone planned will be over by then.”

“Sure. I’ll tell her,” he said with an excessively large smile and quirked eyebrows.

I stared at him, confused by his overly happy facial expressions. “Thanks,” I said, walking back down the slate steps. “Later.”

I wasn’t sure why he looked so happy. Whatever the reason, I hoped he wouldn’t forget to relay the message. I needed another chance and this might be the only way to get one.

“LJ!” Gavin called from downstairs. “Spaz and Izzy are already out by the barn.”

“I’ll be out there in a few!” I called back, pulling the strapless dress up my body. I stared at my reflection in the closet door’s mirror. My curves popped in all the right places, filling the dress far better than they had before. “What am I doing?” I asked myself, zipping the back then tying the black satin ribbon around my waist. I swept my long hair away from my face.
I must be insane.
I was pissed at Ben for keeping me in the dark. But I believed him. I believed that he never wanted to hurt me and I trusted him to be the one to help me. Wearing a dress to his birthday party probably wasn’t the way to explain all of that, but it was a start.

I rushed out my bedroom door and almost knocked Dad over.

“You look really nice,” he said with the same genuine smile I remembered from years ago. His arms were cinched tightly around a cardboard box. “But, isn’t that a tad overdressed for a birthday party?”

“Maybe, but I haven’t dressed up in a while so I thought it would be a nice change. What’s with the box?”

“I know you’ve been up to your neck in all of Janine’s stuff lately, but I wanted to go through some of the things from her closet before I add it to the wreckage downstairs. It looks like junk to me but there might be something you want to keep, heirlooms and such. I’ve been procrastinating with that bedroom too long. It’s time for me to haul her stuff out of there so I can finally move in.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll go through it.”

“I’ll just bring some in here so you can go through it at your leisure.”

“Okay. Aren’t you coming to the party before you go to work?” I asked, eying his dark blue scrubs after he dropped the box against the wall.

“Yes, but I still have to be in at six-thirty so I can’t stay long. It was a miracle I got the job to begin with so I’d hate to mess it up by missing hours.”

“Okay,” I replied, grabbing Ben’s gift bag by the door.

“Oh, one more thing,” he said as we moved into the hall. “Could you keep an eye on Gavin tonight, please? His girlfriend Taylor is coming over for the party.”

“Uh-oh,” I said with wide eyes and a big smile.

“Yeah, well …” He shrugged with a laugh. “Her dad and I talked. He knows that I have to work and you’ll be here. Just call me if there are any problems.”

“Sure,” I agreed before going down the stairs. “See you out there.”

I stepped barefoot into the grass. The blades poked the tender soles of my feet and slipped in between my toes, tickling me with every step. When I turned the corner of the house, a few of the event house employees were setting up a second folding table halfway between Ben’s house and the gazebo. As I got closer, I noticed a metal-framed ramp out on the track past the barn. Spaz, Izzy, Lloyd, and Randall were out there with the tractor.

“LJ!” Gavin called from beside the tables. A doe-eyed blonde girl stood beside him wearing a flowery summer dress. “You too? What’s with the dresses today?”

“Don’t be rude, Gav,” I said, noticing the girl’s cheeks turn a pale shade of pink. “Hey, I’m LJ. You must be Taylor.” I extended my hand to her.

“I didn’t mean it to be rude,” Gavin interjected as Taylor and I shook hands. I glared at him then winked.

“Nice to meet you, LJ,” Taylor squeaked with the cutest voice. She had braces on her teeth but they stole no beauty from her dainty smile. “I’m so glad you’re wearing a dress. I thought the party would be a little different because of it being held here.”

“Right,” I said, noting her reason was far saner than my own. “Believe me, I’m relieved you’re wearing one, also,” I agreed. “If it helps, it feels a lot less dressy if you take off the shoes.”

She smiled again, and, after a quick glance at my feet, she slipped hers out of her strappy sandals.

I looked around, spotting Simone carrying a tray of food from the event house. “Excuse me, guys. I’m going to ask if anyone needs help.” I dropped Ben’s gift bag on one of the tables and crossed the lawn to Simone. Her petite legs moved fast across the ground while she kept the tray of mini sandwiches perfectly balanced. “Hi, Simone.”

Her head turned toward me as she walked. The waves of her short brown hair caught the breeze and flipped into her eyes. “LJ,” she simply stated, shaking the hair out of her face.

“Can I help with something?”

“There’s another tray inside the kitchen.”

Unfazed by her usual terseness, I jogged to the event house to grab the tray then returned to the table where Lloyd, Spaz, Izzy, and Randall were now standing.

“Hey, LJ,” Izzy said after I slid the tray of cheese and crackers on the table. “Wow! I love your dress. I’m afraid to get too close to you. I don’t want to get you dirty.” She unfolded her arms, revealing a generous coating of brown dust from working over by the track. She backed away from the table and patted the front of her shirt to remove the excess.

“I know. I’m a bit overdressed,” I replied as Spaz stepped beside Izzy.

“No way. It’s perfect,” Spaz said, emphasizing the “purr” sound with a cheesy grin.

Izzy smacked him. “Don’t be so sleazy.”

“I’m just saying,” he replied with raised brows, shifting his spiked hair with the movement of his forehead.

“What were you guys doing to the track?” I asked to change the subject before my face caught fire. I was another comment away from going back inside to change.

“Spaz got a jump ramp for Ben’s track. We started to anchor it, but decided we’d better wait until Ben got back to make sure it’s set up across from the landing hill he wants to use.”

“Nice gift. Just don’t let Gavin near it while he’s riding,” I said lowly so Gavin didn’t overhear.

Izzy laughed. “We won’t. He’s got a few more hours’ worth of stalling to conquer first.”

Spaz and Izzy moved to talk to Gavin when Lloyd walked over. “Do you want something to drink, LJ?” he asked, reaching into a cooler beside the table.

“Sure. Soda is fine, thanks.”

“Here, hun,” he said, handing me the can. “If there were music, I’d ask you to dance.” His white mustache stretched with his broad smile, spreading it higher on his cheeks.

“Thanks, and I would gladly accept.”

“You look a lot like her, you know?” he said then took a pull from his beer. “Genie.”

“I do? It’s funny how that happens when it’s not in a direct line,” I added. She was my great aunt after all, not my grandmother.

“Very true,” he agreed. “Ben doesn’t look much like his father and me. He gets most of his looks from his mother’s side.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” I smiled nicely.

He laughed then tugged the waist of his pants, resettling them on his hips. “I warned him about you. I knew if you were anything like Genie, he’d be in a lot of trouble. I guess he chose not to listen.” His eyebrows cocked up. “And that trait he gets from both sides of the family. We’re often suckers for trouble.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond so I simply smiled as he laughed. I sipped my soda then took a corner seat near Gavin and Taylor to chat.

Dad crossed the grounds a few minutes later. He talked with Lloyd for a minute before zeroing in on Simone, who had come back out from the event house once again, this time with the boxed cake. Even though it had to be the last trip, she looked like she wanted another reason to go back. Her eyes kept shifting around the tables. The only open area left to sit was near Dad and Lloyd now that a handful of temp workers had showed up. She finally gave in and sat beside them.

Not long after, everyone perked up at the sound of a bike traveling the main road. We all fell silent and shifted our positions for a view of Stockton Estate’s entrance as Ben’s bike pulled in. He traveled around the driveway and parked beside his house. When he tugged his helmet off, his smile was instantly contagious; everyone at the table beamed right back at him. He removed his backpack and jacket, leaving it all on the bike before walking toward the tables.

“What’s all this?” he asked with a breathy laugh.

“Happy birthday,” Spaz and Izzy said first and everyone else’s voices followed behind. Spaz hopped onto his chair. And when Ben got close enough, Spaz jumped on him, nearly tackling him to the ground. After they straightened up, he began hitting Ben’s back and shoulders as if Ben had just won a medal.

Ben scanned everyone’s faces then locked eyes with me. Amidst all the greetings and birthday wishes, I smiled and gave a small wave from my seat and he responded by quirking an eyebrow. It was a silent conversation among the chaos around him. Spaz continued to smack his back playfully until the talk settled.

“Happy birthday, Ben,” Lloyd said, pulling him into a big hug.

‘Thanks, Pop. Thanks, everybody. Wow. I’m … I have no idea what to say right now.”

“Just thank your irritating friends,” Simone said, eying Izzy and Spaz. “You guys are in charge of cleanup. I expect the tables and chairs wiped down before they’re put back in the event storage area.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Spaz joked and saluted her.

My dad stood up and reached for Ben’s hand. “Happy birthday, Ben. And congratulations on signing your property papers.”

“Thanks, Carson,” Ben replied with a serious smile.

“It was nice to see everyone, and meeting some of you, but I’ve got to get to work,” Dad said as his eyes traveled over everyone, looking at Simone last. She looked back, but quickly averted her eyes.

Spaz yanked Ben into the seat beside him, at the opposite side of my table. While everyone dined on appetizers and chatted, Ben and I stole glances at each other. I smirked as Spaz got overly animated beside him. And when I spoke to Gavin and Taylor beside me, Ben’s stare was so intense it caused me to stutter.

After the cake was cut, the small crowd fizzled. Simone doled out reminders about work shifts and was the first to leave. Spaz and Izzy had already pointed toward the ramp several times before they physically removed Ben from his chair to take him over to it. Lloyd and Randall both rubbed their large stomachs and said their goodbyes shortly after. Before I knew it, Gavin disappeared with Taylor to show her the barn. I probably should’ve followed them, but I knew the chances of them getting into trouble were pretty slim. It was his time after all; he deserved to kiss the girl.