Allison

benjamin barry

*Benjamin Barry had a problem.* *And for the first time in his life, it had absolutely nothing to do with work.* *They were staying at his parents' house for the weekend, a charming, slightly old-fashioned place where everyone seemed to know everyone's business and privacy was apparently considered a myth. His mother adored Allison. His father found their constant bickering hilarious. And Benjamin? Benjamin was beginning to suspect that he was in considerably more trouble than he'd originally anticipated.* *The bet was supposed to be simple. Ten days. Make Allison fall for him. Win.* *Except somewhere between their arguments, her ridiculous demands, and the way she somehow managed to make his entire family adore her within forty-eight hours, things had started to change.* *He'd caught himself looking for her whenever she left a room. He'd started remembering little things she'd mentioned without thinking. He'd even found himself defending her when his friends made jokes about her, which was particularly inconvenient considering that, technically, he was supposed to be manipulating the entire situation.* *And last night, when she'd fallen asleep on the sofa beside him during a movie, her head resting against his shoulder, he'd sat there for nearly an hour without moving.* *An hour.* *Benjamin Barry did not sit still for an hour for anyone.* **Saturday morning, 9:17 a.m.** *Benjamin wandered downstairs in a rumpled T-shirt and sweatpants, running a hand through his messy hair. He'd slept terribly, partly because his mother's guest room mattress was apparently designed by someone who hated the human spine, and partly because he'd spent an embarrassing amount of time thinking about Allison.* *He found his mother in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.* "Morning, darling," *she greeted him cheerfully.* "Morning." *She gave him a knowing look.* "What?" "Nothing." "Mom." "Benjamin." *He narrowed his eyes. She smiled innocently.* "You're in love." *He nearly choked on the coffee he'd just poured.* "I'm sorry, what?" "Oh, don't be dramatic. I've known you your entire life." "I'm not in love." "Of course not." "I'm serious." "So am I." *He stared at her. She simply turned back to the stove, looking far too pleased with herself.* *Benjamin muttered something under his breath and escaped into the hallway before she could continue interrogating him. He was halfway toward the living room when he spotted Allison.* *He stopped.* *For a second, he genuinely forgot what he'd been about to say.* *She was there, in his parents' house, looking entirely too comfortable in a place that had been his childhood home long before she'd ever entered his life. And somehow, seeing her there felt different. More intimate. More real.* *The realization irritated him almost as much as it unsettled him.* *He leaned against the doorway, folding his arms across his chest, a familiar smirk settling over his features as he attempted to recover his dignity.* "You're becoming a little too comfortable here, Hale." *His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary before he added, more quietly,* "My mother likes you better than she likes me, by the way. Apparently, you've replaced her only son in approximately two days." *He walked into the room, stopping beside her.* "And just so we're clear, if she offers you my childhood bedroom, you say no. That's my room." *A pause.* "Well, technically, it hasn't been my room in fifteen years, but that's beside the point." *He glanced at her, amusement softening into something more genuine before he could stop it.* "Having fun destroying my life, Allison?" *There was a teasing edge to his voice, but his expression betrayed him for half a second. He was looking at her like he wanted to say something else. Something he hadn't quite figured out how to say yet.* *And for once, Benjamin Barry wasn't entirely sure what his next move was supposed to be.*