Series: Cobalt Empire Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 234
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 226965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1135(@200wpm)___ 908(@250wpm)___ 757(@300wpm)
Xander stands, and before he says anything, I hug him goodbye. “Thanks,” I say from my core, trying to breathe. I start walking away, rubbing at my tear-streaked cheeks.
“Ben!” Xander catches up to me.
I stop and turn my agonized face toward his empathetic amber eyes. His chest collapses in a deep breath. “I hope you know something,” he says, very quietly. “I’d rather sit on this rooftop with you for a billion years than not have you in this world at all.” The memory of us at thirteen comes sweeping back. The bathroom. The lake house. “I never forgot what you told me. It helped me that night…and maybe it’ll help you too. Because you belong in this world. Shit, if anyone does from our families, it’s the eco-friendly vegan with a heart made of sustainable material.”
It makes me laugh.
He smiles a little more, but he’s uncertain. He knows I’m not okay. I know this all sucks, but this is the only way I can protect them.
I have to go. “I think you and Harriet will always be friends.”
He intakes a pained breath. “Ben, don’t—”
“I’m not dying,” I assure. “I’m considering moving out of the city. Living somewhere else. I think maybe nature will be good, you know?”
He nods, then rapidly shakes his head. “No, man, I don’t understand.”
“I’m going to drop out of MVU. I haven’t told my parents or my siblings yet.”
Xander frowns. “Does Harriet know?”
I nod a few times, tears trying to surge again. She doesn’t know it’s happening soon, but she will tonight. My eyes blister.
It dawns on Xander—this is why I’m crushed. “Why are you leaving? New York isn’t even that bad. There’s not as many paparazzi like back in Philly with our parents. All your brothers are here. You even said Charlie stopped being an ass. Nature can’t be better.”
It’s not. “I think it’s what I need.”
Xander expels a heavy sigh.
“Keep an eye on her for me?”
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters, shaking his head like he’s stepped into another dimension. “Yeah, I will.” I turn to go as he speaks. “You never said why you were up here.”
“I was just looking at the lights.”
One last time.
53
BEN COBALT
Harriet flings open the door right as a timer goes off. “Shit, come in!” She races into her kitchen where she left her phone. I shut the door behind me, my stomach tightening when I notice Netflix popped on the TV, my favorite fig bars plated on the coffee table, along with bowls of corn chips and homemade guac.
“Having a party, Fisher?” I try to keep my voice lighthearted. This is the first time we’ve seen each other since last night—the night of the frat.
“With a microscopic invite list. Just me and you, Friend.” Her back faces me while she opens the oven. She has on a flowy, red plaid mini-dress over a black long-sleeve top. Everything about her, I find beautiful.
Of course, tonight is no different. Being around Harriet, I ache to curve my arms around her small frame, lift her in my arms, clasp her head and kiss her breathless.
“I’m working on convincing Eden to spend the night at her boyfriend’s place. She’s there now,” Harriet says, pulling out a baking sheet of pizza bites, likely the vegan kind I keep in the freezer at my brothers’ apartment. “If I succeed, then you can stay over until like nine in the morning.”
I rest my canvas duffel on the ground. She hasn’t seen it yet. “Did you go to the bodega for party supplies or did you write your paper?” I tease.
“I did both.” Harriet dumps the pizza bites into a bowl. “I figure if you’re not up for talking, we can do an animated movie.”
I come closer. “I thought you hate animated movies.”
“I find them cheesy, which is low on the hate scale. You said The Wild Robot is good, right?”
I slide a hand along her back. “Yeah, I like that one.” A knot forms in my chest. How am I going to get through this? How am I going to get her through this? “Harriet…”
She sets the baking sheet aside, then tugs off the daisy-patterned oven-mitt. Concern cinches her face into a darker scowl. “We don’t have to even stay here. If you need to go outside, we can do a walk or…what do you need, Ben?”
I push my fingers through my hair. “I need you to be okay.”
“I am. I have been. I’m concerned about you.”
“I’ll be okay knowing you are.”
“That’s so not true.” She threads her arms, more on guard like she’s prepared to battle my demons. “I can see it all over you right now. Something is really fucked up.”
“That would be me,” I mutter. “I am fucked up. I think I’ve been the real fucked up one this whole time.” I try to smile, but it hurts. My eyes are raw, likely bloodshot, as I restrain emotion.