Which was an odd thing to think because I wasn’t easygoing to anyone except for Beckett. I wasn’t going to think about that, because it didn’t matter. Beckett was happy, and I was going to be happy soon. Not that I was unhappy, but I was going to add more happiness to my repertoire. I was going to stop making things so weird.
I got in the car, checked my mirrors, made sure I had a full tank of gas and that my hybrid was charged, and made my way to Benjamin’s.
My mom texted me as I pulled into his driveway, and I looked down at my phone.
Mom: See you soon. And I can still bring the Jackson boy if you want.
I groaned, knowing that this was only the start. It was going to be an excruciating yet fulfilling weekend.
Me: It’s a family reunion. Stop setting me up on a date.
Mom: It’s a family reunion where we could make a new family. I’m going to invite him. I don’t want the tables to be uneven.
I groaned, my cheeks heating as I looked up, and Benjamin walked forward, he had a large duffle, a small cooler, and that was it. How the hell had he had packed so little when I seem to have packed the rest of the world?
Men.
As soon as I looked at him, the way he smiled at me, even with a little embarrassment on his gaze, I knew I would do something stupid.
Me: I’m bringing someone—no need to invite strangers for food.
My phone rang even as I got out of the car and opened up the back hatch. Benjamin nodded at my phone and went to the back to put his things away.
“Who are you bringing? What is his name? What does he do? How long have you been together, and when are you getting married?”
I ignored most of her questions since she was mostly joking. Mostly. “Yes, my friend Benjamin is coming with me. We’re driving together.”
“Benjamin? As in Beckett’s Benjamin?”
“As in my Benjamin,” I said, and Benjamin’s brows winged up, and I held back a curse. “As in my friend Benjamin. Beckett’s twin. He’s coming with me on the trip.”
“Oh, oh, oh, when did this happen? You’re going to have to tell me everything, and I love you so much. And don’t worry. We will make sure that he gets everything that he needs, and I will tell everybody that he’s on his way. Now, no one needs to worry about you.”
And that was the crux of it. Everybody was always worried about dear old Brenna, the last single Garrett, just like Benjamin was the last single Montgomery.
I cringed, knowing that I had put my foot in my mouth, and frankly, I had probably signed Benjamin up for far more than he had thought when he asked me if he could come.
“We’re just friends, Mom.”
“Oh, shush, you wouldn’t be taking a friend to a family reunion across state lines if you were just friends. But don’t worry. You don’t have to tell me if it’s something serious. You just take your time with that. I’m just so happy for you, Brenna. I love you so much, and I can’t wait to meet him. Of course, I met Beckett, but he has to be different than Benjamin. Are they identical?”
“I’ve got to go, Mom. We’re loading the car now.”
“We. Because you’re a we. Oh, I love it. I love you.”
I groaned as the line went dead, and I leaned my forehead against the car. “I fucked up.”
Benjamin chuckled beside me. “Let me guess. Your mom went my mom’s route with being overbearing when it comes to being single.”
I opened an eye and glared. “At least for a guy, it’s not as bad, right?”
“As I haven’t seen your mom in action, I can’t tell you that. I don’t think it crosses gender lines, as much as it depends on the person hemming you in.”
“My mom was about to bring the neighbor boy over for me to have a date for a family reunion when I accidentally on purpose said that you were coming with me. As my friend, but you heard my mother, there may be an officiant for a wedding.” I put my hands over my face and screamed, and Benjamin reached out and gripped my shoulder. I startled, looking up at him. “I’m an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot. You have a mom who thinks she knows what’s best for you, and I understand that. I’ll play your fake boyfriend if that’s what you want, though I don’t think I’m going to be very good at it.”
I shook my head even though my heart swelled at the thought. “I don’t need you to play my fake boyfriend. You do need to go, even though we said you might not have to, you’re going to have to.”
“Okay. I don’t mind. I think I’ve met your mother, haven’t I?”
“Maybe? She seemingly remembers Beckett, but I don’t remember her meeting Beckett at all.”
Benjamin snorted. “No, that was me. I stopped by your bakery to pick up something for Mom, and your mom was there.”
“Oh yes, that was you. And she mixed you up. And I might have done that too. That’s weird. I never do that.”
“It’s fine. You’re not the first, though I guess that is the first time you ever have. I’ll go. We’ll be friends. We’ll make sure that your mom doesn’t have any secret dates for you, and then we’ll come back.”
“You know, you’re amazing.”
“You’re the one that’s letting me tag along on your road trip out of the blue. I think you’re the amazing one.”
“Then we both can be amazing and neurotic together.”
“I didn’t add the neurotic, but I don’t mind.”
I shook my head and gestured towards the SUV. “Now that you have packed your meager allowances, we should go.”
“We’re only going for a little over a week.”
“A week means how many outfits?”
“I have enough. Don’t worry.”
“Well, I sure hope you do. Though, of course, I guess we could go shopping if you need it.”
He shuddered as he went to the passenger seat. “Don’t say shopping.”
“Stereotypical much?”
“The last time I went shopping, Beckett was the one that made me try on a thousand different things even though we’re the same freaking size.”
I eyed him as I sat in the front seat. “I think you’re a little bigger.” And then I blushed as Benjamin threw his head back and laughed. “Oh God, I’m so sad that Beckett wasn’t here to hear that.”
“Please don’t. Never say that again. Don’t ever tell him I said that.”
“Oh, I’m telling Lee.” He pulled out his phone, and I snatched it. “No phones.”
“Really? No phones for the entirety of the trip, so I don’t mention the casual remark you just made?”
“Okay, we can have phones. Just don’t tell him.”
“I won’t. I was never going to. Do you want me to drive?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Excuse me?”
“Not right now, as I got into the passenger seat, but touchy much?”
“Sorry,” I mutter.
“I meant in general. You sent me the road trip plans, and we have GPSs and phones that should be good to go, but you do not have to drive the entire time if you don’t want to.”
“It’s a long drive to Virginia.”