Page 40 of This Changes Everything

“Okay, well. I’m happy to meet you. Gimme a second.” Ben combed his hair with his fingers again, resetting it, then jumped over the bar.

“He works here.” I justified his comfort level.

“Apparently.” Hannah grabbed my waist and squeezed approvingly.

“I’m getting us some drinks. Go grab a seat,” Ben called out as he grabbed a tray. I saw him pull out a bottle of champagne and then duck beneath the bar to pour everyone sneaky shots.

Lucas’s lean body towered over the rest of us. He took off his black jacket to reveal his tattoos. “I’m Lucas. Lucas Martin.” He smiled directly at Hannah, and I could see my sister’s knees go weak when she heard his French accent.

“Well, shit.” Kara looked Lucas up and down. “What do they put in the water here, Lucas Martin?”

By the time 2 a.m. rolled around, the five of us had finished two bottles of champagne, a bunch of cocktails, and two shots each. I was feeling loose from the alcohol. My jaw hurt from smiling, and my stomach was tender from laughing. Once Ben and I had a moment alone together, I turned to him. “I hope you’re okay with them staying with us.”

“Of course. We can push the beds together, and the three of you can take it. I’ll go on the floor.” Ben took a sip of his beer. “Or I can stay with Lucas, if you want?”

“No.” I jumped over his question. “I want you there.”

Ben’s lips tugged at the edges, then he nodded toward Kara and Hannah, who were tearing up the makeshift dance floor. “I like them.”

“They like you. Everybody likes you, Ben.”

His smile grew. “You’re drunk.”

“I’m tipsy.” I felt a sudden urge to be honest. “You look good tonight. Your face is pretty.”

“My face is pretty?” Ben smirked.

“Yeah. I thought about your face a lot when you were gone.” I placed my hand on his chest, and he covered it with his. I took a deep breath, then flexed my hand, opening my fingers. Without letting a second pass, he laced his fingers through mine, tying us together, and lightly stroked my thumb.

Ben softly exhaled. “I thought about your face a lot.”

Now you have to choose me.

The choice was easy, and I didn’t even realize it had already been made. I didn’t want Ben to have bits and parts of me. And I didn’t want bits and parts of him.

Ben’s gaze dropped to my mouth. He very slowly moved his head toward mine. Instead of meeting him in the middle, I stood. He stilled, surprised by my sudden movement. All the blood rushed to my head, and the shots took over my better judgment. Ben’s eyes followed me as I made my way to the DJ in the corner of the bar.

I turned back to see him mouth, What are you doing?

The music shut off, and more than a few boos could be heard throughout the crowd, who assumed a mistake had been made. The song “Dreams” by the Cranberries started playing through the speakers. I pulled a microphone up to my lips, and Ben’s mouth dropped open. I began singing, and the soulful love song reverberated throughout the entire bar. Once I had people whistling and whooping, I slowly walked toward Ben, who was sitting in shock at the table. I flipped a chair around and planted myself in front of him, with the back of the chair between my legs. Ben covered his eyes with his hands and laughed.

“Can someone get this girl a glass of water?” Ben shouted out to no one, with the biggest smile I had ever seen.

I heard Lucas whistle at me from the bar. On the dance floor, Hannah’s hands were covering her mouth, and Kara’s eyes were bulging out of her head. I threw my hand into the air and shifted my body upward until I was standing on the chair, letting it all out.

Ben pulled his hand over his beautiful face and dragged down his mouth. He looked around the crowd to see people filming, people cheering for us, and almost everyone singing along. The entire bar was alive.

“I’m going to kiss you, Ellie!” Ben yelled over the music.

I laughed and shook my head no, still singing.

“It’s happening.”

I shook my head again. No.

He nodded. Yes.

I shook.