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I choke on unexpected laughter.
“What?”
When I turn my head to glance at him, he’s nodding.
Ben is wearing his glasses again today. I like the way the wire rims frame his eyes. His hair is damp from the rain, which brings it to an almost auburn hue. He’s man-spreading in the passenger seat, taking up all the space available to him, and he’s shifted slightly to face me.
“My cousin snuck some firecrackers into school one day. He showed them to me in the restroom, and I decided it’d be cool to light one. When it started going off, I panicked. Threw it in the toilet.” He’s grinning at me as my mouth gapes open. “But it kept going. The whole toilet bowl cracked. Water was spraying everywhere. It was bad.”
Hilarity builds in my chest and busts out of me. “That’s idiotic!”
Ben’s chuckling right along with me. “I know. We were so stupid. They suspended us for a week. Lucky we didn’t get expelled.”
I cover my face as I snort. An image of a wide-eyed younger Ben next to a gushing toilet fills my mind, and it just sets me off more.
As my giggling rolls out, my anxiety fades.
BEN
Watching Holly crack up helps ease my guilt.
But it’s not gone completely because this is all my fault. Normally, people have to get blood drawn maybe once a year, and then they can forget about needles and injections until that time cycles around again.
Holly’s just getting started.
If this is what she goes through from a quick needle stick, how is she going to deal with an IV in her arm come surgery time?
It’s enough to make me want to tell her to back out.
But would she listen?
And would I see her again?
She lets out a long sigh after her giggles trail off.
“Okay, I’m better. Where are we headed?”
Maybe she’s good to drive, but she still seems rattled. Her hands clench the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip.
“What do you think would make you happy? Something we could do right now.”
Surprise flashes over her face, and then she turns thoughtful. After a few seconds, Holly gifts me with one of her sweet smiles. “Almond croissants.”
I can’t help but laugh at her tone, filled with longing and reverence.
“You have a place in mind?”
She nods vigorously, and I chuckle some more, mostly from relief.
“Then, by all means, take me to these glorious pastries.”
Holly goes to pull the car out of the parking lot.
“So, Ben, tell me about yourself.”
The request sounds forced, but I don’t mind distracting her.
“What do you want to know?”
