Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Rory

We have everything we need for a girls’ night in. Pizza, movies with hot guys in them, and ice cream waiting in the freezer. To start our night, we turn on a horror movie and start chatting through it. Nothing makes murder less scary than spilled tea.

I can’t help but think about what happened this afternoon at the community center. When Te pushed me and Abby outside, all I could see was people standing around watching two people fighting. One sounded like Bennet, but why would he be fighting like a randy teenager? Everything happened so fast that it seemed like it was over before it started.

“So, are we going to talk about what happened today?”

“Well…,” Te seems to always have the best gossip around town. I’m pretty sure if there was a crime, the police would come to her first to find out what she knew. “According to my sources, the fight was between Ben and one of the EMTs no one likes named George.”

Why would Bennet fight with someone? He’s so levelheaded and chill as fuck.

“Apparently,” she answers like she can read my mind, “Ben overheard him talking about you.”

“About me. So?”

Why would that lead to a fight?

“So…Ben didn’t like what was being said.”

“What did George say?” Do I want to know? Maybe I don’t. What if he was trying to stand up for me because that one guy called me ugly or something? A sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach sits heavy as I think I might have been the cause of Bennet being in trouble.

“I'm not sure and Ben wouldn’t tell me when I called to check on him. But,” she scoots closer and lowers her voice, “if you believe Ashley he was saying something about how good you looked and how you would be in bed…and the word pussy was used.”

Knowing someone was talking about me like that kind of makes my uterus shrivel up. “Oh. Shit. I guess I’m thankful for him standing up for me and stopping that guy from saying those things.” Te nods, agreeing with every word. “But he needs to stop. I’m not some weak little ninny that needs to be saved all the time…anymore.”

And I’ve lost Te. She frowns and starts shaking her head not agreeing with me.

“Damn it, you know I’m right. What is he going to do when I start dating… follow me around everywhere and threaten all my dates?”

“Well, I’m sure to Ben it’s going to be that way, yes. Not that I would know, of course, but I would assume seeing the girl you want to sex up dating other guys would piss me off too.”

“What?!” She just did not say what I think she said. It’s too ludicrous to even believe. “No!”

Even I can hear the incredulousness in my voice.

“Honey, Ben beat the shit out of George because he said he wanted to see your pussy…,”

“Jesus, Te!”

“What?” She asks so innocently like we’re talking about the movie instead of…what we’re talking about. “I figured that was what was said. George isn’t going to say, ‘that Rory, she’s a real pussy’. No, I figure he said something else about it that set him off.”

“Okay, can we stop talking about my pussy.”

“What about your pussy?”

Both me and Te jump and let out a sharp scream before relaxing when we recognize Bennet. My relief is short-lived, however.

“What about your pussy?”

“Oh God! Kill me now!”

“Rory was just wondering if she should shave her pussy completely bare or leave a sexy strip that will tickle the nose.”

“Bronte!” I jump up about to either run or push Bennet out. Either way, both of us can’t be in the same space.

“What do you think Ben? Bare or strip, which one do you prefer?”

“No! Bronte, damn it! What is wrong with you?”

“I’m a fan of the completely bare myself.”

His sister’s brow crinkles, “You mean, you like to be bare or you like your girlfriends bare?”

My cheeks flame hot enough that I could light a candle off them. Te is asking because she knows I like to be bare. Hell, I’m bare right now.

“Te, damn it, stop!”

“All I’m saying is you usually go bare, and Ben just said…”

I give up trying to talk to her and just dive for her. Bennet is just standing there with a lost look on his face. Wonderful! He’s probably trying not to vomit at the thought of me walking around with a bare pussy. Guess now he’ll like the strip.

“Hey!” His voice is so loud and gruff that both of us spring apart and look up at him. “Why are we trying to decide if Rory should shave it or keep the strip on a certain part of her anatomy?”

Oh God! I’m going to be sick. The embarrassment, the thought of him thinking about it is enough to kill me from embarrassment. I watch as Te looks over at me and then back at her brother and I can just tell…she’s going to make it worse.

“Because silly, she’s going to start dating and get that kitty…”

“Shut up, Bronte!”

“Absolutely not!”

We speak at the same time, so I almost don’t hear what he says. But Bennet makes sure I hear it by repeating his words and going further.

“Absolutely fucking not! You are not going on any dates and showing your shaved pussy to any fucking body!”

Shock hits first but then anger quickly replaces it. How dare he presume he can tell me what to do, especially about something that is not any of his business? Always treating me like a little fucking girl. I jump to my feet to confront him.

“You don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, Bennet Underwood!”