Torn (Connections #2)(61)

Her eyes flash to Ben and she gasps. I turn to look at her-she stares wide-eyed with her hand over her mouth. All the color seems to have drained from her face.

"Bell, are you okay?" I ask.

"S'belle?" I hear Ben question as he, too, stares and I instantly make the connection. Their reaction to each other and their body language tells me I'm right. My head starts to spin as a vivid memory flashes through my mind-

The e-mail. The words reply to: S'belle, later tonight, green eyes, touch, copper, and your apartment in an e-mail on Ben's computer. Ben hitting the delete button before I could read the whole message. Knowing he was making plans with another girl-plans that weren't platonic. Our breakup and path to reconciliation. River's sister is S'belle. Ben and Bell!

The bile rises up my throat as I run to the bedroom and open the door. I slam it and flatten my back against it. Another memory flashes before my eyes-River taking the broken frame from my hand, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the picture for a long while. Recognition flashed across his face, maybe even pain, when he asked, "Is this him?" Me turning to face him when I hoarsely answered, "Yes. That's Ben." River knew about his sister and Ben. This whole time, he's been keeping that from me.



       
         
       
        

At the sliding glass doors, I open the curtains and look for him on the pool deck. He's sitting there with Ellie sitting next to him, laughing and drawing something with her finger on the table. Then I see her lift his hand and do the same. I want to yell for him to come up here now, but I'm not going to make a scene. So I stand frozen, anticipating the words I'll hear next-the words I don't want to hear from him because that will only confirm he knew.

My bedroom door opens and I immediately turn. Ben's standing there, his face pale. He looks around and then walks into the room, closing the door behind him.

"Dahl, how do you know her?"

Confusion sets in as I try to figure out what he's asking me, but then I realize he has no idea who she is. "Bell is River's sister."

"Bell?"

"S'belle," I hiss.

"His sister?" He, too, looks like he might be sick.

He walks across the room and stands in front of me.

"Who you had your inappropriate relationship with in college is irrelevant right now, Ben. You need to leave."

With a huge sigh he reaches and takes my chin in his hand, saying, "Dahl, what do I have to do so you'll forgive me? Talk to me. Tell me."

The adrenaline starts to pump through my body as I realize all he has brought me is more pain. I step back but he follows and I can't help but scream, "Get the fuck out, Ben-now!"

He reaches for me again and this time tries to pull me to him. Just then the door abruptly opens and bounces off the wall. River stands there-his eyes narrowed on me. "Am I interrupting?"

He walks closer and his eyes flash to Ben. My heart racing, I take a step back. I am seething mad and he's not going to turn this around on me. Pointing outside I say, "Funny, I thought I might be interrupting you. I'm so glad you managed to pull yourself away."

He ignores me. "What the fuck are you doing in my room with my girl?"

"Your girl? I've already told you a substitute is not a replacement-they're never as good as the real thing."

My head snaps to Ben and I warn him, "You need to leave. Get out now."

But he ignores me and continues his taunting. "Oh, and another thing-she may be in your bed now, but she was fucking me in my bed for a hell of a lot longer and I bet she's still thinking about it."

Willing down a wave of nausea I scream, "Shut up, Ben. Just shut the hell up!" I can't believe he could be so crude.

River storms over to Ben. His eyes filled with rage, his jaw tight, and his fists clenched, he throws a hard punch at Ben's head before Ben even sees it coming. 

Ben stumbles back yelling, "Is the truth hard to take?"

"Fuck you! You don't even know the truth," River yells back.

Ben grabs River's leg before scrambling to his feet and slamming a punch into his stomach. Still, Ben doesn't let up. "Dahl, come on. Tell him what we were like."

I'm motionless, suspended in time, watching like I'm somewhere else.

A fury like I've never seen crosses River's face as he lunges for Ben, grabbing his arm and jerking it behind his back. He slams Ben to the ground, shoving his knee against his spine, wrenching his arm back. River gives it another jerk and Ben grunts, "Son of a bitch."

"River, stop!" I scream.

Snatching his other wrist, he pulls it behind Ben's back and seethes, "By the time I'm done with you, you're gonna wish you would've stayed dead."