Henley
I need to talk to you.
My heart lurched into my throat as I read the text message that popped up on my phone screen. Even as I acknowledged Ariana's name as the sender, my pulse still beat painfully hard.
It'd been two weeks since the last encounter with my stalkerâ whether it was because Bennett was around, or because I'd gone to the police, I didn't know, but I was happy for the respite. I felt a little guilty, though. Bennett had canceled a business trip he was supposed to take because he'd wanted to stay with me. But at the same time, I selfishly wanted him beside me and was happy he didn't leave. It made me feel more at ease.
Sebastian had been tagging along with Ariana and I when we went to classâ which felt a little unnecessary since there were so many people on campus, but I still appreciated it. It did make me realize just how much free time Sebastian had, though. That man never seemed to be working.
What's up? I texted Ariana back.
Are you home? I'll come over.
Half an hour, Ariana showed up at my house, an iced latte in her hand. She handed me a mocha latte as she came through the door. "Surprise! I brought you your regular latte."
I took it gratefully. "Thanks, Ariana. I haven't gotten a drink from Coffee House since I quit."
"What, are you too fancy for us now? Going to Starbucks?"
I laughed. "Yes, actually. Bennett is obsessed. He gets it before work every day."
"Yeah, that kind of suits him. Speaking of, where is he?" she asked, scouting the area for him. "Recently he's been attached to your hip. It's weird not to see him here."
"He went to pick up Lee and Henry from the airport," I told her, locking the door, and double-checking it. "The flight they were supposed to take into LaGuardia got canceled, so they're flying into Newark instead. But their car is at LaGuardia, so Bennett offered to go pick them up instead of making them rent a car to get home."
Her eyes widened. "You've been home alone?"
I shook my head, gesturing down the hall. "Nah, Brandon is here. He's taking a shower."
No sooner than the words left my lips, Brandon stepped out of the bathroom, a towel hanging around his neck, another one wrapped around his waist, and with no other clothing on. "Ra ra, Rasputin, lover of the Russian queenâ" His voice cut off as he noticed Ariana and I, and he waved casually. "Oh, hey guys. Ariana, did you bring me anything?"
She scratched her cheek with her free hand. "No. I didn't know you'd be here."
Smiling playfully, he sauntered over to us, taking Ariana's tea of out her hands. "That's okay. We can share yours."
I elbowed him in the side. "Give that back to her and go put some clothes on."
"Why? I've got nothing to be ashamed of. You jealous of my abs?" he said, straightening out his back, and flexing the muscles on his stomach.
"You're disgusting," I responded without hesitation.
"Ariana doesn't think so," he said, taking a long sip out of her tea before handing it back to her.
"Ew. Don't use my friends to defend yourself."
"You mean friend? As in singular friend?"
I reached out to smack him, and he easily dodged it, his hands hiking up the towel on his waist as Ariana giggled. He winked at Ariana before heading back down the hall to his room to hopefully change.
"I know you wanted to talk. Is it okay that Brandon is here, though?" I asked Ariana, going into the living room with her.
She nodded, taking a seat on the sofa. "Yeah, I don't mind. I've already talked to him. It's actually about my internship."
"Oh? Did you decide what to do?" I asked, sitting in the armchair opposite of her. "That deadline is coming up, right?"
"I'm like ninety percent sure of my decision."
"Is that percent in favor of going or staying?"
She cupped her hands around her drink, lowering her gaze. "Going."
"I think that's a good decision, Ariana," I said enthusiastically. "It'd be a good experience!"
"I think so, too," she agreed but looked conflicted. "And it's only a few months. It's not forever."
"Are you still hesitating because of Brandon and Sebastian?"
She sighed, flopping back on the couch. "No, not them anymore. I thought long and hard about it and decided I can't let them hold me back." Suddenly she sat straighter, eyes wide. "Oh, that sounds bad. They aren't holding me back. I mean like, I can't let myself hold myself back because of them."
I grinned. "I get it, Ariana."
"I can't choose a relationship over my career. I've always wanted this, and it's a great opportunity," she said. "And it's not like you guys will all forget I exist if I'm gone for a few months."
"We won't," I assured her. "We can Facetime and everything. I'm sure the guys are more than willing to do that, too. It'll go by so fast."
She took a drink of her tea, nodding again. "Exactly. It's not like I'll be losing contact with everyone I know. I need to focus on my future."
"Yeah, besides, you didn't forget about me after I was in jail for a year," Brandon said, suddenly appearing again, still shirtless, but at least with sweatpants on now.
Ariana craned her neck back so she could look up at him from where he hovered over the sofa behind her. "I visited you, though," she pointed out. "Not so easy to visit me with an ocean between us."
"Aw, I could do it for you. I'm not a baby about flying like Henley is."
I squinted my eyes at Brandon suspiciously. Did he think he was going to win Ariana over with his minuscule amount of muscles by walking around shirtless? Did I have to put a No Shirt No Shoes No Talking sign in our house?
But did that mean Bennett couldn't be shirtless?
Never mind, that thought was vetoed.
"Hey," I said, Brandon's words catching up to me. "I'm not being a baby. It's called having a phobia. Do I need to remind you of what you were afraid of when we were you little?"
"Noâ"
"Ants, bigfoot, straws, swallowing the cheese in French onion soup," I listed out.
"Henley," he cut in, red-faced.
Ariana burst out laughing. "What? Brandon was afraid of bigfoot, too? Not only you, Henley?"
Brandon and I exchanged exhausted looks. "Our father used to watch bigfoot hunting shows all the time, okay," he defended. "We were young!"
"Think about it," I said. "What would you do if you looked out a second-story window and saw a hairy monster looking right back at you?"
Ariana raised her eyebrows. "When you put it that way..."
I held out my hand in an you-see? fashion.
"It still doesn't scare me," she finished with a giggle.
"So, you're really going to go?" Brandon asked, an obvious topic change. He came around the couch and I realized he actually had a shirt in his hand, which he pulled over his head before sinking down next to Ariana on the couch.
"Yep," she responded. "Saying it out loud confirmed it. I'm going to go."
Brandon nodded. "Isn't today the deadline to respond, though?"
She gave him a thumbs up. "What can I say? I'm a pro procrastinator."
"What will you do if they love you and want to keep you? You'll come back, right?"
She laughed. "I still have to graduate. I have another semester left."
"Well, I'm glad we get to have at least one semester together," Brandon said.
I stared at him. "What do you mean?"
"Ya boy is getting a college education," he responded, pointing at himself with a cocky smile.
"Wait, really?"
"Yep. I wanted to go this semester, but it was too late."
I blinked, completely surprised. He hadn't told me about this. "What are you going for?"
"Social work with a minor in criminal justice. I'm really interested in helping prisoners re-enter society. I wasn't even in jail for that long and I still feel like I missed so much when I got out," he explained, his expression growing more serious. "And I met a lot of people in prison with different backgrounds and circumstances. So many people are arrested for dumb shit and so much of their life taken away. I want to help them when they're released."
"That's..." I didn't know how to respond. Brandon sounded passionate. He usually only sounded like that about food.
"I know there are also a lot of people in jail who belong there, don't get me wrong," Brandon said. "But you can't give up on everyone because of those people."
"No, I didn't mean it like that," I responded quickly. "I think that's awesome you've decided to go back to college."
"Well, you inspired me a little bit," he admitted. "I feel like I'm not really doing anything with my life. You and Ariana are in college. Sebastian does real estate... and I am a janitor."
"If you're happy, that's what is important," Ariana said. "You don't need to compare yourself to anyone. And college isn't for everyone, either. There is nothing wrong with that. You just have to do what makes you happy."
Brandon leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head. "I agree. And I think this will be what makes me happy and content. I like having a goal for the future."
"Are you still going to work both jobs if you go to college?" I asked. "That'd be a lot."
"Nah. I started bartending for extra money, and it's actually pretty decent money, too. I might quit the hotel when I start classes since I will cut back on hours."
I was curious how much money he made as a bartender, but didn't ask. That would be nice. If Brandon left the hotel, it'd make me feel a little less anxious, too. Even though I knew Bennett wouldn't try anything, in the back of my mind, I was still worried his mother might. Even I felt unsure about working there sometimes.
"What about you, Henley?"
Ariana's voice made me look up at her. "Hmm?"
"What's your plan? Have you decided on a degree yet?"
My shoulders tensed and I gave a forced smile. "Not yet. I can still do some core classes next semester... but I guess I should start thinking about something soon."
Brandon frowned. "There's nothing you want to do?"
"Not really," I admitted, hating to do it. "I've thought and thought about it, but I just don't know."
"Hmm."
I waited for Brandon to offer me ideas. Everyone always seemed to want to do that. But even that didn't help. I didn't know what I wanted to do, and it stressed me out, and people asking me about it only added to that stress.
I knew I didn't want to work at the hotel forever. But it was good money. How could I give that up? But I didn't find it fulfilling. But what else could I do? What did I want to? It made my head hurt to think about. Brandon thought he was the one who didn't have his crap together, but it was really me.
"You'll figure it out, Henley," Ariana told me cheerfully. "Not everyone knows what they want to do right away. Who knows? You might stumble across something you're interested in at some point."
"Maybe," I mumbled, feeling anxious like I always did when college was brought up, but appreciating Ariana's positivity.
The sound of crunching gravel met my ears and I turned to look out the window, seeing Bennett's car pulling into the driveway. "Oh, Bennett's here," I said, standing up from the couch. "I'll go get the door for him."
As I opened the front door, I realized Bennett wasn't alone. Henry and Lee followed behind Bennett, hand in hand.
"Your turn to deal with them," Bennett said to me as he approached, looking absolutely drained, nearly dragging himself through the door. Then he noticed Ariana and straightened out, clearing his throat. "Excuse me for a moment. I need to change."
Confused, I glanced over my shoulder after him. Why did he look so exhausted? Had the drive been rough? But Henry and Lee looked the complete opposite of Bennettâ they looked radiant.
"Hi Henley," Lee greeted me warmly. "How are you?"
I stepped back to let the pair through, pushing myself against the wall when I realized they weren't going to let go of each other's hands to fit through the narrow hall. "I'm good. What about you? How was you guys' vacation?"
"Very good," Lee answered, his smile growing. "Right, Henry?"
Henry beamed at Lee. "Yep. Best vacation ever."
"Hey guys," Brandon said, holding up his hand in greeting as we walked back into the living room.
Henry and Lee finally stopped holding hands and Henry kept his left hand out at an awkward angle, maneuvering around the coffee table to sit in the armchair I had vacated to let the two in. He touched nearly everything in his path, too. The T.V, the candles, the coasters on the coffee table, just gliding his left hand over everything. Even when he finally sat, he rested his hands on his knees, his left over his right.
My brows furrowed. What was he...
"Henry!" I exclaimed, finally seeing the gold ring on his finger. "What theâ did you two get engaged?"
Henry feigned innocence for a moment before looking down. "Ah. You mean this?" he continued, holding up his hand to display the ring, a crooked grin crossing his face. "Yeah, something like that happened."
I grabbed Lee's arm, yanking his hand in front of me, seeing a matching ring on his finger. "What the heck? Congratulations!"
"Oh my God! Congrats!" Ariana joined in, nearly leaping off the couch to look at Henry's ring. "Getting engaged while on vacation? That's so romantic!"
Brandon got off the couch too, coming up to Lee and clapping him on the shoulder. "Yeah, congratulations, man!"
Lee blushed a little, ducking his head sheepishly. "Thanks, everyone."
"Tell us the entire proposal story," Ariana demanded.
Henry was happy to oblige, smiling the entire time as Lee squeezed himself into the chair with him, their hands entwined again. The only term I could think to describe how they were being was lovey-dovey. Henry's cheeks had to hurt from how wide he smiled.
They were so happy it almost made me tear up. I cleared my throat and blinked my eyes. An arm wrapped around my waist and I turned my head up to see Bennett, who had changed out of his suit, and into a simple long-sleeved shirt and jeans. I would never get tired of seeing him dressed casually. He kissed the top of my head.
"They were worse in the car," he mumbled into my hair. "They sat in the back together like I was some kind of taxi driver. That's the last time I do them a favor."
I laughed, wrapping my arm around Bennett's waist, too. "Aw, let them be happy. Getting engaged is exciting."
He deflated even more. "Isn't it?"
Ah. No wonder he looked so exhausted. He was jealous of them. I bumped my hip into his. "Our time will come soon enough. Let's be happy for them."
A sparkle came back to Bennett's eyes. "Soon? How soon?"
"Maybe after Lee and Henry get marriedâ" I started jokingly.
"When is your wedding date?" Bennett asked loudly. "Tomorrow?"
Henry and Lee looked at Bennett, bewildered. "No..." Lee answered hesitantly. "We decided to enjoy being engaged for a little bit before we start planning the wedding."
Bennett narrowed his eyes. "Is that necessary"
I elbowed him in the side, biting back my laughter. "Bennett!"
Henry went back to admiring his ring and telling Ariana details he'd forgotten to mention the first time in his story. "Are you that happy?" Lee asked him after he had talked about finding the ring in the sand like magic for the third time, a teasing look on his face.
Henry looked back at Lee, smiling genuinely. "Yes. Very much so."
"I am, too."
Beside me, Bennett pulled out his phone, glancing down at it with a sour expression. "Be right back," he told me. "I have to take this."
I nodded as Bennett walked into the kitchen. I joined the others, shoving Brandon closer to Ariana so I could fit on the couch with them. "Were you able to rest up, Lee?"
He seemed surprised by my question. "Um, what do you mean?"
"About work stuff," I clarified.
"Oh. Yeah. I figured everything out, and I feel a lot better," he said but looked a little uncomfortable. "I'll explain later."
"The fact you're feeling better is the most important thing. I'm happy for you," I told him earnestly.
He smiled at me. "Thank you, Henley. I really appreciate your support."
"You can rely on your future sister-in-law."
Ariana's head snapped to me, her eyes widening. "Oh, wow. I just realized that everyone in this room besides me is going to be family one day."
That was true. I hadn't thought about that. One day when I married Bennett and Lee married Henry, we'd all become in-laws. Brandon, too. We'd go from just being the two of us to having three other members in our family. I didn't know why, but the thought had me choked up again.
"If we get married, you'd be a part of the family too," Brandon said, turning to Ariana, and I imagined he was smirking.
Ariana tapped a finger to her chin. "Hm... I think I'd like calling Henley my sister."
"I couldn't let you marry Brandon in good faith," I said, looking around Brandon's shoulder.
Brandon gave a mock-gasp, twisting to glare back at me. "Wow, rude."
"Besides, Ariana is already a part of our family anyway," I said.
"Aww," Ariana cooed, moving forward to try to hug both me and Brandon, squishing us together.
"Ugh, unnecessary physical contact with Henley makes me break out into hives," Brandon said, contorting his body so he wouldn't touch me as Ariana tried to squeeze us together.
Lee laughed and quickly covered his mouth with his hand. "Sorry."
"You two should treat each other nicer," Ariana said, but still kept grinning. "Look at Bennett and Lee. They are so nice to each other!"
"I know you mean well, Ariana, but that thought makes me nauseous. I rather not," I said, faking gagging.
"Actually, Bennett and I didn't always get along," Lee told us. "Bennett used to be kind of a jerk when he was younger."
I think everyone in the room had about the same skeptical response. "Only when he was young?" I asked, voicing everyone's thoughts.
Lee chuckled. "He gets better as the years go by."
"You used to get in fistfights with him?" Brandon asked, actually sounding curious.
Lee's eyes widened. "What? We didn't physically assault each other. Did you two...?"
Brandon and I shrugged at the same time. "I broke his finger once," I said at the same time he said, "I busted her lip a few times."
The color drained from Lee's face. "Oh. Bennett and I just unplugged each other's computers."
Ariana burst out laughing, and everyone else joined in. Bennett reappeared then, his lips pressed together. I could instantly tell something was bothering him. I shoved Brandon over even more so Bennett could sit on the couch as well.
"What's wrong?" Lee asked him.
"Work issues." Bennett rubbed his forehead. "As always. At least you're back now. It's so hard to handle this on my own. I'm glad I at least have you."
Lee froze and Henry's happy expression dropped for the first time. Bennett didn't notice, his head hanging as he sighed, but I did. A sense of alarm went through me.
I didn't need to ask Lee. I knew what happened on that vacation. He'd decided to leave the company.
And leave Bennett to handle it alone.
Author's Note:
Let's pretend it didn't take me that long to get this update out... If you didn't know, I went on a trip to North Carolina for an early showing of A Traves de mi Ventana that Wattpad hosted and invited me to, then got Covid, then got a week-long migraine (idk if it was Covid related though, bc I actually get those a lot lol). But I'm feeling good now! And I'm back in action.
AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MARCH 20TH FOR SOMETHING FUN :D
Remember Patreon will have 1 or more chapters ahead of Wattpad!