“I miss you, too, Laney.”
“I’m glad.” She released a breathy giggle and he was certain she was blushing. She always blushed in his presence and that gave him an ego boost like no tomorrow. “So, do you think maybe you and Ags would be interested? I can try to get them to hold it for you.”
“I can’t make any promises, but I’ll talk to Ags. We’ve got a lot to take care of here and we’d have to find work there. I don’t want to show up and not have anything waiting for me.”
“I’m waiting for you.”
His breath hitched in his throat as his stomach did a series of flip-flops.
Damn, was she trying to kill him?
“I meant job-wise, beautiful.” He murmured, glancing up to see his boss eyeballing him. “I’ll call you back later, okay? After I talk to Ags?”
“Okay. Have a good day, Benjamin. Goodbye.”
When the line went dead, Benji lowered his head to hide his moronic grin.
After months of flirting and intense eye contact, had things finally gotten serious enough for Laney to voice her desire to be with him?
Don’t be an idiot. She just misses your friendship.
But that couldn’t possibly be the whole truth. Benji knew what it looked like when a woman was attracted to him and Laney definitely had the hots for him.
You’re an arrogant dick.
“I don’t pay you to talk to your girlfriend on the phone, Palmer.” His boss called from behind a bookshelf. “Get back to it or I’ll send you home for the day.”
“Yep. I’m on it.” Benji replied as he tucked his phone into his pocket. “Work. I’m doing it. Right now.”
But not for much longer, he thought with a sly smile. Prairie Town, here I come.
Chapter 2
Laney
“That’ll be fifty-seven dollars and ninety-two cents, please.” The cashier bagged the last items and placed them in the buggy, staring at Laney with boredom written all over her face.
Thumbing through her purse and finding her small wallet, Laney frowned and gazed at the pitiful, thin stash of money she possessed.
Goodbye, money. She thought with a sigh. Maybe I can afford some new clothes soon.
She handed a hundred dollar bill to the cashier reluctantly and couldn’t help but to wonder when she’d get a raise. She’d been an employee at the Prairie Town Bank for quite a while now…didn’t that mean she was supposed to get a raise?
“Here’s your change, Ma’am. Have a nice day.” The cashier said without giving her a smile.
“You as well. Thank you.” Laney did the smiling for her and then pushed her buggy out of the store, eyeballing her groceries in dismay. “You’re lucky I need to eat to survive or I’d be buying some new clothes instead.”
She shivered and gazed up at the afternoon sky. Summer wasn’t too far away—thank goodness—and that meant she wouldn’t need to wear so many layers. Being a McIntosh meant two things for Laney and her siblings: hot-blooded and prone to sweat when the sun was out.
Oh well. She supposed she’d just have to make due with her current wardrobe. There were lots of nice clothes in her closet. They weren’t name brand items or anything of the sort, but they were nice enough to wear to work.
I really wanted a new dress, too.
It was almost time for Benji and Ags to visit again. Hopefully this time was for good. She’d planted the seed of temptation in Benjamin’s mind, now he just had to take the steps needed to be an official Prairie-Townian.
Her heart fluttered at the thought.
Could I handle having him so close all the time?
Goodness gracious, she missed his adorable smile.
It didn’t matter that Benji had once been a girl; it didn’t matter that he had to use the bathroom sitting down; it didn’t matter that he had scars on his chest. All that mattered was the fact he was very kind to her and he stirred emotions within her soul that sometimes terrified her.
Yet her heart threatened to burst every time she thought about him. Having him as a permanent resident in Prairie Town was one of the best things that could happen.
She began to smile like an idiot as she unlocked the trunk and pushed it open, wincing as the old clunker groaned in protest.
Maybe he would try to hold her hand again like he did the night of her mother’s accident.
Maybe he would hug her for two seconds too long like he did before their last goodbye.
Maybe he would finally kiss her. Or maybe she’d take the reins and—
“Hey, Laney.”
Hearing Devin’s voice sent a shiver down her spine and her entire body went rigid as she clutched her purse to her chest.
“It’s been a while, huh? How are you doing?”
Just ignore him. Just put your groceries in the car and leave.
“Need some help with your bags? Here, let me help you.”
“N-no, thank you.” Her voice trembled as he stepped closer. The static electricity of his close proximity wasn’t comfortable in the least. He gave her the creeps.
She could never forgive him for everything he’d put her family through.
I was a fool for ever having thought he’d changed.
Watching as he grabbed some bags and placed them in the trunk, Laney wondered how in the hell such beautiful light blue eyes could be so damn deceiving. There had been a time—something she was so ashamed of—when he’d tricked her into thinking he was a decent human being.
Somehow, Laney had miraculously forgotten the terrible things he’d done to Lydia when they were younger; the beatings, the taunting, the hours Lydia spent in their bedroom crying.
How had she forgotten all of that so easily?
Brief flashbacks of being in the backseat of Devin’s car came to mind and her stomach instantly twisted into sickening knots.
I can’t believe I lost my virginity to such a jerk.
But he had been so nice to her back then. He was sweet and romantic, tender and kind. She’d fallen for his façade—hook, line, and sinker.
“You look really good.” He remarked once the groceries were loaded into the trunk. “I like your hair—did you do something different?”
“I cut a few inches off.” She whispered, reaching up to touch some loose strands. “What do you think you’re doing, Devin?”
She wasn’t sure if she could believe it or not, but there was pain in his eyes as he gazed at her, frowning.
“I feel so awful for how I behaved, Laney. I honestly didn’t mean for anybody to get hurt and I should have known better. Jebson is your brother and out of respect for you, I should have—”
“Don’t.” She shook her head furiously. “Just don’t try to do this, okay? We’ve all moved past it, Devin. You should, too.”
Deciding to ditch the buggy and make a dash for the driver’s side door instead, Laney turned away from him quickly and yelped in surprise when he grabbed her upper arm.
“Let go of me!” She shrieked, glaring up at him. “Get your hands off me, Devin. I mean it.”
The fact that he was a good foot taller than her meant nothing to Laney. She was at the perfect height to knee him where it would hurt, at least for a few minutes.
“Please, Laney. I just want to talk. I need to make it up to you.”
“I don’t want you to! And there’s nothing to say, Devin. Let go.”
“I miss you.” His voice cracked and his grip tightened. “Please, Laney.”
“I said no! Now let me—ow! Devin, that really hurts.”
“Baby, I miss you.” His voice was full of desperation as he pulled her closer, nostrils flaring. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Laney. Please let me make it up to you. I need to—”
“Is everything okay, Laney?”
Devin immediately released her and stepped back when Kelly Spencer came to the rescue. She stood only a few feet away with her daughter, Jamie, cradled comfortably against her hip.
“It’s fine.” Laney replied, bu
t her voice was still trembling from the evident fear she’d felt only seconds before hand. Her body was shaking and her heart was beating so hard she felt sick.
Too many bad memories. She thought, chancing a look in Devin’s direction. He seemed surprised by the sudden interruption and his eyes darkened as he glared at her, but just as quick as the menace appeared, it was gone.
“I was just helping her load her groceries.” He said, lifting a hand to rub at his neck.
Those hands. Laney swallowed the lump in her throat and took another step away from him, just for good measure.
Those hands had loved her many times, but they had threatened to harm her, too. Would Devin have actually gone through with it? She wasn’t sure, but the memories of his anger still simmered in her mind.
“So you think I’m bad now, huh?” He spat angrily, clutching the front of her shirt in his fists. “Your family is trying to turn you against me, right? What did Jeb say?”
“Nothing!” She cried, turning her head away from him. “I just don’t want to be with you anymore, Devin. It’s time to break up and move on.”
“I don’t want to move on, don’t you get that? I want you, Laney. I’ve always wanted you.”
“I can’t do this anymore. Please let me go, Devin. You’re frightening me.”
“You should be frightened, baby.” He whispered close to her ear. “Nobody leaves a Rose.”
His words bounced around in her mind as she watched him retreat to the grocery store. It seemed a lifetime had passed since that terrifying night, but he still scared her.
“Are you okay?” Kelly repeated.
Turning to gaze at her childhood friend, Laney bit at her bottom lip to keep it from trembling, and nodded. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine, honey.” Kelly frowned. “Did he hurt you?”
“No.” At least not this time.
“Do you want me to call somebody or something?” Kelly shifted her daughter on her hip and gazed at her, concern written all over her face. “I’ve never liked that boy. Are you sure he didn’t do anything?”
“He didn’t have a chance to do anything.” Laney admitted. God, it made her sick thinking about it.
Why was Devin still so strung up on her? She wasn’t anything special—far from it, actually. Besides, she could do better and was an idiot for giving him a chance. It was such an insult to Lydia and Jeb.
I’m the suckiest sister ever.
The pain in her heart always grew stronger at the thought her betrayal to Lydia. Devin had made her childhood a living hell and Laney had witnessed every bit of it.
She’d tried to stop him as often as she could, but she couldn’t always be there and she hated it so much. Devin had hurt her sister so many times, and so deeply.
I’m just as much of an asshole as he is. She thought sadly, forcing a smile when little Jamie grinned at her.
“She’s growing fast, huh?” Laney commented, hoping to change the subject.
“Faster than I’d like.” Kelly nodded in agreement. “Can you believe Justin will be in the first grade next year?”
“That is pretty unbelievable.”
“I cherish every moment I have with them, but I really hate that Patrick isn’t here to enjoy it, too.”
“I know.” Laney felt guilty.
Kelly’s husband had died a little over a year ago. What right did Laney have to be complaining or depressed? She wasn’t a single mother struggling to support her children, and she wasn’t a transgender woman fighting to be accepted by society.
Why was she so selfish?
The sound of her phone ringing startled her. Her encounter with Devin had already put her on edge, that bastard.
Glancing at the screen, she sighed.
“I need to take this, Kelly. Thank you for the help.”
“No problem, sweetie. I’ll see you later.”
She placed the phone to her ear and watched Kelly walk away. “Hey, Ags. This is a surprise.”
“Oh, please. You aren’t any more surprised than that poor bastard who came home an hour earlier than usual from work.” Agnes laughed. “I know you dangled something sweet in front of Benji earlier today; it’s all he can talk about now.”
Her face probably turned redder than Yosemite Sam as she tightened her fingers around the phone and laughed nervously. “W-what?”
“Don’t play shy with me, cupcake. I know what’s going on.”
“You do?”
“Yep. Lydia wants us to move there sooner so we can help with the wedding—which I’m fine with and all, but why couldn’t she just say so?”
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Laney leaned against the side of her car and grinned. “I suppose she was too shy to ask.”
Agnes doesn’t even suspect me—perfect!
But wait, did that mean Benji hadn’t been as excited about her proposal as she originally thought? Nervous butterflies wreaked havoc on her stomach as she turned to unlock the door and her teeth sank into her bottom lip.
“Uh huh.” Agnes didn’t sound convinced. “And it has nothing to do with the fact you’ve got a lady boner for my friend? Nothing at all?”
“Oh my god, Agnes.” Her body hummed to life as Benji’s face flashed into her mind and she sank down into the driver’s seat, fighting back the stupid giggle threatening to escape.
“I’m not stupid, sugar cookie; I know how a girl’s mind works. I know you miss him and we miss all of you guys, too. I’m not opposed to moving to Prairie Town—Hell, I’d be there tonight if I could.”
“Agnes, I—”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I get it. Ben and I have to sort through some gritty details before we can move down there, but you should go ahead and tell your landlord we want the haunted place.”
“It’s not haunted.” She rolled her eyes. “Mrs. Hewitt didn’t die in the apartment.”
“Hush now. Don’t say things like that. You’ll ruin the excitement for us. Anyway, I need to let you go now so I can get back to work. Unfortunately these people won’t massage themselves.”
“Okay,” Laney chuckled at the thought of people trying to massage themselves. “Have fun rubbing them down, Mr. Massage Therapist. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Sooner, I hope.” Agnes replied. “Stay out of trouble, gorgeous. Bye.”
Ending the call and tossing her phone into the seat next to her, Laney released another shaky breath and gazed out the windshield.
“Yeah, stay out of trouble.” She echoed quietly, frowning.
Something told her trouble wasn’t going to leave her alone any time soon.
----------
Benji
Benji made it home a little after six-thirty with a twelve-pack of beer in tow. He always appreciated Agnes’ extended stays.
Ags was one of his favorite people on earth—obviously, or they wouldn’t be roommates, and while he adored the hell out of Aggie, she wasn’t much of a drinker. He didn’t like to drink alone and Agnes was more than willing to match him can for can. Did that make him a bad friend?
He supposed his preference for Agnes was no different from Lydia’s preference for Aggie.
Ags’ life seemed complicated to many people, but Benji and Lydia had always accepted their friend for who she…or he, depending on the moment, was.
Ags was the most gender fluid person in existence—Benji was certain of that—but his friend’s mind worked differently from that of other people, too. Being male or female was more mental than physical for Ags; always referring to her—or his—self as a completely different person.
Aggie and Agnes were basically twins trapped in the same body. Did that make Ags crazy? Not in Benji’s opinion. Whatever made his friend happy couldn’t be crazy. Hell, there were different levels of crazy and he’d seen a few of them, but Ags was intelligent and completely sane.
Ags was the best.
He’d been blessed with the company of Agnes for almost a month now. The apartment was a li
ttle messier than usual, but it had that undeniable guy-vibe to it and Benji loved it. It was something he could definitely get used to.
Tonight he was looking forward to drinking, watching some TV, and hopefully passing out before midnight—such a partier—and he knew Ags would be easy to convince. He was always easy to convince.
Fishing his keys from the front pocket of his jeans and unlocking the door, he pushed it open with a grin and a twinkle of mischief in his eyes.
“Agnes? I’ve got beer. Who’s ready to…”
His voice drifted off when he heard the very feminine sobs of his best friend, coming from the bathroom.
Oh, shit.
Setting the beer down on the counter, he strode down the hallway and carefully, cautiously, peered into the bathroom, only to find Aggie huddled on the floor near the tub, hugging her knees to her chest. Her shoulders shook with obvious grief and he wasn’t sure if he needed to be angry or sad.
“Aggie?” He whispered.
She lifted her head, but she didn’t meet his gaze as she wiped at her eyes, sniffling and hiccupping uncontrollably.
“I started my stupid period.”
“Ah.” He sank against the doorframe and sighed in relief. Was that all it was?
No, that was an asshole thing to think.
Getting her period while she clearly wanted to be Agnes was one of the worst things that could happen. Benji could relate to that. God, could he ever.
Before his hormones had had enough time to start working, he’d gotten his final period while out at a party, binder in place and clothes matching the man he felt like on the inside. It was absolutely devastating to discover the blood when he pulled down his briefs to take a piss.
Ags undoubtedly felt that devastation, too. He wasn’t ready to turn back into Aggie, but he’d been forced to, because of nature.
“I’m sorry, honey.” He entered the bathroom and eased down by her, wrapping an arm around her trembling shoulders. “Did you forget to take your continuous birth control?”
“Yes.” She wailed, burying her face behind her hands. “Like an idiot. Agnes was really strong that time…I mean, I was really stubborn, you know? I felt so manly…I guess I forgot.”
90 Days (Prairie Town Book 2) Page 2