Ruby dropped her chin to her chest, and taking a deep breath, she looked back at Lisa. “Falling in love with Bennett would have been the easiest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but once I saw how she looked at you at Rapture, I knew I didn’t stand a chance. Do I care about her? Greatly. Do I love her? Yeah, in a way, I do. I love who she is. I love she lives by a code. I love she mercifully ends peoples’ lives when all hope is gone, and I love…I love that she’s going to finally find happiness because if anyone deserves happiness, it’s Bennett. Then again, I suppose that last part’s on you.”

Chapter Forty-Six

Attempting to not think about something usually has the opposite effect. Envision an upcoming argument, and you’ll come up with every answer to every imaginable question, except the questions never stop coming. Ponder hitting the lottery and time needed for sleep gives way to all the wonderful things you would do with the money. And trying to convince yourself you were right leads to a laundry list of all the reasons diametrically opposing your righteousness.

Shortly before five on Sunday morning, Bennett emerged from her bedroom freshly showered. She was ready to announce there were clean sheets on the bed, and she’d take the sofa, except Lisa had already fallen asleep across its cushions. With Ruby nowhere to be seen, Bennett covered Lisa with a blanket, turned off the lights, and slunk to her bedroom.

Lisa wasn’t asleep. Annoyed and confused, when she heard the bedroom door open, she closed her eyes and feigned slumber. Even though Ruby had left the apartment, her words had remained behind in Lisa’s head, and each reverberation told Lisa what she already knew. She had been stupid and for a lot longer than just the past few hours.

For twelve years, Lisa had held onto a secret. She had planned to reveal it to her father as they drove to the airport to pick up Bennett Archer, except Oskar’s excitement about the woman’s arrival trumped Lisa’s plans. The last thing she wanted to do was possibly put a damper on the evening, and once Lisa met Bennett, her secret remained a secret.

It was a cold and misty night, and Lisa debated on getting back into the car until Bennett stepped off the plane, and it was all Lisa could do to keep her wits about her. Bennett was a vision, her hair shining in the moonlight, and with her long stride and worldly aura, she was absolutely the most beautiful woman Lisa had ever seen. Confidence practically oozed from every pore, and when Oskar made the formal introductions and Bennett extended her hand, Lisa’s knees went weak.