“Hey,” a man says, stepping out of the shadows behind the porch.
My scream tears through the night, sharp and loud. I throw my bag at him and run in the opposite direction.
“Bree! It’s me!” Benny calls, forcing my steps to slow.
I lean forward, resting my hands on my knees to catch my breath. “What the heck, man? What did I do to deserve that?”
“I’m checking on you.”
“You were waiting in the shadows like a creep!”
“Nice.”
“Sorry, but you were.”
“Grandma called to let me know you might be a little freaked out. I just—yeah, okay. I’m sorry.” He smothers a laugh. “The movie scared you, huh?”
“Shut up,” I say, brushing past him.
His laugh is full now.
It’s hard not to smile.
He follows me. “Want me to come in and check the house…for birds?”
“No.” I key in the code and step inside, closing the door almost all the way, but holding it open enough to see him standing on the dark porch.
His white teeth are gleaming as he grins at me. “There’s that stubbornness I remember. Want your candy and”—he peeks in the bag and raises his eyebrows—“uh, cotton balls?”
“We did our nails.” I take the bag. “Good night.”
“Good night, Bree.”
I close the door to the sound of his laughter and an overwhelming feeling that I could not be happier than I am right now.
19
BENNY
My chest is still feelingwarm and glowy from my thirty-second interaction with Bree when I drop on the couch beside Colby and lean my head back. His laptop is open on his knees as he goes through photos from his trip, marking which ones he wants to edit and submit.
I pick up my guitar and strum, humming the tune to Bree’s new song.
“That was fast. Did you save her from her fears?” Colby asks.
“She didn’t need me.”
Colby shoots me a look. “Beg to differ. You know she watches you when she doesn’t think you’re looking, right?”
I close my eyes, my hand growing still against the guitar strings. “Are you trying to give me a complex? Nothing good can come of this.”
“Why not? You clearly still have feelings for her.”
“Clearly?”
“She says jump, you ask how high.”
“That’s low.” I set the guitar down, frowning.