Ben walked to the doorway, "I asked her to go, I'll buy."

"That's very nice of you, Ben, but you don't have to pay for Carrie."

His smile was conspiratorial and sweet, "I don't mind. I'm just glad she agreed to come along."

Carrie smiled back at him. Her mother saw them smile at each other and turned away, confused. Carrie knew it would take her a long time to figure it out if they didn't tell her. She would never guess that someone like Ben would be interested in her daughter.

Carrie wanted to look nice, but not so nice that her mom would ask a bunch of questions. After trying on at least five different outfits she decided on her nicest pair of jeans, a dark blue sweater and her favorite plaid Chuck Taylors.

She called MG to give her the update ... that she had a date.

"Finally, this should have happened like last year!" Carrie smiled at MG's support. "Did you tell your mom?"

"No. I think she is a little suspicious, but ..."

"Why not tell her? Ben is like every parent's wet dream of a boyfriend. She'll be all happy."

"She'll tell me to leave him alone. God forbid her rank daughter ruin him."

"You are planning to ruin him, aren't you? Tell me you are."

Carrie laughed.

"Seriously! I never thought too much about him before, but now, sheeeit, he looks good, too good to be unruined."

"I'll get there."

"Well, OK, not tonight. I mean, you've got to ease him into the fabulousness that is Carrie Gould."

Carrie was silent.

"What?"

"I just ... I don't know ... what if he ...?" MG knew where she was going and cut her off, "No! None of this shit. Have you been listening to your mother again?" Ironically, MG sounded like a mother scolding her. "Carrie, DO NOT do that! You are great for Ben; you are who he wants. He broke up with Joelle so he could have you."

Her pep talk was having the opposite effect. Carrie felt a lump in her throat. Shit! Why did she have to be so weird? Why couldn't she just be happy when someone was nice to her? MG's caring words completely unnerved her, and she got all teary. There was nothing she hated more than crying in front of anyone. She swallowed a few times.

MG was used to it. She waited though the silence then said, "Go, and have fun."

Carrie nodded, still unable to get a grip enough to speak.

"And give him a big kiss from me."

That made her laugh, "OK. Any place specific?"

"Anywhere but the lips, girl. I'll let you figure it out from there. And call me tomorrow. I want details."

"You got it."

Chapter 21.

They decided to go to a new Mexican restaurant in the next town. It was a chance to try the food, and there was no chance of running into Joelle, or really anyone from school. In some ways it was super easy being together. They had a million inside jokes and stories between them already. In other ways it was new and exciting; sitting close on one side of the booth, holding hands, flirting. Carrie never knew that Ben was so physically affectionate and attentive. While they waited for their food and talked, he rubbed his thumb over a small scar on the back of her hand.

"So you've been on the honor roll every year? Kindergarten through now?"

"Yeah." Ben shrugged and didn't seem overly excited or proud of this accomplishment.

"Do you even study?"

"I usually don't have to study for tests, but I do homework." "You could get a college scholarship, couldn't you?" "Yeah, but why? The Army will pay for college, same difference. I would rather get started on my military career than waste four years at some university."

"You knew what you wanted to do when you were six." Carrie felt a pang of jealousy. "Must be nice." "It keeps me focused. You just need to figure out what direction you want to go in ..." Ben stopped mid sentence, realizing he was starting to sound like a parent, and she hated that. "Have you thought about design school, for decorating?"

Carrie caught his change in direction and smiled. He had always been so authoritarian and bossy, even when they were just kids. He was always telling her what to do. It was sweet that he was trying not to. "I don't think my parents would pay for that, and I'm pretty sure they don't have scholarships for that either."

"Have they ever talked to you about what you want to do after high school?" Carrie breathed out a little laugh. "No." She said it like it was a silly question, and in a way it was. But Ben was hoping that maybe they talked to her or cared about her future more than he had seen from the outside. No such luck.

The only thing he could think to do was wrap an arm around her and pull her close. The desire to fix things for her was so strong, and he knew it would only make her mad. Pity pissed her off. So he played it off as lust, which wasn't hard to do.

After dinner Carrie talked him into taking the top off the jeep so they could go for a drive. Coeur du Monde Lake was about an hour drive if you took the back roads, which seemed like a perfect idea tonight. There was a waning crescent moon, and they could see the stars pretty well once they got away from the city lights. Carrie turned the radio up loud and sang along and danced in her seat. Her hair was half in and half out of the rubber band she got from the hostess at the restaurant. She was just so funny and happy over all kinds of little stuff, never calculating and safe. He was mesmerized by her.

She fished though his collection of CD's. "We have a problem."

"What?"

"Someone took all your good CD's and left you a bunch of country music."

He laughed. "No, I bought those."

"On purpose?"

"Very funny," he rolled his eyes at her. "Find the Vince Gill CD and put that in; you'll like it." She found the CD and pushed the disc into the player then studied the box. "He's pretty easy on the eyes," she looked skeptical, "I'll give him a chance."

Ben turned up the music and let Vince's velvety voice sing 'Pretty Little Adrianna' to Carrie in a way he wished he could. She sat back and let the music float over her and smiled.

At the lake he found a parking spot in the farthest parking lot. They walked to the water's edge where Carrie sat on top of a picnic table and looked out over the water.

"I love this place."