Chapter 46: Samantha And Ben

They get up and start folding the blanket. Samantha throws it in the bag, and they walk back to the car. “Boy, I got a good tan today!” Samantha exclaims.

“Me too.” Kelly chimes in.

“Hey, I got a great tan too.” Aaron joins in jokingly.

“Yeah, you’re also lucky you didn’t get a broken hand.” Kelly throws in.

“Hey, if that guy hadn’t grabbed you, I wouldn’t have had to. Now, would I?”.

“True.” Samantha acknowledges.

“So, do you guys want to go anywhere for dinner?” Samantha asks.

“I have an idea. Let me call my friend from work, maybe he will want to tag along.” Aaron suggests.

“Are you trying to set me up?” Samantha looks worried.

“Well, yes, but don’t worry. He is handsome and the only reason he doesn’t have a girlfriend, is that he doesn’t believe in going to the bar. He figures that if there is someone out there, then he will bump into her someday. So, other words a hopeless romantic.”

“Now I am intrigued. O.k. see if he wants to meet me.” Aaron calls him up and he accepts.

Driving back home, Kelly smiles with hope for Samantha. It would be awesome if she found that perfect match. Samantha has been so unlucky in love lately. She can feel that it is going to turn around tonight. She just knows it.

Aaron goes back to his place to change and get ready, when the girls get back to the house. Kelly and Samantha go in and take showers.

When Kelly gets out, she decides to wear a short black shimmery dress, with a low back. She could easily wear it clubbing if they went dancing later. She puts in a pair of hoop earrings and puts on some red lipstick. As she steps back to look in the mirror, she sees Grayson coming home from her window. Sadness tugs at her heart, she feels bad for the way she left their relationship. He is such a good guy, too good for the way she treated him all that time. He probably hates her now.

Her phone rings, “Hey, I talked to Ben, and he will meet us at the restaurant. Are you ready? I’m going to be there to pick up you two in about five minutes.” Aaron says.

“Great, see you then.” Kelly looks in the mirror. She puts the phone in her purse and walks to Samantha’s room.

“How are you doing in here?”

“I’m still trying to figure out which dress to wear.” Samantha looks frazzled.

“Let me see.” Kelly looks at them both and shoves the dark green one at her. “It is somewhat see-through and perfect to get the attention of Ben. He’s going to want to slip it off you as soon as he sees you.”

“Really?” Samantha asks. Kelly nods at her.

Samantha hurries and slips it on. Puts on her earrings and her shoes, then the doorbell rings. Kelly runs to the door and tells him, “Samantha just needs a minute.” Aaron gives her a hungry look and then grabs her. He kisses her softly on the lips.

“Can we talk for a minute while we are waiting?” He looks deep into her eyes. “I want to be with you, and I know you don’t want me to say this, but I can’t hold it in anymore. I must tell you. I am in love with you. I want to yell it from the tallest mountain and the deepest ocean. I’m just so in love with you. Please tell me that I can say it to you when I need to?”

Kelly looks troubled as she stares into his eyes. “Yes, as long as you don’t expect me to say it back. I am afraid If I say that again, that you will die too. I know it is crazy, but I can’t help it. I can’t lose you.” She starts to tear up.

“Hey, it’s o.k., I don’t expect you to. I just can’t hold it in anymore.” He caresses her cheek with his hand.

Samantha pops out, “I’m ready.”

“Let’s go. I know you are going to really like him. He is a very genuine person. If he likes you, he will let you know. Trust me, he will like you.” He says as he looks at Samantha. He looks at Kelly, “Let me guess, did you pick this out?”

“Yes, how did you know?”

“Because it reminds me of a dress, I saw you wear one time a few years ago.” He remembers fondly.

“How do you remember that?” She asks.

“I have been in love with you for years. I can picture it exactly, because I must have thought about it at least a hundred times in the last couple of years.” He smiles.

As they get to the restaurant Aaron drops them off and then finds a parking spot. Kelly and Samantha go to the front desk and ask for the reservations. The hostess takes them to the table where Ben is sitting. He stands up and takes Samantha’s hand. “Please, come sit by me.” He says as he pulls out her chair. Kelly smiles as she sits down and looks at the menu.

Aaron finds the table and sits next to Kelly. “Ah, I see they have met.” He puts his hand on Kelly’s and motions for her to look at Ben and Samantha. They are looking at each other intensely as they are in deep conversation. Aaron smiles, “They seem to be lost in their own little world. I guess I have done my job.”

Kelly and Aaron order a plate they can share because she is not that hungry. Ben and Samantha order and then begin conversing again. Aaron looks at her, “So, I don’t want you to get too mad at me. However, I have been thinking. I do not think I should stay the night tonight. I want to take this slow, because I am afraid that something horrible will happen if we jump in head over heels like you did before. I have already punched out two guys. That is something I never do anymore. I try to keep the passionate side of me locked away, because it tends to get me into trouble.”

“I love the passionate side of you.” Kelly gasps.

Ben and Samantha look at Kelly and Aaron. “So, what’s up sis?” Samantha asks.

The food arrives and they all start to eat. Aaron gets a piece of fish. He smiles at Kelly and motions for her to open her mouth. As she opens, he raises the fish to her lips, then moves it away to tease her. She finally just grabs his hand and puts the fish in her mouth. They all laugh. Kelly smiles, “You have been a bad boy, I’m going to have to punish you.”

Ben laughs, “You certainly have a live one there. I can see why you have loved her all these years.”

After dinner, they talk for a bit. They all agree to go back to the house for an after-dinner drink. Kelly and Aaron will take his car and go to his house first to gather things for the morning. Ben and Samantha will take his car back to the house.