Free Falling for Bentley (Part One) by Shawnte Borris Page A

the phone away from my ear and took a breath. “Mom, I see Haley coming out of the hardware store, so I’ve got to go. I’ll catch you later.”
    “Oh, just wait a sec, hon, your dad wants to talk to you.”
    “Sure.”
    I smiled at Haley as she approached me, she mouthed, “Everything okay?”
    I nodded my head yes, before I answered my dad. “Hey, Dad.”
    “Since you are in town, do you mind stopping in at John Deere and picking up that seal, they called this morning and said it came in.”
    “I can do that.”
    “I see you later then.”
    “Bye, Dad.”
    I hung up the phone and slid it into my pocket, “Would you mind if we took a detour to the John Deere dealership? I need to pick a seal up for my dad.”
    “Sure but it’s gonna cost ya.”
    I moved closer to her, “It will, will it?”
    “Yep, I see a strawberry milkshake in my future,” she mocked.
    “Oh, I think I can handle that,” I said while opening the passenger door for her.
     
     
    I HELD THE door open to the dealership for Haley as she walked and said, “It’s going to be awhile, look at all the farmers here.” I put my hand on the small of her back, hoping she wasn’t going to flinch away, “It rained, so they have down time. It’s a good day to grab parts and stuff.” I walked us over to the line at the parts counter.
    Standing in line for twenty minutes, I realized my wallet was in the glove compartment of my truck. “Hales, I’ll be right back, I forgot my wallet in the truck.”
    “Sure, take your time,” she answered back, looking at the gloves in the display case.
    I lightly touched her arm, “You okay here alone?”
    Haley looked around the dealership, “I think I’ll be okay, I don’t see any boogie men in here, unless one is hiding behind those pails of oil.”
    “Smart ass,” I grinned before I left.
    Walking back in, I saw Haley’s shoulders shaking, like she’s trying not to laugh out loud. I walked up beside her and whispered in her ear, “Hey, what’s so funny?”
    She turned and faced me with tears in her eyes. “Just wait, you’ll see.”
    Not even ten seconds later, an older lady with a red coat was pouncing around the store yelling, “What is taking so damn long?” Haley leaned in towards me, still trying not to laugh as the woman continued, “Jesus Christ, it’s not like we’re ordering parts, we’re just picking up a fucking knife for the combine,” she ranted in front of her husband.
    “Oh,” I said. Haley just nodded her head, still holding on to me.
    The lady took another walk around the store and stopped in front of her husband again and screeched, “Fucking hell!” before she stormed out. By this time, Haley was leaning fully into my side with her head pressed tight into my shoulder laughing. I wrapped my arm around her and enjoyed the feeling.
    Backing away from me, and drying her tears she said, “That was the best freaking moment of the day.”
    I smiled at her, “Yeah, it was.” already missing her touch.
    “Here’s your part, Bentley, sorry it took so long,” Cole said, smiling over at Haley.
    “Cole, have you met Haley?”
    He runs his hands down his shirt, “No, I don’t believe I have.”
    I rolled my eyes at him, “Haley, this is Cole, his dad owns the dealership.” Cole held out his hand, and it took everything I had in me to not smack it away so he wouldn’t touch her.
    “It’s nice to meet you, Cole, but if you’ll please excuse us, Bentley is taking me to lunch,” Haley replied sweetly, shaking his hand.
    I just about whipped my head over to her, but I managed to keep my eyes glued to Cole to watch his response. He withdrew his hand slowly and smiled back, “Enjoy your lunch.”
    “We will, and thank you.” Haley grabbed my hand and turned us towards the door. I looked back at Cole and grinned.
     
     

     
     
    “BURGER AND FRIES?” I asked Bentley.
    Bentley stopped us just before we got to his truck, “What was that?”
    I scrunched my forehead