“Bye.” I wave back.
Elle still insists they’re not dating, but I don’t know whether she’s trying to fool me or herself. Ryland offered to drop her off at the airport since it’s on his way home, but I think there’s more to it. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, though. I don’t feel right to press her when I’m keeping so many secrets of my own.
They leave and I grab my last two bags, locking the door behind me.
Bennett is waiting outside on the steps like he promised and we walk over to his car in the garage. My arms are screaming by the time we get there. I probably shouldn’t have packed so much but I would never admit that to Bennett. I’d never hear the end of it.
Bennett loads my stuff in, squishing it in beside his one lone bag. It won’t all fit in the trunk so he ends up having to put two of my bags in the back seat.
When we finally get on our way, it’s after ten.
Bennett had wanted to get on the road by seven.
He turns on the radio and puts his sunglasses on. “Ready, Princess?”
I nod. “You bet.”
I’m excited to go home for longer this time. Thanksgiving break wasn’t long enough. I’m sure it’ll be hard to come back to school, but I need this. Family time is important.
A song comes on the radio and I smile when I recognize it. “That’s a Willow Creek song,” I tell Bennett—like he doesn’t already know, which of course he does since they’re only one of the biggest bands in the world.
“I know,” he says with a chuckle.
“My brother is dating the drummer’s daughter,” I tell him.
He glances at me with a surprised expression. “No shit?”
“Yeah, she’s a friend of mine. She’s Dean’s best friend, though. It was kind of inevitable that those two ended up together even though they were oblivious to it for the longest time.”
“Hmm,” Bennett hums.
“They went on a road trip this past summer and the rest is history.” I don’t know why I’m telling Bennett this. It’s not like he cares, but the words keep coming. “I envy them,” I admit.
His head snaps toward me and then back to the road. “Why?” he asks.
I shrug. “They found love in their best friend. That’s special.”
“All love is special,” he counters.
“I know, but … I guess I feel like I’ll never have any kind of love.”
He chokes on a laugh. “Are you kidding me? You’re beautiful Grace. Sweet. Funny. Amazing,” he says the last on a sigh. “Any guy would be lucky to have you.”
“Really? Because I don’t see any lining up.” I hold up a hand. “And don’t say it’s because they think I have a boyfriend. I know that rarely stops most guys, and when I was in high school it was the same thing.”
“Maybe they’re intimidated by you,” he suggests.
I snort. “Intimidated by me? Are you crazy?”
“Well,” he starts, “in your hometown, they probably knew you came from a rich family, right?”
I nod. “Yeah, it’s common knowledge around there.”
“Okay,” he says. “Take that and your whole take charge attitude and it scares a guy away.”
“Take charge?”
“I don’t mean that in a bad way,” he says quickly. “I just mean, you’re kind of bossy.”