Totally and Completely Fine(42)

Philadelphia had been glorious.

But it had been temporary.

Everything about it had been temporary.

It had been weeks since I’d last heard from Ben.

It was fine. I was over it.

Completely over it.

Hence, the dating apps.

“Okay, tell me about Carl,” Allyson said.

I gave her the basics, stopping only for her to interject her opinions—he was about five years older （“his dick is probably still in decent shape”）， he was divorced （“the big test is how he talks about his ex-wife”）， and he lived an hour or so away （“he gets one shot to prove he’s worth the mileage”）。

“What should I wear?” I asked.

Allyson thought for a moment. “You have that red dress,” she said. “Makes your boobs look incredible.”

“My boobs are incredible,” I said.

“That’s true and also fuck you,” she said, before looking down at her own chest. “Don’t listen to her, girls. Some men like them small.”

I laughed. “I think men just like them in general,” I said.

“You also have a great ass,” she said.

“You’re too kind,” I said.

“Now say something nice about my ass,” she said.

But before I could bestow any compliments, our nachos arrived.

I hadn’t gotten a chance to eat lunch, so I was starving. I practically hoovered up my first bite, and immediately reached for the next.

“No drinking,” Allyson said. “On your date.”

“Obviously,” I said. “I’m going to be driving to meet him.”

“Don’t shave your legs.”

“I’m not going to sleep with him,” I said.

“Sure,” she said. “I’ve totally said that to myself at the beginning of several dates.”

“I guess I just have better self-control,” I said.

Allyson rolled her eyes at me, laughing when half of my nachos ended up on my shirt—cheese everywhere.

“Such control,” she said. “Such grace.”

“Shut up.” I reached for her napkin and dabbed at my shirt. It was going to leave a stain.

I turned away from the table to wave Annie over for another napkin, but both I and my arm froze before I could.

Gabe had just walked into the restaurant talking to Ollie.

“You have cheese on your chin,” Allyson said, trying to help me clean myself up.

With Ben Walsh right behind them.

“Fuck me,” I said.

“It’s not that bad,” Allyson said, still looking at my shirt.

“Oh, yes it is,” I said.

She finally glanced up and did a literal double take.

“Holy shit,” she said. “Is that—”

“Yes,” I said.

Ben Walsh was in Montana.

Ben Walsh was in Montana.

Maybe I was dreaming. He had been in my dreams after all. But not like this. Not in a busy restaurant with half the town gawking at the trio of movie stars. And Allyson had seen him too—he was really here.

The crowd parted to let him through.

His eyes were on me the whole time.

Why hadn’t he texted?

“Hey, nachos,” Gabe said, helping himself.

“Ladies,” Ollie said, ever the gentleman.

I had barely looked at them.

“Hello,” Ben said.

“Hi,” I said.

“You’ve got something on your face,” he said.

“It’s cheese,” Allyson said.

I all but slapped my chin to get it off.

“Hello,” Ben said, holding out a hand to Allyson. “I’m Ben.”

“Oh, I know,” she said.

I kicked her under the table, but Ben just grinned as if he wasn’t surprised at all that I’d told people about him. Smug bastard probably expected it.

Why hadn’t he texted?

“It’s good to see you, Lauren,” he said.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

It was rude, but I was too stunned to be anything but.

This didn’t feel real. I thought about pinching myself to make sure it wasn’t a weird, fucked-up dream, but then a tiny voice in the back of my head piped up, hoping it wasn’t.

Which was ridiculous, of course. I’d just set up a date with a man of an appropriate age, who lived within driving distance, and wasn’t about to be the next James Bond. A date that had long-term potential.

Ben did not.

Ben wasn’t even supposed to be here.

“We’re getting dinner,” Gabe said, sliding into our booth.

I glared at him, but he didn’t notice.

“Do you mind if we join you?” Ollie asked.

Allyson had already moved over to let Gabe in and made even more space for Ollie. Ben remained standing, looking down at me.

“Is this seat taken?” Ben asked.

His accent was back. God, it was delicious.

I let him in.

He looked annoyingly good. Head-to-toe black again. I was pretty sure he was wearing the same boots I’d seen him wearing in Philadelphia.

“How have you been?” he asked. “How’s the store?”