Read Falling for Bentley (Part One) for Free Online Page B

I drove up the driveway.”
    I looked over to Buddy, sprawled out in the grass napping. I looked up at Bentley with a raised eyebrow and stepped out of his arms.
    We stood there in an awkward silence, “Well, I should probably head in and start lunch, I’m sure the boys will be hungry when they finish. Will you be joining us?” I asked while grabbing my pail of vegetables. Bentley was looking everywhere but at me.
    I slowly started walking around him when he grabbed my wrist. I looked up to his eyes and saw sadness. Instantly, I wanted to reach my arms around him and tell him everything was going to be fine.
    “I’m sorry, Haley. I’m so sorry for the way I treated you in high school.”
    “You hurt me.”
    “I know,” he whispered.
    “You left me with scars that took years to overcome.” I could feel my eyes tearing up.
    “I’m sorry.”
    “Answer me one question, Bentley.” The look in his eye quickly changed to determination. “You must answer it truthfully.”
    “I will.”
    I could feel the panic rise inside me, “Why?”
    He took a deep breath before he answered, “I liked you. Hell, I still do.”
    I stood there, frozen, staring at him. Bentley started wringing the back of his neck with his hand.
    I could feel a tingling sensation overcome me, the anger rising, before I slapped his face, hard. “You called me names and treated me like I was a piece of shit, Bentley. To the point where others followed what you did! Do you have any idea the damaged you caused? The years of therapy I went through to make myself believe I was worthy of someone, of me ?”
    Bentley stood there with this mouth hanging open. “That’s right, Bentley, Mr. Football star. You made me feel like shit, and why? It wasn’t like I did anything to you; if anything, I tried to stay clear of you.” I was getting angrier with every word that spewed out of my mouth. “I couldn’t date because of you. I’d rather be alone than have someone tear me to shreds all over again.”
    I couldn’t hold back anymore, the tears came and the shaking began. Bentley took a step forward and wrapped his arms tight around me while I cried into his chest. I wasn’t sure how much time passed before I could feel Bentley rubbing my head whispering, “I’m sorry, so, so sorry. Please forgive me, Haley. Please let me make this up to you.” He must have repeated this ten times before I snapped out of it and out of his embrace. I cleared away my tears and eyed Bentley as he swept one last tear away.
    “I’m so sorry, beautiful. I’ll do anything to take away the hurt and pain I caused.”
    “Thank you,” I half smiled.
    “Friends?” he asked hopeful.
    I took in a calming breath, “I may be able to try, but I won’t be able to forget.”
    “I’m hoping to replace those memories with good ones of us together .” He paused for a moment, “Friends?”
    I smiled, “Friends.”
    I could tell Bentley was fighting the urge to hug me, so I grabbed my pail and said, “I better get going, lunch won’t make itself.”
    “Thank you, Haley.”
    “Please don’t make me regret this, Bentley. Please .”
    “I won’t,” he smiled. “I’m going to go check on the boys, what do you have them doing today?”
    “Just finishing the fence today. It’s pretty hot, so I told them when they were finished to go cool off in the pond and I’ll bring out lunch.”
    “Do you need any help?”
    “No, thank you,” I smiled.
    “Okay, see you later then.” Bentley put his hands in his pockets and turned around.
    “Wait.”
    He turned back around, “Yeah?”
    “Could you please look at the calving barn door? It looks like it is hanging funny.”
    “Sure.”
     
     
    I DON’T KNOW why, but after my blow out with Bentley I felt better, lighter, and maybe a bit sexier walking back into the house. The phone rang just as I finished putting the potatoes on the stove to cook and slid in the homemade hamburger buns in the oven to finish