Why don't you Stay ... Forever - Jennifer Ashley Page 0,28
cock.
It’s wonderful rocking on him while he cups my breasts and smiles up at me, his eyes dark and soft. I’ve done things with Ben I’ve never tried before, and my heart is full.
The next day is the Sunday matinee, where Reuben again performs well, and the show is a hit.
When I hop into Ben’s truck afterwards, he hesitates before he turns on the ignition. “I’ve been instructed to show up at the folks’ house for Sunday dinner,” he says, sounding apologetic. “I’m supposed to bring you. But if you’d rather go home, I’ll drop you there. I won’t inflict my family on you if you don’t want to see them right now.”
My heart sinks, but I force a smile. “No, it’s fine. We can go.”
Ben’s brows rise. “You sure?”
I shrug. “I’ll have to face them sooner or later. Better now, with food and wine to make everyone mellow, than on Monday morning before coffee.”
He watches me another moment, then starts the pickup. “All right. But anytime you want out of there, tell me and we’ll leave.”
“It will be okay.” If I say it often enough, I’ll believe it.
We arrive at the house, Ben holding my hand as we walk in. We’re immediately intercepted by Calandra and Abby, Zach behind them.
“We need to talk wedding plans,” Abby sings to me.
Zach claps Ben on the shoulder. “Run,” he says to Ben. “Trust me.”
Ben clearly doesn’t want to leave us, but Calandra and Abby promise to take good care of me, and Ben finally lets Zach lead him off.
The ladies take me to the corner of the backyard where a bar has been set up, and Abby thrusts a glass of wine into my hand. Calandra is drinking water but doesn’t seem unhappy about it.
“First order of business,” Abby says. She points at me. “You, my bridesmaid. Is that okay with you?”
I smile with genuine pleasure. “I’d love to. Thank you.”
“Good. I wanted to ask you before, but I wasn’t sure you’d be interested. But now that you’re with Ben … you’re family. You can’t say no.” Abby beams at me and sips her wine.
I take a gulp. “I’m sort of with Ben. We haven’t, you know, discussed a relationship. It was just a—”
“One-night stand?” Calandra finishes, and Abby chuckles. “A pretty long one-night stand, I’m guessing. Same thing happened to me with Ryan. And Abby with Zach.”
“A long one-night stand?” I ask in puzzled amusement. “What is that?”
“It’s when you have one beautiful night together—and he doesn’t leave,” Abby answers. “And you don’t leave either. Next thing you know, you’re standing in the McLaughlin backyard asking your friends to be your bridesmaids.”
My face grows hot, and I wave my glass. “Whoa. No weddings. We’ve only been seeing each other a week.”
“And pining for each other a long time before that,” Calandra says. “Don’t worry,” she adds with confidence. “You’re together.”
I know they’re trying to be nice, but I don’t want to discuss it—this is between Ben and me, and it’s too new, too tender. I derail the conversation by asking Abby how the wedding plans are going.
That’s good for nearly an hour of talk, Abby excited about what’s right and frustrated about what’s wrong. No wedding ever comes off without a glitch or two.
Ben returns to escort me as we troop into dinner. I’ve attended the McLaughlin Sunday get-togethers before and usually enjoy them. Virginia doesn’t cook the meal herself—she’s busy and picks up ready-made food from grocery stores. But Alan grills, with Ryan’s help, and the rest of us throw stuff together in the kitchen. Between the family, it all gets on the table, and we sit down to eat.
Ben makes sure I’m next to him. Austin slides in on my other side before anyone else can.
“Don’t worry,” he whispers. “I’m here to fend off embarrassing questions you might be pestered with.”
He and Ben protect me from the others who clearly want to probe for details about what Ben and I have going on. Austin is good at interrupting any question that starts off too eagerly, or loudly asking for food to be passed if he senses I’m uncomfortable.
Ben, unworried, easily parries his brothers’ teasing by giving back as good as they give him. Somehow he and Austin make sure that no one asks about our sex life, or where we’re going with our relationship, or if we’re moving in together.
After supper, we break into teams for board games, boys against girls. Alan softly plays piano in the background.
At one