Part 23 (1/2)
”Wow,” my mother says, not at all expecting someone to say they don't cook their Thanksgiving meal.
Once we're done with the food, we set the table and call everyone to take their seats. This time, I remember to sit to Ben's left. And again, Terri sits on the other side of him.
Throughout dinner, I see Terri eyeing Ben and me. I want to say something, but I don't. Now's not the time to ask her why she needed to bring Ben clothes in the middle of the night.
”Mom, dinner was out of this world.”
”Thank you, Patti.”
”Yes, Mrs. Duncan, it was delicious. Thank you for having me,” Ben says.
”Ditto for me too, Mrs. D.”
”Oh, don't mention it,” Mom tells them.
”Trevor sure was tasty,” Dad adds.
”Trevor?” Ben leans in to me and asks.
”Trevor...our turkey,” Dad says with a straight face.
Ben's hand flies to his mouth.
”Don't tell me you don't know where turkey comes from, son.”
The whole table erupts in laughter.
”Dad. Ben doesn't like to think about that.”
”What are you sayin', Rose?” Dad jokes.
I shake my head. ”I'm sorry, Ben.”
”I thought you didn't name your animals.”
”We don't. Daddy's teasing.”
”Trevor was tasty, Mr. D.” Holly thinks she's funny.
Ben leans in to me again. ”Your family's gonna cause me to go vegan.”
I chuckle and apologize simultaneously.
”Don't laugh. I'm serious.”
”Benny,” Terri says, after overhearing him talking to me. ”I think it's cute that you care about animals.”
”I think it's more that I don't want to know I'm eating them.”
”See? Cute,” she continues. ”So last night...in your room.” Her voice is all seductive now. She's gotta know I like him. ”Did you sleep well after I left?”
Holly chokes on her water.
”Uh...yeah...thanks for the clothes.”
”Terri's grin is as wide as her a.s.s,” Holly whispers from my other side.
I laugh beneath my breath.
”Did anyone show you the farm, Ben?” Terri asks, her smile cunning.
”Yes, actually. Rose did the last time I was here.”
”Oh,” she says, her grin still wily.
”By the way, Bruce,” Ben addresses my dad. ”Tomorrow, Rose and I are going to visit a buddy of mine. I was wondering if you'd mind if I took Rose out on an official date afterwards.”
Oh my G.o.d.
”Oh my G.o.d,” Holly says.
”Oh. My. G.o.d,” I hear Terri say under her breath.
”Of course I don't mind. As long as Rose doesn't.”
My stomach gurgles. ”I don't mind,” I whisper, looking at Ben.
”Good,” he says, looking back at me.
We're all cleaning up the dishes after dinner when Dad pulls Ben aside and says, ”You like football? Let's go watch the game.”
Holly pulls me aside, away from the sink and the others, and says, ”Ben did that for you, you know. He totally dissed Terri for your sake.”
”That was pretty cool.”
”So.”
Speak of the devil.
”I thought you two weren't dating?” Terri asks snidely, her face contorting in a sneer.
”Well...we weren't.”
”And...now...you are?”
I don't know what her problem is. ”I guess.”
”G.o.d, Rose. Yes or no? Make up your mind,” she says.