Say Something...

by T. A. Roth

  When he got the opportunity to try out for Atletico Madrid, I knew it was over. He had been playing soccer since he was three years old. There was no way he wouldn’t be picked up. I would lose him to Spain, and I wasn’t about to stand in the way of his dream. It was all he ever talked about. So, I broke up with him. I cared enough to let him go but didn’t love him enough to beg him to stay. That was the problem. I couldn’t ask him to ignore his dream for someone who was not all in. I was too young, and too fucked up to ask him to do that. I still am.

  I finally close my mouth. “Rudy, I’m not sure what you want me to say.”

  “I loved you, Ari. Did you know that? Did you even care?” I’m stunned by his words. He was sad, yeah, but heartbroken, I never thought. “You were my first, too.”

  My mind is racing. “But all those girls you dated in school.”

  “Rumors. I thought about you every day for months.”

  “But you didn’t call. You seemed fine.”

  “I didn’t call because there was no point. You made it clear you didn’t want me. How would we make things work being oceans away?”

  “So, why now?”

  “We were kids back then. I was just hoping to get the chance to date you now that we’re adults.” I shake my head. I can’t even make a coherent thought.

  “It’s too late,” I blurt out. I stare at my plate for a few seconds. This will be easier if I don’t look at his face.

  “I’m seeing someone,” I whisper.

  “Who?” I look up, and he looks pained.

  “It’s a friend of Vonne’s.”

  “How long?”

  “It’s new, it’s only been a month, but I’m happy.”

  He smiles sadly. ”That’s all I ever wanted for you. I just wish I was the one making you happy.” My alarm chimes alerting me of the time, and I sit up and start to gather my things.

  “I need to get back.” He nods and starts to clean up the plates. I stand by the table as he puts the last of our lunch in the trash.

  “Can I walk you to your car?” I nod. We walk in silence for a few minutes.

  “If everything works out with the tryout, I’ll be moving back home at the end of July.”

  I look at him and roll my eyes. ”You’ve got it. You know you do.”

  He chuckles. “You always had faith in me.” He grabs my wrist, faltering my step. I turn to face him, and he grabs my hands rubbing his thumbs nervously over the top of each one.

  “I’m a very determined man, Ari. You know this about me.” I swallow and look up at him. “But I’ll respect the fact that you’re seeing someone else.” He closes his eyes and lets out a frustrated sigh. He leans in and kisses my cheek. His lips stay on my cheek longer than I’m comfortable with.

  “I hope he appreciates what he has.”

  I pull away and smile up at him. “I think he does.” I move my hands out of his grasp. “Thank you for lunch. Good luck with everything, Rudy.”

  “Thanks. You, too.” I give him a quick hug then turn toward the parking lot. I look over the top of my car, and he’s still watching me. I wave goodbye and get in the car.

  What in the hell just happened?

  BEN

  I’m sitting in Professor Lessig’s class listening to him lecture about Intellectual Property. We’ve been reviewing the last couple of weeks. My mind checked out about thirty minutes ago, so I’m hoping he doesn’t ask any questions. I seem to be his favorite student to pick on.

  I’m doodling in the margins of my notebook when I feel the vibration of my cell against my leg. I look up at the time, and there are only twenty minutes of class left. I reach into my pocket and hit the button to silence it. This class isn’t very big, and he likes to make an example of you if he sees you on your cell. I decide to ignore it. A few minutes pass, and I feel the vibration again. I repeat the same action and stare at the clock, willing it to move. A few minutes pass, and it goes off for a third time.

  He turns his back to write something on the whiteboard, and I use the opportunity to sneak a peek at my phone. It’s from an unknown number and there are three picture texts attached. I let out a sigh. It’s probably Maria sending a small photo shoot of herself. I’m about to hit delete without opening the texts when Professor Lessig turns around. I manage to slide the phone back into my pocket before he notices.

  I finish the rest of the class without receiving another text. I gather my books and head toward the exit. I have my phone in hand pulling up my contacts to call Ari when another text comes through. I hit open and the picture stops me in my tracks. I stand there for a few seconds until someone bumps into me.

  “Ben? What the heck, why did you stop?”

  I turn and Vonne is looking at me with her arms crossed and her brows knit. The air has been taken out of my lungs. I hold the phone up to her, and she grabs it out of my hands. She looks down at the screen, and her eyes widen. She swipes her finger across the screen and her mouth opens and closes trying to think of something to say.

  “There has to be an explanation. She would never. Ben, she-”

  “She what, Vonne?”

  I look down at my phone and scroll through the rest of the pictures. My stomach knots and I grip my phone tightly wanting to smash it against the wall. I turn to walk out of the building. I hear the clicking of Vonne’s shoes walking behind me.

  “Ben . . . Ben . . . There has to be an explanation. Someone is messing with you. Hear her out before you do anything stupid.”

  I’m to pissed to say anymore so I keep walking and luckily she doesn’t follow. I’m trying to calm down. There has to be an explanation, right? I need there to be. I’m about to get in my car and my phone vibrates with another text. I look down and it’s from Ari.

  Ari: Hey can we meet up after I get off work. I want to tell you something.

  My anger turns into fear. I can’t lose her. He can’t come back after four years and steal her away, can he? She said she didn’t love him. We’ve only been together a little over a month. I text her back and attach one of the pictures.

  Me: Yes, I think you do.

  ARI

  I SIT IN MY CAR dumbstruck. I can’t even begin to process the conversation that just happened and I’m feeling guilty for not telling Ben. I thought it would be a quick lunch catching up with an old friend. I wasn’t expecting a profession of love. I send Ben a text asking him to meet up with me later.

  My office is only a few minutes away. As I pull into my parking space, my phone lights up with a response from Ben. I pull it out of the cup holder, grab my purse, and walk toward the elevators. I tap the screen to check the text and a picture of Rudy leaning into me pops up on the screen. What the hell? The angle of the picture looks like we’re kissing. Shit.

  I’m confused. Why would he follow me? If anyone should have trust issues, it’s me. I don’t want to have this conversation at work, but I can’t let him stew about it all day. I get back to my desk and quickly dial his number. He picks up on the third ring.

  “Ben?” He doesn’t say hello; I can just hear his heavy breathing. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Really, Ari? Because you don’t want to know what I’m thinking right now.” He’s pissed, and I can’t blame him.

  “He called me at work today. He asked me to lunch and said he wanted to talk. That’s all it was. We didn’t kiss, Ben. He kissed me goodbye on the cheek. I told him that I was seeing someone.”

  He takes a deep breath. “I don’t have time to do this right now, Ari. I’m going to be late for my next class.”

  “I know you’re pissed. I promise you it was just lunch. Can you meet me after work?”

  “Pissed doesn’t even begin to describe what I’m feeling. I’ll see you tonight.” He hangs up.

  I stare at the receiver. He has to believe me, right? The phone rings shaking my thoughts.

  “Law offices.”

  “Ari? What the hell happened?” Vonne screeches into the phone. I forget she has a class wit
h Ben. She probably witnessed him flip out.

  “It was just lunch, Vonne. Rudy called the office earlier saying he wanted to talk. The picture is bad, but I swear he just kissed me on the cheek. I wouldn’t do that to Ben.”

  “That’s what I told him. There are other pictures, Ari, and they don’t look good. He’s really pissed. What the hell did Rudy want?”

  “He wants me back. He wants to try dating again.”

  “What the hell? Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Why now? Anyway, I told him that I was seeing someone. He wasn’t happy, but he said he would respect it. He might be moving back at the end of July.”

  “So, what are you going to tell Ben?”

  “We talked, and I told him what happened. He’s really pissed. I’m meeting him tonight. Do you think he had me followed? If he was in class with you, how in the hell would he have pictures?”

  “I don’t know. He was looking at his phone when we got out of class then stopped in the middle of the hall in front of me. I bumped into him as we were walking out, and he couldn’t even talk. He just brought the phone up to my face.”

  “Shit. This is bad. Listen, I got to get back to work. I’ll let you know what happens, okay?”

  “Okay. Keep me posted. Good luck, lady.”

  “Thanks. Talk to you lates.”

  BEN

  I walk into my next class, and my mind is reeling. I want so badly to believe her, but these damn pictures are making it really hard. I plop myself down in my usual seat and stare at my phone.

  “So I see you got the pics I sent you. Not bad for a smartphone right?” I look over to my left and Maria is sitting there with a shit-eating grin.

  “It was the craziest thing. I was having lunch with a friend and noticed Ari with some guy. I figured you’d want to know. They looked real cozy.”

  My blood begins to boil.

  “I told you that we were done, Maria. Stay the fuck out of my business.”

  She places her hand on her chest, feigning innocence. “I was just trying to help out a friend. I mean who knows what she’s up to while you’re at school.”

  I grab my shit and walk toward the door.

  “See you later, Ben,” she calls out behind me.

  I don’t turn to look at her. I’m too pissed, which is exactly the reaction she hoped for. It’s still early; I have three hours to kill and too much anger to just sit around in my room. I run home, grab a change of clothes, and head to the gym.

  The music in my headphones pauses alerting me to an incoming text while I’m on my third mile on the treadmill. My muscles are sore, and I’m exhausted but I decide to keep running. I’ve been here two hours, and my thoughts are still a jumbled mess. I go one more mile before I stop to look at it. It’s a text from Ari telling me that she’s on her way home.

  ARI

  I can’t stop checking my phone. I still haven’t heard from him. He’s been stewing all day. A jealous Ben is kind of hot, but an angry Ben seems like a whole other beast. I’m not sure what to expect. I picked up his favorite dinner. My stomach has been in knots all day, and I don’t think I could eat if you paid me. I’ve tried sitting, but I’m too restless. I’m currently wearing a hole in my living room carpet.

  A knock at the door stops me in my tracks. I stare at it for a moment. He must really be pissed; he hasn’t knocked since I gave him a key. I take a deep breath and walk over to let him in.

  As soon as the door swings open, he storms in. He’s still angry; it’s written all over his handsome face. I turn to close the door, and I can feel him behind me. I turn to look at him, and he presses me against the door.

  He fists a handful of my hair and crashes his lips onto mine. He’s saying so much without using words. I can feel his insecurity, anger, passion. Tears start to sting the back of my eyes. He pulls back and rests his forehead on mine.

  “I’m so pissed at you, Ari,” he whispers trying to catch his breath.

  “I know. I’m so sorry, Ben. It was just lunch. I promise nothing happened.”

  He wipes the stray tear streaming down my face. “I believe you. But those damn pictures.” He slams his mouth on mine and grinds his hips into me. I let out a soft moan, and his grip on my hair tightens.

  “You’re mine,” he whispers across my lips.

  “Always yours,” I answer. He presses soft kisses up and down my neck then brings his mouth to my ear.

  “You drive me crazy. Do you know that?” I nod my head and begin to rake my fingers through his hair.

  “I’m not a jealous asshole, Ari. I know you had a life before me, but I don’t want you to see him again.”

  I cup his face and look him in the eyes. “I promise you that nothing happened. We didn’t even exchange numbers. He’s going back to Spain.” He stares at me.

  I grab his hand and lead him down the hall to my room. He follows and as I step into the doorway, I reach for the hem of my shirt. I pull it off slowly and walk toward the bed.

  “What are you doing?” he asks.

  I look over my shoulder. ”I’m going to spend the rest of the night convincing you.”

  He gives me a sexy grin. “Deal.”

  BEN

  I’ve spent the last week at Ari’s apartment. After the best make-up sex of my life, I couldn’t stay away. She was pissed when I told her that Maria was the one who sent the pictures. We’ve both realized she’s out to ruin our relationship and have promised to give each other the benefit of the doubt in the future.

  It’s the day of Alba’s barbecue. I just picked Ari up from her apartment, and I’m driving us to her parents’ house. She’s been nervously rambling about every family member who might attend. I’ll never be able to remember anyone’s name, but I don’t want to add to her stress. I just keep smiling and nodding. She keeps talking, and all the while, her leg has been bouncing around a mile a minute. She tightens her grip on my hand as we approach the house.

  “They left us a spot in the driveway. You can pull in behind my dad’s truck.”

  She points to the house with the black and teal balloons. I pull in behind the truck and turn off the engine. She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and looks at me.

  “You ready?” she asks.

  “I’m fine. Let’s do the darn thing.” She gives me a nervous smile and exits the car.

  I get out and go around to help her with the bags. “Let me get those.” I grab the bags with the ingredients for her famous sangria and hand her the small gift bag she brought for her sister. I shut the door, clicking the alarm. I take a step toward her, and she wraps her arms around my neck giving me a sweet kiss.

  “Thanks for coming with me. I’m sorry I was rambling in the car, I’m just nervous.”

  I kiss her back and smile against her lips. “Why? Parents love me.”

  “Always so cocky,” she says chuckling. I pull her closer.

  “Do you want me to show you how ‘cocky’ you make me?” I whisper against her lips.

  The moment is broken when we hear someone clear their throat.

  “Hey, are you guys coming inside or are you going to continue to make out in the driveway?”

  Ari turns toward the voice, and her face is immediately red. I laugh and look to my left at a mini version of Ari. She’s a little shorter with the same long chestnut brown hair and hazel eyes. She’s looking at both of us with a mischievous grin and her arms crossed. Ari’s told me about her youngest sister, and I can’t wait to see if it’s true. “Hi, I’m Alba, Ari’s sister, and you must be the infamous Ben.”

  ARI

  If there is a God, she did not just hear the last sentence out of Ben’s mouth. I will never hear the end of it. She’s staring at both of us, and I know that grin. The little brat is going to torture me today. My face feels hot, and I don’t need a mirror to know I’m about ten different shades of red. Ben takes her outstretched hand and shakes it.

  “Hi Alba, nice to meet you. Yes, I’m Ben. Thanks for let
ting me crash your party.”

  He’s putting on the charm, but my little sister, although we look alike, is my polar opposite. She exudes confidence.

  “No worries. We were wondering when Rely was going to let you out of her apartment and bring you over.”

  I narrow my eyes at her, and she laughs and pulls me in for a hug.

  “I don’t blame you, he’s frickin’ hot,” she whispers loudly in my ear.

  Ben shakes his head and smiles at us.

  “Here.” I hand her the gift bag hoping to get off the subject.

  “Thanks.” She snatches the bag away and turns to walk toward the house.

  I turn to rest my forehead on Ben’s chest and let out an exasperated sigh.

  “I’m sorry; this is going to be a disaster. We’ve only been here five minutes-”

  “Hey.” He grabs my chin, brings my face toward his, and kisses me sweetly. ”I’m okay. She’s funny, and you’ve already given me the heads up. Come on; let’s go meet the rest of the family.” I roll my eyes, and he smiles. He grabs my hand and walks me toward the front door.

  We came about an hour early so that I could help my family with the last-minute details. I can hear the chaos ensuing in the kitchen. My mom is barking out orders to anyone who will listen. I squeeze his hand and walk him toward the craziness.

  “RELY,” everyone says in unison.

  “Hi guys. Uh . . . this is Ben.”

  They all give a knowing smile, and before I know it, my family members are showering me with hugs and kisses. I look over my shoulder, and my family is doing the same to Ben. It’ll be a miracle if he doesn’t ditch me in the next hour.

  “Aye, mija, he’s so handsome,” my mom whispers in my ear while kissing my cheek.

  She actually knows how to whisper, unlike my sister. I pull away a little embarrassed.

  “Thanks.” I walk back toward Ben and save him from the conversation about my Nana Mary’s aching bones. He’s winning everyone over with his charm and dimpled smile.

  “So, what do you need help with?” I ask my mom.

  “Well, I was about to start putting the chips and dips out. You can grab some bowls.” I walk toward the cabinet.