Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
As soon as Katelyn and Michael are out of the room, Quinn and Noah sit down. I take a few more bites before my stomach starts to protest, but I don’t push my plate away. I don’t want to alarm Elle and doing so will have her asking if I’m okay. The truth is, I won’t be okay for a long time.
“Ben, what are you doing today?” Quinn asks.
“Oh, let me see,” I open the calendar app on my phone and stare at the day. It’s blank. I’m sure they know this, but where’s the fun in giving them the answer right away. “Let’s see, boys. It looks like at ten I’m scheduled for a massage and at noon, pedicure. Depending on what you want to do, I may be able to squeeze you in between two and four. Not sure what time Elle wants to have dinner.” I set my phone back onto the table and glance at my friends. Their expressions are stoic.
Quinn throws a napkin at me and laughs. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”
“Nope, only my balls.”
Everyone looks at me and then away. There’s an awkward silence as no one knows what to say and I hate it. I want them to laugh. I want them to tease me when I give them an opening.
Finally, Noah starts to grin. “No Balls Ben!”
Quinn snorts, Elle coughs, and Peyton busts out laughing. “Oh, God. I am so sorry. I shouldn’t laugh.”
“But it’s fucking funny, and if I don’t laugh, I’m going to go insane,” I say to my friends. “I think for me to get through this, I need to be able to joke about it. Deep down, I know it’s not funny, but I need the laughter.”
Elle takes my hand in hers. “We’ll do our best.”
“Well, the reason I asked is because Noah and I want to take you someplace,” Quinn says. “So, if you’re up for a little guy trip, we’ll leave in about ten minutes?”
Part of me feels like I need to ask Elle, but her squeezing my hand is all the reassurance I need. “Yep, give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready.”
Elle follows me upstairs and starts to strip the bed while I get dressed. I put my clothes in the pile she’s created and get dressed. “Do you need me to do the laundry?” I ask her.
“Nope. Go have fun with Noah and Quinn. Just promise me, nothing dangerous or stupid. I love my brother and Noah, but they’re dumb boys sometimes and I have no idea what they’re planning.”
“I promise.” I take a step toward her and then stop. In my mind I was going to kiss her, like I would’ve done any other time, but our dynamic has changed and we’re not there, at least not yet. We’re friends and I don’t know what I’d do without her. However, the problems we had before are still there, festering under the surface. They didn’t magically go away because I have cancer and she’s sticking by my side. I give her a smile and grab my sweatshirt before she reminds me I need one.
Downstairs Noah and Quinn wait for me in the living room. They give Michael a kiss on the cheek and tell him they’ll be back to watch the game later. Outside, we pile into an old truck, with me sitting in the middle.
“Who’s truck?”
“It’s my dad’s,” Noah says. “He’s had it since he was a teen. He’s put some money into it, to keep it running. Lets me borrow it for special occasions.”
Quinn cackles. I know I’m missing something, but I don’t even care. I’m out with my friends and it feels good to be free. Right now, I’m going to pretend I don’t have cancer. After Noah takes a couple of turns, I realize where we’re going. Finally, on the last turn, he pulls onto the dirt road, through some tree coverage, and then into the opening. Before us, is the base of the water tower. It’s empty and no longer in use. Liam bought the land, so he could preserve the water tower. The town was going to tear it down, but the memories here are too much, for everyone.
We get out of the truck. Noah grabs a backpack, and I can hear bottles clanging together. I can’t drink, even though I’d love to get hammered right about now. Quinn climbs the steps first, and then me, followed by Noah. We sit and let our legs dangle. Noah unzips his backpack and hands me a bottle of Coke. I can’t help but laugh.
“We know you can’t drink, but we wanted to come out here and hang. You know, away from the girls.”
“I appreciate it.”
I lean back and look out over the treetops. I remember the first time Elle brought me here. I was so nervous. I’d heard about the water tower and how it was a rite of passage for seniors. But not Elle. She made it her place from day one. She used to say she felt close to her father, and since he pretty much found this place with Liam, she was allowed to be here whenever she wanted.