In Every Heartbeat - By Kim Vogel Sawyer Page 0,111

the bushes with her, and it had taken all of their self-control to keep from revealing their hiding spot by giggling out loud as Bennett passed by.

“I miss those days,” she admitted on an airy sigh.

“Yeah. It was a lot easier then, wasn’t it?” Bennett glanced toward Alice-Marie, who stood at the food counter, her finger on her lips in great concentration as she chose what to put on her plate. His brows pulled low. “She wants me to go home with her at Christmas—spend a couple of days getting to know her folks.”

Libby’s eyes widened. “I knew you were spending quite a bit of time together—Alice-Marie tells me everything. But I didn’t know you’d become so close.”

“We haven’t. At least I don’t think we have. I’m not real sure what to do about her.”

Maybe that explained his churlish behavior. He was trying to scare Alice-Marie away. She gave his wrist a squeeze. “Instead of being mean to her, why not be honest with her? Tell her you’re uncertain how to proceed.”

He frowned. “That would work?”

Libby laughed. “Why wouldn’t it?”

“I dunno. She’s a girl. Girls are . . . touchy.”

She laughed again. “You’ve never hesitated to tell me what you think.”

“Aw, but everyone knows you’re not a normal girl, Lib.” The teasing tone let her know she hadn’t ruined their friendship by scolding him about his behavior. But he was wrong about her not being a normal girl. Even now, she carried the heartache of a girl deeply in love with someone unavailable to her. She wished she could spare Alice-Marie that pain.

“Never mind about me. About Alice-Marie . . . promise me you’ll tell her you aren’t ready for a relationship beyond friendship.

She needs to know before she gives you her heart. It’s a lot easier to fall in love than it is—” she swallowed, battling tears—“to climb back out once you’ve fallen. Don’t hurt her that way.”

Bennett lowered his spoon and gave her his full attention.

“You all right?”

“Not really.” She sniffed hard, bringing her emotions under control. “I foolishly let myself fall in love with Petey even though I know we’re completely unsuitable for each other. You said it yourself, we just don’t . . . fit.”

Bennett chewed the corner of his lip. “Yeah, I said that. But you know somethin’, Lib? I might’ve been wrong.” He tapped his spoon on the edge of his plate, reminding her of Petey’s habit of tapping his peg leg. “Lately you’ve been different. Calmer. More settled. More like Pete. What you said about finding God? It changed something in you.”

He squirmed in his chair, as if the conversation were making him uneasy. But when he continued, his voice was strong. “Now, I’m not saying you should run out and ask Pete to marry you, but . . . in time . . . if you both still love each other and he should ask you . . . I don’t think it would be so ludicrous anymore.”

“Oh, Bennett.” Without thinking, Libby threw her arms around his neck. He didn’t hug her back, but he gave her shoulders some half-hearted pats. While she clung to Bennett, an idea seemed to sail through the air and hit on the back of her head. “Oh!” She pulled loose. “I have to go.”

“Go? Go where?” He half rose as she jumped from the chair and began buttoning her coat.

Alice-Marie hustled over, a tray in her hands and a frown on her face. “Elisabet Conley, did I just see you hugging my . . . hugging Bennett?”

Libby waved away her roommate’s concern. “Yes, but don’t worry—Bennett will explain.”

“I will?” He looked panicked.

Libby gave him a fierce look and hissed, “Just talk to her, Bennett!” She spun and headed for the door.

“Libby?” Alice-Marie’s voice called after her. “Aren’t you going to eat?”

She didn’t even pause. “I’m not hungry!”

“But—”

“I’ll talk to you later!” She dashed out the door, ignoring the rain that continued to fall. Eating could wait. This task could not.

“And so Mr. Branson agreed to give Oscar a job when he’s finished serving his sentence, whenever that may be.” Pete leaned back and beamed across the table at Aaron and Isabelle.

Oscar would be in good hands with the Bransons. The couple reminded him of his own foster grandparents, Ralph and Helen Rowley, who’d been a wonderful influence on his life. He might have entered a life of crime had they not offered him a safe retreat and treated him like their own. He prayed Oscar would