Benjamin Kempball: The Way To A Banker’s Heart

Chapter 10: Benjamin

Walking into the small park, I immediately noticed the group of people gathered under the scattered shade of tall trees. From a quick glance, there were about thirty of them, all of different ages, appearances, and likely from a range of economic backgrounds as well. The sound of conversation and occasional bursts of laughter floated through the air, mixing with the faint sizzle from the grill and the aroma of cooking meat.

As we entered, heads turned toward us, a ripple of interest moving through the crowd. Perhaps I should have felt a flicker of nervousness in this moment—meeting her friends, being thrust into a group of strangers—but I didn’t. With Violet tucked against my side, her body leaning ever so slightly into mine, her warmth grounding me, I felt like I could take on anything. It was as if her presence gave me a kind of invincibility, a quiet confidence that settled over me.

Violet lifted her free hand to wave at the crowd, her movements easy and natural. A few people waved back, their smiles widening when they saw her. But then, as if she couldn’t bear the separation even for a second, she reached down and grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers. Her touch was so light yet deliberate, and it sent a jolt of energy racing through me. She gave a small tug, leading me toward the grill, where Denise stood alongside a man who could only be Jack.

“Vi, sweetie!” Denise called out, her face lighting up with an almost maternal warmth. Jack looked up from the grill, his expression softening as his gaze landed on Violet.

“Dee,” Violet greeted her with a half-hug, which she managed to pull off without letting go of my hand.

Denise’s sharp eyes landed on me, a grin spreading across her face. “I see you finally managed to catch a break, huh?” She winked at me, her expression both playful and approving.

Jack, meanwhile, wiped his hands on the dish towel tied to his apron—an apron adorned with bold letters that read GIVE ME A BEER!—before stepping forward to offer me a handshake. “Oh, so this must be the famous Benjamin,” he said, his voice warm and friendly.

Violet turned to me with a small smile. “Benjamin, this is Jack,” she said, her tone light and cheerful.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, taking Jack’s hand and giving it a firm shake. His grip was strong, his palm calloused—a clear sign of years spent working with his hands. He looked to be in his mid-fifties, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly trimmed, a short stubble lining his jaw. Despite the faint lines on his face, there was a youthful brightness in his warm brown eyes.

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Jack replied with a grin. “I hear it’s your fault my wife comes home all talked out these days,” he added with a conspiratorial tone, leaning in slightly as though sharing a secret. “And for that, I thank you.”

A quiet chuckle escaped me as the corners of my mouth tugged upward. It was true—Denise had done more talking at me than with me the last few times I’d been to Jack’s, but I hadn’t minded. She was clearly a kindhearted woman who just had a lot to say, and besides, growing up in a house with four women had made me an excellent listener.

“I heard that,” Denise said, swatting Jack lightly on the chest. She rolled her eyes and turned to Violet, who was watching with an amused glint in her caramel-colored eyes. “Men,” Denise muttered dramatically, “we just love to hate them, don’t we, sweetie?”

Violet laughed, the sound soft and musical. “I haven’t started hating this one yet,” she teased, resting her hand lightly on my chest.

Her touch sent a surge of electricity through me, making my pulse quicken and my chest tighten. It was almost ridiculous how every simple gesture from her seemed to set my entire body ablaze, as if she was a live wire and I was a circuit waiting to be completed.

“Give it ten to fifteen years,” Denise said with a knowing laugh, waving her hand dismissively.

Jack returned his attention to the grill, flipping burgers and turning sausages with practiced ease. The food looked delicious—plain and simple barbecue fare, unpretentious but mouthwatering.

“Do you need help with anything?” Violet asked, her gaze darting between Denise and Jack.

Jack barely opened his mouth before Denise cut him off with a sharp look. “Do not give her any tasks. Don’t you dare!” She pointed a finger at him in warning before handing each of us a plastic cup. “Your job tonight is to drink, have fun, and maybe have a little too much fun,” she said with a grin, winking at Violet.

Violet accepted the cup with a sheepish smile, though that didn’t stop her from offering to help again. Denise, however, remained firm, shooing us away from the grill with exaggerated gestures. Violet eventually gave in, letting herself be pulled away—but not before giving Denise a mock glare.

She led me further into the group, weaving effortlessly through clusters of people. Her hand stayed in mine, her grip firm but gentle, as if she wanted to make sure I didn’t get lost in the crowd.

“Vi!” someone called out. We both turned toward the voice and saw Tony sitting at a picnic table with two other men. They were laughing and sipping beers, the relaxed camaraderie evident in their posture.

“Hey, guys!” Violet greeted them with a bright smile. “How are you doing?”

“Beer, sunshine, and the smell of a grill—that’s all I need to be happy,” one of the men said with a grin, raising his cup in a mock toast before taking a long sip.

“Who’s the guy?” the other man asked, his gaze flicking to me. His tone wasn’t unfriendly, but there was a hint of wariness in his eyes as they landed on our intertwined hands.

“This is Benjamin,” Violet said, looking up at me with a smile that made my chest tighten all over again. Her expression was so warm, so full of quiet affection, that I couldn’t help but smile back. “Be nice,” she warned the group, arching an eyebrow at them in mock sternness. “Benjamin, this is Harry and Ken,” she continued, nodding toward each man in turn. “And you’ve already met Tony.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said, nodding politely.

“Did you see the last Giants game?” Tony asked, his eyes lighting up as he leaned forward. From the moment he found out I’d played football in high school and college, it was as if he’d decided I was his long-lost best friend.

“I did,” I said with a nod, recalling the game that had played in the background while I worked from home. “A great win for us,” I added, keeping my tone casual but friendly.

“See?” Tony said, throwing his hands up triumphantly and gesturing toward me as if to say, This guy gets it! “I told you he was a great guy.”

Harry and Ken exchanged glances, nodding slowly, but I could sense there was more to their approval than just football. There was an unspoken assessment happening—silent questions about whether I was good enough for Violet. It was subtle but unmistakable, and honestly, I didn’t mind. It was good to know she had people looking out for her, people who cared about her happiness and well-being. Violet deserved nothing less.

“Vi! Oh my God, you look amazing!” A sudden voice burst through the casual atmosphere, and before I could react, Violet was pulled forward, her hand slipping from mine as a woman hugged her from behind.

Instinctively, my hand twitched, ready to intervene if necessary, but I stopped myself when I saw Violet’s grin spreading ear to ear. She turned within the stranger’s embrace, her laughter bubbling out. “Jess!” she squealed, the two of them jumping up and down in a reunion that radiated pure joy.

I stood there, momentarily frozen, probably looking a little dumbfounded. The two women were clearly close, their energy infectious as they caught up. Jess was striking—blonde hair that cascaded straight down her back, bright blue eyes sparkling with happiness, and a dazzling toothpaste-commercial smile. She exuded confidence, her presence almost commanding the space around her.

“Please,” Jess said, her voice teasing as she stepped back slightly, her grin still wide. “You know Jake wouldn’t miss this for the world. I mean, when else would he get to see his sister drunk off her ass?” Her mischievous smile was matched by a playful glint in her eyes.

But as soon as Jess mentioned Jake, Violet’s expression changed. The laughter faded, and her smile stiffened, her whole body tensing ever so slightly. It was subtle, but to someone who’d already learned to read her cues, it was unmistakable.

Jess didn’t seem to notice Violet’s shift as she turned her gaze to me, her blue eyes scanning me up and down with a raised brow. “And who’s this?” she asked, her tone light but laced with curiosity. “The new and improved Ken?”

Violet’s head snapped toward me, her caramel eyes wide as if she’d just remembered I was standing there. The realization seemed to hit her like a freight train. Her expression shifted again, her lips parting as though she were about to explain, but no words came out.

“f**k,” she muttered under her breath, her eyes darting between Jess and me. “f**k, f**k, s**t, fuck.”

Jess burst out laughing, clearly enjoying the awkwardness of the moment. She extended a hand toward me, her grin unwavering. “Hi, I’m Jessica. Violet’s future sister-in-law,” she said, her tone warm but playful.

I returned her smile, shaking her hand firmly but gently. “Pleasure to meet you. I’m Benjamin,” I said, my voice steady despite feeling like I’d said this line a dozen times already today.

Jess’s smile didn’t falter as she released my hand, but Violet was already turning to me, her expression apologetic. “I’m so sorry,” she said, her voice earnest as her hand gripped my forearm lightly. “I didn’t know Jake would be here. I wasn’t planning on exposing you to an entire family reunion on our first date.”

“First date?” Jess echoed, her eyebrows shooting up as her gaze flicked between us. “And you brought him here?”

“I wasn’t thinking,” Violet hissed back, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks. “If I’d known you and Jake would be here, I’d have never—”

“I don’t mind,” I interjected softly, hoping to calm her down, but the two women seemed locked in their exchange.

“Well,” Jess said, her tone turning conspiratorial as she tapped her chin in mock thought, “I could create a diversion, and then you two could slip away before he notices too much.”

“But we’ve already said hello to so many people,” Violet countered, her brows furrowing. “If we leave now, he’ll know, and that’ll just make it worse.”

Jess opened her mouth to reply, but I raised my voice just slightly, cutting through their rapid-fire plotting. “How about I just meet him?”

Both women turned to me, their expressions shifting from surprise to contemplation. Jess’s lips slowly curled into a wide grin, her eyes glinting with approval.

“You want to meet him?” Violet asked, her voice quieter now, her eyes searching mine as if trying to solve a puzzle.

“It was bound to happen eventually, wasn’t it?” I said, offering her a soft smile. Gently, I raised my hand to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

The tension in her shoulders seemed to melt away as she leaned ever so slightly into my touch. Her caramel eyes softened, a quiet admiration flickering in their depths. “You’re right,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “It would have.”

A knowing smirk played on her lips as she gazed at me, and in that moment, I felt the pull between us more strongly than ever. It was magnetic, unspoken but undeniable, as if the entire world had faded away, leaving just the two of us in the moment.

“Jesus,” Jess muttered, her gaze bouncing between us with exaggerated exasperation. “I could cut the s****l tension with a f*****g knife.”

A soft giggle escaped Violet as she turned her head, breaking the spell. “Shut up,” she said, swatting at Jess lightly.

Jess just grinned wider. “Good for you,” she said, her tone teasing but genuine. Then she turned her attention back to me, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “Alright, pretty boy. Let’s go meet the boys.”