Welcome to New Haven (69 page)

“I was not trying to embarrass them, Ben.” Dev said, raising her voice. “I think it’s sweet that they can’t leave each other alone. I’m just making a point that I noticed, with a little added humour. You know…haha? You should try it Ben. Before your face cracks.” Dev folded her arms.
 

“Try what? Getting hot with some girl? No offence, Alex. I don’t mean Holly is just some girl…”
 

“I’m glad you said that Ben.” Said Alex, annoyed.
 

“No…” continued Dev. “I didn’t mean that, you ass. I meant humour.
 
You’re so grumpy at times. And FYI, I know they’re not gonna have sex in the car.
You
know they can’t have sex yet…”

Holly ears pricked up.

Can’t have sex…yet? Ben knows we can’t? What’s going on?

“You get on my nerves!” Dev added.

“Right back atcha, sweet cheeks.” Ben replied, calmly.
 

“Oh you did
not
just call me that!”

“I’ll explain about that later.” Alex whispered.

“There’s a lot that you need to tell me.” Said Holly. “You still haven’t told me what you said, in Spanish, this morning. I’ve been wracking my brain, but I have no clue, except for ‘very, very hot.’ I’m guessing it’s not clean?” Alex shook his head whilst keeping eye contact with her.
 

Yep.

She was gone.

Chapter 23

They pulled up outside Alex and Dev’s house.
 
The past twenty minutes consisted of Ben and Dev’s bickering, then silence, then more bickering.
 
Alex and Holly had shared a few kisses,
very
aware that they needed to keep their hands to themselves.
 
Well, almost.

As they walked up the path, Evie and Rami opened the door to greet them.

Dev walked in with her bag and went straight to her bedroom and slammed the door.

Evie and Rami looked straight to Ben.

“What?” He said, shrugging his shoulders, hands out to the sides.
 

“Bickering?…Again?” asked Evie, foot tapping and arms folded. “You need to sort out why you two are always arguing, Ben. It’s gotta stop.”

“It wasn’t me this time, I swear.” He said as he shook his head.

“Sort it out.” Said Rami, pointing at him.

“Alex, did you get what you need?” Evie asked, noticing his bags.

“Yeah. My bed’s coming tomorrow so we can be in when it’s delivered.”

“Good. We had an emergency locksmith here whilst you were out.
 
Here are your new keys.
 
The alarm code has changed too.”

The code had been their wedding date. Alex felt bad that they’d had to change it.
 

“It’s not your fault; son” Said Rami.

“Dinner’s almost ready. Ben, I called you mother to let her know you were staying.
 
Holly, I figured you wouldn’t want to leave each other just yet.” Evie said as she winked at her.
 

Holly turned to Alex.
 

“I should see if Dev’s ok.” She said.
 

“Ok, baby.” He said and gave her a gentle kiss.
 

“Ahem.” Said Evie.

“Holly, could you take these keys for Dev, please?”
 

Holly went upstairs and knocked on Dev’s door.
 

“Dev, it’s me.
 
Can I come in?”
 
As Holly waited for her reply, she glanced to Alex’s closed bedroom door.

A sick feeling hit her stomach.

“Come in.” Said Dev and Holly entered the room.

It looked the same as last time. White walls with a lilac border around the top.
 
Wooden floor with a lilac, heart shaped rug in the centre.
 
Plain white bedding with lilac bows on the edges of the pillows.

A dresser with eleven fairy figurines.
 
Some by Anne Stokes, some by Linda Ravenscroft, and some others that looked older and smaller. They were Dev’s most favourite things in her room.

She’d kept her walls white so she could change colours more easily.

The first time Holly had been there, there’s been a blue circular rug on the floor with lilac and blue polka dot bedding.

Dev was sitting on her bed, tears down her face.

“Oh Dev!” sad Holly as she ran to comfort her best friend.

“He makes me so mad sometimes!” She cried. “I think he gets off on it.” She sniffed.

“Actually Dev, I think that’s exactly why he does it.” Holly said thoughtfully.
 

“What? What do you mean? He
likes
making me cry?”

“Oh no, no. What I mean is…When you’re not fighting, you don’t really say much to each other right?”

“I…guess so.” Said Dev with a frown.

“When you’re mad, your mouth kinda runs away with you, right?” Holly asked, her eyebrows raised.

“Ok, maybe, but what about it?” Dev asked, confused.

“He gets to talk to you because you’re fighting. He doesn’t get much ,otherwise.”
 

Dev looked as though she were thinking about it.
 

“Like in the underwear shop.” Holly added. She wanted to make sure that Dev knew exactly what she meant.
 

Dev had been there for her through her embarrassing factions to Alex, and now it was her turn to be there for Dev.
 

“
He
made the comment about knowing what you’d gotten. He could’ve kept his mouth shut but instead, he let
you
know that he knew
exactly
what he’d seen. Don’t forget his walking into the sock rack…” Holly grinned and nodded her head, to get Dev to understand.
 

“So, if we talked more, we wouldn’t fight so much?” Dev asked.
 

“You could always test out that theory. If he tries to argue, stay calm, and don’t rise to it.” Holly remembered that earlier, Dev had been worried for Ben and Ben
 
had gone ballistic at the thought of Dev getting hurt.

Definitely not just like a sister.

Dev dried her face and the girls went downstairs. As they walked into the dining room, Ben and Evie were sitting down at the table. Upon seeing Dev’s face. Evie glared at Ben who looked hurt at what he’d caused.
 

“I’m sorry Dev. I didn’t mean to upset you.” He said.

“You two need to sit here and discuss why you keep fighting.
 
Seriously, this has gotten worse over the past few years.”
 

“It’s ok, Mom. I get a little sensitive sometimes. It won’t happen again…” Holly saw Dev look at Ben with a straight face as she said “…Ever.”

Ben looked down at his lap.

Holly felt bad for him, knowing that he was hiding his feelings. She knew how that felt. It wasn’t a nice feeling at all.

“Holly, Alex and Rami are in the study. Could you please ask them to come here whilst I have a talk with these two?”

Holly turned and she heard Evie’s stern voice.
 

“Ok. What is it
this
time?”

“Nothing Mom. It’s over now.”

“So, did you have sex with her?” Rami asked
 

“No!” Said Alex.

“You were gone a long time in her room.”

“So?” Alex said. “We wanted to be alone to talk and yeah, we kissed. Holly’s my girlfriend and I love her.”

“I know you do, son.” Rami said. “But when you both came downstairs, you looked…flushed.”

“What?! Look, I told Mom, no, so why ask me now? Don’t you believe me?”

Alex had never been asked these questions before. But then again, he’d never had a girlfriend or been on a date before.

“Ok, Alex. I believe you. Do you
want
to have sex with her?”

“Oh my
God
, we are
not
having his conversation, Dad!” It was getting too uncomfortable for Alex. The ‘talk’ they’d had, almost four years earlier, was bad enough.
 
But, now…it was just awkward.
 

“Look, Dad. I’m not eighteen, and neither is Holly. Ok? Can we stop talking about this now?”

There was a light knock on the door and Rami opened it to see Holly standing on the other side.

Oh shit. Thank you, Dad!
 
Not.

“Um…Evie said to tell you to come to the dining room.”

“Ok, thank you.” Said Rami.
 

“Hey babe.” Alex said and hugged her. “Did you hear any of that?” He whispered as his Dad left the room.

“I heard the last part…from what your Dad asked you.”

Alex closed his eyes and hung his head as he huffed a breath.
 

“I promised I’d tell you, and I will. It’s not bad, Ok? Let’s go have dinner and then we’ll talk.”
 

“Ok babe.” She said. Holly
really
wanted to know the answer to the question he’d been asked. She pretty much knew the answer, hell it was evident, but to hear Alex say it…she heated just thinking about it.

Dinner was a mixture of awkward silences between Ben and Dev, and Evie and Rami watching all of them with avid interest.
 

Alex was getting anxious to be alone with Holly again. He didn’t know how he was going to make it through the night without her. After spending all day with her, he knew he never wanted to be apart. He knew they had to, but he didn’t like it.
 

His parents turned to each other to have their own conversation, and he saw his opportunity to get a little closer to his perfect girl. He pretended to fix his napkin on his lap so he could put his hand on Holly’s right knee.
 

She flinched but quickly recovered as she didn’t want Alex’s parents to see.
 

Two can play at that game.

S
he squeezed Alex’s thigh. His eyes snapped to hers, and she batted her eyelashes innocently as her hand crept up higher.

Alex swallowed hard.

Evie and Rami looked towards them.
 
Alex took Holly’s hand and brought them to the table, like that was all they’d been doing.
 

“So, girls.” Said Evie. Get anything interesting at the store? I saw you had a bag, Dev.”

Holly and Dev looked at each other and had to hold back a laugh.

“Uh yeah, I got a few items. Nothing all that special though.” She said as she glanced to Holly. Holly had her hand over her mouth.

“Oh. What about you, Holly? Did you get anything nice today?” Dev snorted the laugh she couldn’t contain.

“I did…yeah…um…hmmm.” Holly was stuck for words and Dev was chuckling quietly.
 
Ben rolled his eyes at Dev. Alex put his right hand under the table and reached across his lap to stroke down the side of Holly’s thigh.

“Oh!” She squeaked. She would have to get him back for that one, later. Evie looked between the girls, confusion on her face.
 

“Mom.” Said Dev and she leant towards Evie and cupped her mouth to whisper.
 

“Ohhh!” Said Evie. “You could’ve said earlier before I asked Holly too.”

“But then that would’ve been boring.” Giggled Dev.

Ben rolled his eyes again and Holly saw that Dev caught him.

“For those of us with a sense of humour, that is.” She said, waving her hand in the air. ”But I won’t go into specifics.”

After dinner, they went into the hangout room.
 

“Why do you do that, Dev?” Ben asked as soon as the door was closed.
 

“Do what?” she asked innocently.
 

“You know what Dev, don’t be difficult. You were trying to start an argument.”
 

Dev glanced at Holly and back to Ben.

Holly knew Dev had listened to what she’d said in her room.
 
He was trying to stay calm and not rise to Ben’s pushing.
 

“Look, Ben. I was merely making a comment. Plus, I didn’t want to start an argument with you, or anybody for that matter. In fact, I don’t want to talk to you if all you’re going to do is throw everything back in my face. So I’m going to sit here…” Dev pointed to the sofa, next to Holly “…and watch TV. If
that
bothers you, then that’s
your
problem.” Dev sat down.

Holly and Alex were watching Ben. Holly knew he wasn’t going to leave the conversation there.

“You’re not going to
talk
to me? All you do is make comments to annoy me and then get pissed when I say something back!” Dev glared at Ben. Then looked back at the TV without saying a word.

Good! Stay calm Dev.

“So that’s it?” He continued as Dev remained silent.

Holly squeezed Alex’s hand as he was about to say something to Ben.
 
She could feel his annoyance with his best friend.
 
He was arguing with his twin sister, after all. She shook her head when he looked to her.

“You’re not going to say
anything?
” Ben asked, still glaring at Dev. When Dev still hadn’t replied, he ran his hand over his face and sat down.

“Have it your way…little girl.”

Holly knew that comment would get Dev’s back up.
 
She saw her hands curl into fists, and Holly rested a hand on her arm. Dev still refused to speak. It was obvious, to Holly that Ben had added that last comment to get a response from Dev, knowing how much she hated being referred to as a kid. As soon as he realised he wasn’t getting one, he crossed his arms over his chest in a sulk.

“I’ll explain later.” Holly whispered to Alex as he glared at Ben.

‘The Big Bang Theory’ was on TV, and it was one of Dev’s and Ben’s favourite shows.
 
Dev laughed when Penny, one of the characters, said something funny and Ben glared at her.

He stood suddenly.

“I’m just going to go, Alex.” He said. “I’ll see you tomorrow for the gym.”

“Ben wait!” Said Alex as he walked out after him.
 

“What’s going on?” Said Alex. He didn’t like seeing either his friend, or his sister fighting with each other.

“Nothing. She just got under my skin today, that’s all. I just need to go home and calm down.” A