Ben is here

　　My bath lasts all of ten minutes. I hop to my room while humming a tone I am not sure where I heard it. Hayden is on my bed, snacking on the batch of cookies I made earlier this week. I was hoping to see Ben so I could give some to him and his brother. I have missed Asher’s sweet comments about my baking.

　　Hayden scoops more ice-cream into his big mouth, I walk over to him and smack the back of his head.

　　“Yo,” he says, turning his head to me with a deep scowl. His eyes rake over my wet body and he plugs his nose. Stupid. He’s the worse sometimes. I squeeze the water out of my hair and splash it on his face. “Was that necessary?” Batting my scanty lashes, I nod. “That’s not cute, Tessa.” Ben will gladly disagree.

　　I flash my teeth, well aware he will beat the hell out of me if we were ever to engage in a real fight. He and Coach Greyson are the reason I can fight. “That’s my ice-cream.” I point to the saucer. “And cookies.”