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Ben kept his word; he had called her tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. He and Rey became nigh inseparable. They video chatted during dinners and had watch parties for all of the movies Rey needed to see for school. He learned that she could handle the goriest of slasher and horror films but cowered at the thought of watching a movie about ghosts. As she described it to Ben’s delight, she knew serial killers existed but “I’m just on the fence about ghosts…”
Weeks passed and they made each other a part of their new routine. Ben continued to work out on the roof top, more frequently if anything, three or four days a week. If Rey found herself on her balcony during those times, so be it. The weather was getting better every day, why shouldn’t she enjoy it while she could? Weirder coincidences had occurred.
It was a normal, balmy Saturday morning, like any other in the past couple months, when Rey settled herself with a cup of her jasmine tea on the balcony again, waiting for Ben to emerge from the roof door and start his workout. Her phone trilled and vibrated against her bistro table. Rose’s face filled her screen as she answered the call. “Did you hear? They’re lifting the lockdown!” Rose exclaimed. “You can come over and see us!”
All Rey heard next was a record-scratch. Lockdown was being lifted. She could go outside. Outside-outside. She could see Rose and Finn again.
She could meet Ben.
Ben.
“Rose, I have to go. I’ll talk to you later.” Rey replied in a daze. She ran inside her apartment and opened her laptop, searching for confirmation of Rose’s news. Lockdown had been lifted and she could finally meet him properly.
This was it. This was the moment she had been dreaming of since that first call. Rey grabbed her phone and ran back onto her balcony. Ben was nearing the end of the first half of his workout, centring himself and moving into his cool down. Rey watched him with uncontained anticipation, checking and re-checking her phone for the time. She nearly fumbled her phone, calling him as he finished his last movement. She saw him walk towards his phone and look towards her balcony before answering.
“Hey sweetheart, like the show today?” he teased.
“Ben! Have you seen the news, we can go outside now!” Rey all but yelled.
Silence hung heavy on the line. Rey tried not to panic. They had briefly discussed doing something together once things went back to “normal”, whatever that meant. They had never made any concrete plans. She could hear him breathing softly over the line. He cleared his throat and Rey saw his hand move up to his head, likely pushing his hair away from this face.
“What do you want to do?” Rey could hear the caution in his voice.
“I want to see you…actually meet you.” she replied, holding her breath.
Ben exhaled deeply. “Okay, right then, I wasn’t sure if you still wanted to-“
“I do!” Rey interrupted emphatically. “I…need to see you.”
“Oh. Okay wow, this is happening…” he trailed off with a huff of laughter. They both stood in place, staring at each other over the street. Rey was beaming, she could only imagine that Ben looked and felt the same way as her.
“So, what should we do? Call me a chicken all you want, but I don’t think we should go out in pub-”
“CHICKEN!” Ben exclaimed, rushing into action. He ran to the door, entering his building, only to re-emerge as he had clearly forgotten his water bottle and hoodie in the sprint. She could hear his fast and heavy cadence speeding down some stairs.
“Ben, what’s going on? Ben… you there?” His laboured breathing and slamming doors caused her concern.
“Yeah…I’m here, just…had to check my fridge first.” Ben wheezed from the unexpected exertion.
“You ran to your fridge?” Rey questioned, arching her brow. She could hear his breathing evening out as she walked back into her apartment.
“…Yes.”
“Were you trying to catch it? Maybe your cardio isn’t as good as you think it is?” she teased.
“Rey…come over tonight. I’ll make you dinner, roasted chicken!” he replied, having caught his breathe. Rey now found herself a little short of breath.
“I’d love that. Should I bring anything?”
“Just yourself.” he replied warmly. Rey broke out into a grin and nodded, hearing Ben’s bowls and spoons clanking lightly over the line. “I’ll be there.”
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Rey walked over to Ben’s apartment building for seven o’clock. She felt radiant in her yellow sundress, lightly fluttering in the evening breeze. She looked both ways before crossing the street, skipping off the curb with a spring in her step. She followed Ben’s instructions to get into the building, tapping her foot nervously on the elevator floor. She exited onto his floor and walked to the end of the hall. It seemed like the longest hall she’d ever walked down.
She stood in front of his door, holding a large plastic container. “You can do this, Johnson. You want this, he wants this.” she said, psyching herself up. She shuffled the container she brought into one arm and raised the other to knock on the door when it swung open. Stepping forward into the door frame was Ben. He was wearing a dark grey button-down shirt and jeans. Rey had never seen such resilient buttons before, putting in overtime to keep his ample chest in check. They both spoke at once.
“Rey-”
“Ben-”
Ben looked bashful and Rey could barely hold back a smile. They tried again.
“Hi…” they said in unison. A beat passed and they broke out into laughter.
“Were you waiting at the door, watching through the peephole?” Rey asked, focusing on the rosy tips of his ears that she’d never gotten the chance to see before. Ben brought his hand up to card through his hair, a habit she noticed he did when he was nervous. He rubbed the back of his neck as he looked her over.
“Were you talking to yourself before knocking?” Ben countered, raising an eyebrow and leaning on the doorframe. Rey’s eyes widened, in surprise. She didn’t think he could hear her.
A knowing, comfortable silence befell them. They stood there, smiling, just being in the other’s presence. Ben broke first, stepping out of the doorway and gesturing for Rey to cross the threshold.
“Come in, come in, food’s just about done and I opened some wine in the kitchen.”
“Oh god, Ben, it smells amazing.” Rey followed her nose into the kitchen where she found a small table set for two. There was a makeshift centerpiece in the middle of the table, a small bowl of lemons with lit birthday candles stuck in the fruit. Rey nearly melted at the thoughtfulness and effort Ben put into their dinner. She was in a daze until she felt his body move beside her.
“What’s in the container, Rey?”
“Hmm? Oh no, just you wait. Not until after this dinner you’ve promised me.” She walked past him, suppressing her nervousness, and placed the box on the kitchen counter. He crowded behind her, peering over her shoulder get a better glimpse of the container she placed on the counter.
“I’m tired of waiting, Rey.” She could hear the weight of that statement, the weight in this voice. “What’s in the box?” She stifled a shudder and tried to shrug it off, if only for the moment. She slid the container back and forth slightly, clearing her throat.
“Oh okay, fine. But step back, I want you to see the wonder of what I’m about to show you.” Rey laughed. Ben let out a chuckle with her, stepping back as she asked.
“Ta-da!” She lifted the lid and underneath was a layered chocolate cake with creamy, chocolate frosting. She started laughing and pivoted to look at Ben, waiting for him to catch on. His brow furrowed in confusion, for the briefest moment, racking his brain on why she’d brought the dessert when he’d assured her everything was covered.
Of course! Their first conversation where she valiantly tried to convince him she was right about cake versus pie. He smiled at the memory and her smile in return was brilliant. Videos and technology could never adequately translate the beauty and kindness of her smile.
His smile turned into a wicked smirk, and before she realized what was happening, he had scooped a dollop of frosting onto his right thumb. Resting his palm against her cheek, he lightly swiped the frosting across her lips, the tip of his thumb almost covering her entire mouth. Her eyes shot up to meet his. Holding her gaze, he took his thumb into his own mouth and gently sucked the remaining chocolate away. Rey’s eyes focused on his lips, seeing a peek of his tongue when he removed his thumb.
“You needed to see what you’ve been missing out on…” she murmured slowly, not wanting to break the moment or the sweet chocolate memory of his touch on her lips with mere words.
Ben hummed his approval as he stepped closer, his left hand reaching for her hip. His other hand came up to cradle her face. Rey held her breath, feeling so small in his hands, looking up at him. He leaned down, lips millimetres apart before murmuring, “Believe me, sweetheart, I plan to find out.”
No longer able to wait, Rey jumped up onto her tiptoes, pressing a bruising kiss onto Ben’s lips. She could feel the frosting melt with the heat of his lips against hers. Ben responded after a moment, seemingly stunned at the intensity Rey brought to their kiss. He gripped onto her hip tighter and kissed her back, moving his hand down to the nape of her neck and squeezing lightly. Rey broke the kiss to moan aloud. Ben looked down at her, eyes wide and clouded with desire. He smiled softly before licking the remaining frosting from his own lip.
“Delicious. Oh, and the cake tastes good too. If I’m not careful, you might just turn me to the cake side.”