Sweet Bits (3 page)

“Dude, really? You’re going out?”

“Yup,” said Ben smiling. He had a new twinkle in his eye and Dirk could see it.

“Why’d you guys ever break up anyway?”

“We didn’t
break up
,” said Ben. “We never dated. We were just good friends.”

“Weird, dude. You never wanted more than that? I don’t think I could do it. Especially with Ali. She’s gorgeous.”

“I know, but we were just best friends. That’s all. “

“Weird,” echoed Dirk.

“Yeah, maybe, but honestly, she was the one girl I could talk to about almost anything. It was never strange.”

Dirk just stared at him like he was an Alien.

Ben continued. “She always just listened and gave me great advice. I’ve never met a girl like her.”

Dirk smiled. “You never wanted to…you know?”

Ben shoved his arm. “Stop. I loved her…like a friend, darn it! She was just…cool. You know?”

“Yeah, I guess. But still…”

Dirk would never get it. They had just been best friends for the last three years. They each dated other people and then figured out why things didn’t work out after they’d break it off. They’d talk for hours breaking things down. They never would kiss-and-tell; theirs was more of a confident-type of relationship. If anything was wrong or worrying either of them, it was the other who would help them work through it.

“So, what about your job? Sticking it out?” asked Dirk.

Ben’s smile dissipated slightly. “Yeah, I guess. It’s OK for now. We’re going through a merger though, with another firm. Everyone is freaked out.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard mergers can be brutal. You worried?”

“Not really. I did bring in one of the biggest clients last year and I’ve got a pretty good record in court, so I’m guessing I’m safe.” Ben was almost disappointed to have such a great record lately. While others worried about their future, Ben half-hoped they would dismiss him. It was an irresponsible thought; like a fantasy.

“Cool,” said Dirk. “Keep the paycheck coming in. Especially now that Ali’s back in the picture.” He smiled at Ben.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ben’s eyes narrowed at his friend.

Dirk just smiled slyly. “You never know, dude. You just never know.”

***

“Shoot!” Ali exclaimed looking down at her dress. She had just spilled an entire box of face powder down it. “Oh why didn’t you get dressed
after
you did your makeup, dummy?” she asked herself.

She finished her makeup and went to the closet to survey it’s offerings. The red dress? No, too fancy. She wasn’t sure where they were going. Ben just said to be ready at 7:00. The blue dress? Hmm, maybe. She took it out and looked it over. It always brought out the blue in her eyes. Yes, it’ll do.

She changed and looked in the mirror. Good choice, she thought. It’s not too sexy and not too clingy. The sheath dress hugged her curves just slightly and it left just enough to the imagination. She was thankful she’d gotten it dry cleaned and it was ready to go. “Thank you,” she said looking upward. It didn’t hurt to throw the appreciative shout out to the Man upstairs whenever she could.

***

The doorbell rang and a sudden pang jolted through her. Ben. After all these years, he was here standing just outside of her front door.

As she opened the door she realized the porch light was off. It had just gotten dark, but it didn’t matter. There he was. His dark hair a little shorter than last time she’d seen him. His muscular physique now dressed in a sleek dark suit and not the flannel shirt and jeans she’d remembered him in the last time they’d seen each other. And those eyes. Those light blue eyes than crinkled at the corners when he smiled. They were the same.

Ali smiled. “Hi handsome,” she said.

“Hi, beautiful,” he said not missing a beat. Man, she looked good, he thought. Her figure has filled out just a bit and her shiny hair was a bit shorter falling just below her shoulders. Her perfect face was the same. It was as if it was six years ago and they were stuck in time.

“Come on in.”

He stepped up into her small apartment. It was fragrant from a cake she’d baked earlier in the afternoon.

“Hmm, it smells good in here,” he said turning to her. “Chocolate?”

She smiled. “Good nose!” They stood in front of each other for a few moments when he finally reached out and hugged her. It was a long, familiar hug. It felt good to both of them.

“Well, we got that out of the way,” she teased.

“Man, it’s good to see you, Ali. You haven’t changed.”

She smiled. “Liar. I think I’ve added a bit,” she patted her stomach. “You don’t make cakes and cook for a living without that.”

“It’s just enough and it looks great,” he said. She’d always had long legs and he didn’t miss those. They were tan, just like he remembered from the summers in their youth.

“You look good, too,” she said to him. He looked the same, but more grown up. He looked corporate, but still with the just a little messy look she always liked about him.

“Thanks, I try to get to the gym a few days a week,” he said. “But I’ll admit lately it’s tough.”

“How is your job?” she asked. She still felt a pang of uneasiness at the subject since it was what had torn the relationship apart.

“It’s OK,” he said.

“Just OK?”

“Yeah, mostly. I mean it’s good. I’m just a little burned out,” he admitted.

She shook her head.” I get it, she said. I’ve seen the law shows. They work you pretty hard, huh?”

He laughed. “Well, it’s not exactly like TV…” he paused, “but pretty close. So how about you?”

“Well, I’m baking and cooking. I still haven’t gotten to culinary school, but it looks like that’s going to change soon.”

“Really? Culinary school?”

“Yeah, you know I’ve always wanted to go,” she said. “After my dad’s accident, the bills were crazy and I had to take time to care for him so it got put on hold. But, my aunt’s given me a year of culinary school as a gift,” she said smiling brightly.

“That’s terrific, Ali. Where will you go?”

“I don’t know. There are so many great schools. I’m doing some research now to choose.” She knew where she really wanted to go, but felt she should investigate other schools, too.

He smiled at her. It had been her dream to go to culinary school and become a chef for as long as he could remember. He was happy for her. At least one of them was going to live their dream. The thought gave him an uneasy feeling and he swiftly pushed it away as he’d done so many times before.

“So, ready to go?” she asked standing.

“You bet,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this since we spoke on the phone.”

“Me, too,” she admitted. “It’s really good to see you.” She suddenly realized just how good it was and it made her heart flutter a bit. Ben Harper is here in my living room. It was like a dream.

***

Dinner had been delicious. He’d taken her to a newer restaurant across town and it had lived up to its reviews. As they drove back to Ali’s place they talked easily just like they’d never parted.

Ben walked her to her front door. “Gosh, I feel like this was a date or something,” he joked.

“Yeah, weird, huh?”

“Do you date much?” he asked. The entire dinner they had talked about family and friends and caught up on gossip without really talking about themselves.

“Nah, not much. Here and there. I guess I’m going to be an old spinster with cats,” she joked.

“No, not you,” he laughed. “Aren’t you allergic to cats anyway?”

He looked at her in the moonlight. He couldn’t imagine her ever being alone.

Ali laughed. “Yeah, I guess that will save me.” She wanted to know the same. “Do you?” she asked him.

“Not much. Same as you. Here and there. No one special,” he said.

They stared at each other for a moment. If they had been on a date, now would be the time for a goodnight kiss. But it wasn’t a date. It was just two old friends catching up.

“Well, I guess I better get going,” said Ben.

“OK, I’ve got a full day tomorrow,” said Ali. “I have to cook a week’s worth of food for a lady who’s going into the hospital for surgery. She doesn’t want her family to starve while she’s there so I’m going to stock their freezer,” said Ali.

“That’s thoughtful,” said Ben. “Sounds like you like your work.”

“I do,” she said not wanting to get into the subject that once parted them. It was best to leave it alone. He seemed happy enough. It was his choice and she was bound and determined to live by it as he had.

He gave her a quick hug and was gone promising to call in a few days.

She looked after him as he walked down the sidewalk to his car. If he’d been just a guy she passed in the street he would definitely turn her head. But it was Ben. And she was glad to have him back in her life.

“So, how did he look,” asked Josie? Ali put the phone on speaker and changed her clothes while she talked. It had been a grueling day and she was beat.

“He looked good. Great, actually.”

“Still gorgeous?”

“Yeah, still gorgeous.” Ali had filled her friend in on Ben and their history together, not leaving out the fact that he was one good looking guy. This fact alone intrigued Josie, who was constantly on the hunt for a man.

“Is he seeing anyone?” asked Josie.

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Hmm,” said Josie.

“What do you mean by that?” asked Ali, but she knew.

“Oh, nothing.”

“Forget it, Josie.”

“I know, I know.” Josie wouldn’t push it, but if Ben was so good looking and not dating anyone then what about her?

“OK, so how was your date?” Ali asked. “Didn’t you have a date with that salesman last night?”

While Josie talked about yet another date gone wrong, Ali washed her face and brushed her hair back into a ponytail. She’d heard all about Josie’s bad dates for the last two years and this story would likely be no different. The running water obscured some of the details, but all of it pretty much sounded the same.

“Sorry to hear that,” said Ali. “I told you that internet dating was shady.”

“Yeah, but Melissa from my work met her husband that way,” said Josie, ever hopeful.

“Well, just be a little more picky, I guess,” said Ali. This had to be the 20
^th
bad date story and she was growing a bit weary of listening to them.

“So set me up with Ben,” joked Josie.

Ali felt a pang. No, she thought immediately, but then wondered why. They were just buddies. Josie could date him. She was cute and single and Ben was good-looking and a great catch.

“I’m just kidding,” said Josie.

“No, it’s fine,” said Ali. “I guess I could set you guys up.”

“No, Ali, I’m kidding…would you really?”

“Yeah, sure, why not?” said Ali. She didn’t have feelings for Ben. Anything she was feeling was just happiness to have him back as a friend, right?

“OMG, that’s is so cool of you. You’d really do that? He’s a hunk.” Josie had seen pictures of the infamous Ben in Ali’s photo book. If he still looked that good, she was in.

“I’ll give him a call,” said Ali.

“OK,” said Josie giggling. “Send him my picture. The one of me on the beach. That’s a good one.”

“OK, OK,” said Ali. “I’ll take care of it and let you know.”

“Put in a good word for me,” said Josie.

“Don’t worry. It’s as good as done.”

***

“Dude, how’d it go?” Dirk gulped his beer.

“Good, good,” said Ben.

“Good? Details, man, details.”

“Well, she’s working doing what she loves, she’s going to go to culinary school and she seems happy.”

“Dude, that’s not what I care about. How does she look? Still gorgeous?”

Ben laughed. “Yeah, still gorgeous.”

“Cool, man. So are you going out again?”

“We’re not dating, Dirk. I told you that. We’re just friends.”

“Uh-huh,” said Dirk unconvinced.

“She’s still cool, though. Still a very cool girl.”

Dirk smiled at him. “Those are hard to come by.”

Ben drank his beer thoughtfully. “That is true,” he agreed.

“So, what now?” asked Dirk.

“Well, she called and wants me to go out with a friend of hers.”

“What?”

“Yeah, it’s kind of odd, but I guess her friend is cute and fun and she just figured it would be a great fit.”

“That is weird, dude. She actually set you up with someone else?”

“Yeah. We’re going out this weekend.”

“You’re doing it?”

“Yeah, why not?”

“Because honestly, since I’ve known you it’s been Ali this and Ali that and now that she’s back in your life, you’re going out with someone else?”

“I don’t talk about her that much.”

“Dude…seriously? Every story you tell with a girl in it seems to be from years ago and her name is always Ali …”

“Really? I do that? Nah…”

“Yeah, you do.” Dirk looked at him. “Why don’t you just admit it? You love her. You always have.”

“Because I do love her…as a friend. She knows it; I know it. That’s it.”

“OK, tell yourself that if you must, but don’t go getting involved with someone else with kind of feelings.”

“Wow, Dirk, I’ve never known you to be so Oprah-esque,” laughed Ben. “I can’t believe you, of all people, are giving me relationship advice.”

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” Dirk pretended to act hut.

“Because you usually go out with a girl a maximum of four times and then end up bored. You’re not exactly “the relationship” king,” said Ben forming his fingers into air quotes.

“Well, maybe not, but I know love when I see it,” said Dirk. “I just don’t see it in my life,” he laughed.

“Well, truth be told, I’m not exactly looking forward to this date this weekend. I’m doing it to please Ali.”

“I get it,” said Dirk. “That makes sense. Plus, you never know, she might be really hot.”

“Ali said she was “cute,” so you know that could mean anything.”

Dirk grimaced. “Cute,” huh? Hmm…

“Yeah,” said Ben following the train of thought.

They drank their beer and pondered the word cute as it applied to a girl. They both knew it was a crap shoot.

***

Ali carefully pulled the soufflé out of the hot oven. The smell of warm cheese and green onion was intense. She watched it as it settled, but didn’t deflate. She gave a kiss to the heavens. “Thank you, God,” she said looking up and smiling. She had said a silent prayer to help her soufflé as she slid into the oven. She hated to waste prayers on something so trivial, but it meant a lot to her and God would know that.

She looked around. The table was set, candles lit, bread in the basket, salads made and wine breathing. What else?

She realized she had her favorite apron on. It was a retro 1950s housewife style apron she’d gotten as a gift a couple of years ago. It made her feel like Lucy Ricardo and homey.

Hmm, she frowned. Candles? Should we have candles? Ben was coming for dinner and she realized candles might seem too romantic. She debated and decided to nix them. She blew them out and as she did, the doorbell rang.

Shoot! He was early. She removed the tapers from the table and put them on a side table waving the air to dissipate the smoke from blowing them out.

She answered the door removing her apron and stuffing it behind a closet door.

Ben stood holding a bottle of wine.

“I brought red,” he said hopefully.

“Awesome,” she said. She had opened a bottle of the same.

“Ooh, smells good in here…as usual,” he said.

“Cheese soufflé,” she announced.

“Wow, fancy,” he said. “To what do I deserve this honor?”

“Actually, I’m testing the recipe for a job I have next week,” she admitted.

“Oh, I’m the guinea pig, huh?”

“I guess,” she smiled.

“I’m happy to be of service,” he joked with a mock bow to her.

She handed him a glass of wine and waved him over to the living room to sit. “Make yourself comfortable,” she said curling up in a stuffed chair tucking her bare feet under her.

He relaxed into the sofa. “Comfy,” he said drinking his wine.

“So…I talked to Josie this morning, said Ali. She had a great time.”

Ben shifted uncomfortably. Josie had been a nice girl and she was really attractive as Ali had said, but he just didn’t feel the spark. How could he tell Ali?

“Yeah, she’s a really sweet girl…” he started.

“But you’re just not feeling it, huh?” smiled Ali.

Ben bit his lip. “Yeah, I guess.”

“Every time you went out with someone you didn’t really like you called her a “really sweet girl,” said Ali winking at him. “I get it.”

“Is that OK? I mean she’s super, but not really for me.”

“No problem. I’ll take care of it.”

“Really? I hate to do that to you…”

“No problem, Ben. She thought you were pretty great, but she’s a big girl. She’ll be OK.”

“Oh, I’m sure she will. I just mean I hate to put you in the position, but I really kind of just went out with her ‘cause you asked me to” he said.

“I know, I shouldn’t have put you in that spot. It’s just that she always seems to date these losers and you’re such a nice guy.”

“Nice guy, Ben, huh?”

“Well, you are! Every girl deserves to go out with a super handsome nice guy now and then.”

He laughed. “Super handsome, huh?”