Wisteria Winds by Rachel Hanna

Author:Rachel Hanna
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rachel Hanna

CHAPTER 9

Danielle sat at the table, her fingers tapping against the wood veneer. Zach, seemingly oblivious to the fact that something was wrong with Bennett, continued eating his spaghetti.

“Can you please stop doing that?” He stared at her fingers.

She looked down. “Oh, sorry.”

“Are you nervous about something?”

“Um, yes. My boyfriend is going to walk through that door at any minute, and he’s definitely upset about something.”

Zach chuckled. “You sound like a middle schooler, Danielle.”

She sighed and took a bite of her garlic bread. “Okay, maybe I do, but Bennett is the best man I’ve ever dated. We’ve built something very special, and the fact that he’s acting weird to me is concerning.”

“You don’t strike me as the type who needs a man,” he said, rolling his fork around in the sauce covered noodles.

She glared at him. “I don’t need a man. I just want this particular one.”

“I’m sure everything is fine. Look, Bennett just lost his closest family member, and he’s also worried about the possible hurricane that could blow us all out to sea. Maybe his mind is just preoccupied.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe.”

Just as she was calming down, Bennett walked through the door. He smiled at several residents, hugging a couple of them, before he made his way straight to her table. Maybe he was just stressed. After all, he came straight to see her, and that had to be a good sign, right?

“Hey, Bennett. Good to have you back, man,” Zach said, standing up and shaking his hand. Bennett smiled slightly before sitting down at the end seat of the table.

“Good to be back.”

“How are you feeling?” Danielle asked, reaching over and putting her hand on his. He looked down at their hands and pulled away, reaching into his pocket for his phone.

“Fine. Why?”

“Oh, I thought maybe you were struggling after the funeral…”

“I’m good,” he said, looking down at his phone.

“Want me to get you a plate?”

“No thanks. I’ve got it.” He stood up and walked over to the food line. Danielle looked at Zach.

“See? Something’s not right.”

Zach bit his lip. “Yeah, that was a little cold. I felt a literal chill.”

“Not funny.”

“I wasn’t joking,” he said under his breath.

“Line was too long. I’ll get something later.”

“I’m happy to share,” Danielle said, sliding her plate toward him.

“It’s fine, Danielle. I’ll eat later. Besides, I didn’t really come here for food.”

“Oh? Then why are you here?”

“Well, we kind of have a huge storm heading our way, so I think the three of us should meet later tonight, watch the weather and mastermind the best course of action for riding this thing out.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Zach said, wiping his mouth.

“Great. Meet at Danielle’s at eight?”

Okay, apparently they were meeting at her house…

“That works for me. Danielle?”

“Yes, it works for me, too.”

Bennett stood up. “Excellent. See you both then.”

Without another word - and more importantly, without a hug or a kiss - Bennett walked out of the cafeteria. When she looked back at Zach, his face was full of empathy… and maybe sympathy.

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