As my giggling rolls out, my anxiety fades.

BEN

Watching Holly crack up helps ease my guilt.

But it’s not gone completely because this is all my fault. Normally, people have to get blood drawn maybe once a year, and then they can forget about needles and injections until that time cycles around again.

Holly’s just getting started.

If this is what she goes through from a quick needle stick, how is she going to deal with an IV in her arm come surgery time?

It’s enough to make me want to tell her to back out.

But would she listen?

And would I see her again?

She lets out a long sigh after her giggles trail off.

“Okay, I’m better. Where are we headed?”

Maybe she’s good to drive, but she still seems rattled. Her hands clench the steering wheel with a white-knuckled grip.

“What do you think would make you happy? Something we could do right now.”

Surprise flashes over her face, and then she turns thoughtful. After a few seconds, Holly gifts me with one of her sweet smiles. “Almond croissants.”

I can’t help but laugh at her tone, filled with longing and reverence.

“You have a place in mind?”

She nods vigorously, and I chuckle some more, mostly from relief.

“Then, by all means, take me to these glorious pastries.”

Holly goes to pull the car out of the parking lot.

“So, Ben, tell me about yourself.”

The request sounds forced, but I don’t mind distracting her.

“What do you want to know?”

I wait as she clicks the blinker on for a left-hand turn.

“Why are you pre-law?”

Of course. The question. It always comes up, and I always give the idealistic answer about challenging myself and serving the public. But I don’t want to bullshit Holly. Also, I’m pretty sure she’d see right through me and call me on it.

So, I give her a bit of the truth.

“It’s the family business. Both my parents are lawyers, and so was my grandfather, Benjamin the second, and his father before him, Benjamin the original. I grew up around legal talk. I understand it. It’s a safe bet for me.”

“Wow. That’s a lot of Benjamins. And lawyers. You find it easy then?”

I lean back in my seat, letting Holly’s questions sink in. “I wouldn’t say easy. Even going part-time, my days are pretty full of studying and writing papers. And this is just undergrad. From the stories I’ve heard, law school is when the real grind starts.” I try not to grimace as I think about it.

“Do you enjoy law?”

Do I enjoy law? I think back, trying to remember if I’ve ever been asked that before. Nothing comes to mind. It’s always been whether or not I’m good at it, which I’m sure I can be.

“Some of it is interesting. And, if you work at a successful firm, then you can make a pretty good living.”