Chapter Text
New Post
poe_damn_eron: Rey getting some rays with a tired Tire
finn_storm2187: You’re really proud of yourself, aren’t you?
Poe_damn_eron: … I mean, yeah, kinda
Ben knew he was stalling when he was scrolling through instagram outside the front of the house instead of going around back immediately like Hux told him to do. He didn’t know if looking at Rey’s newest picture was good letting him be prepared or bad because it just made him more nervous. In the post, she had been lounging on a lawn chair with Tire laying across her body and Tire’s head on Rey’s shoulder. It was adorable.
More importantly, it gave Ben a sneak preview of what Rey was wearing. It was a soft pink one piece and from the picture he could tell it showed a bit of side boob. For his own well being, he hoped the front was more conservative.
Well, he couldn’t put this off any longer. Kylo was already getting antsy being able to hear the sounds of the party. “Okay, boy, you ready?” Ben let Kylo drag him around to the backyard.
“Oh hey, Ben finally made it!” Poe yelled as soon as he rounded into the backyard. “Does Kylo know how to swim? We’re going to try to teach Tire and Bebe.”
“I don’t see Tire or Rey. Have they arrived yet?” Like he didn’t already see the picture that she was already here.
“Oh yeah, Tire started to get a little antsy so Rey took her for a little run around the neighborhood before we do the swim lessons,” Poe told him with a knowing smirk.
“Hey Ben, glad you could make it!” Hux called from his post at the grill. “Drinks are in the cooler and hamburgers are ready now so everyone can line up.”
“Oh Ben, I don’t think you’ve met my sister,” Rose said. “This is Paige.” Rose pulled the girl in front of Ben.
“Ben, I’ve heard so much about you,” Paige told him. “Don’t look too worried. Rose talks about everyone in this friend circle so much. I feel like I already know all of you.” He made small talk with Paige as they assembled their burgers and sat down at the patio table with her, Finn, and Poe.
“Should we have gotten life vests for the dogs?” Poe asked.
“Nope, we are not going down that rabbit hole,” Finn told him. “You researched pet life jackets last week. It’s too late now.”
“Is Poe going on about life jackets for the dogs again?” Ben turned to see Rey now at the grill with Hux and Rose. She was wearing a t-shirt and running shorts now instead of the swimsuit he had seen in the post. Made sense, she couldn’t very well go running around the neighborhood in just her swimsuit.
“Rey, come have a seat,” Ben told her.
“Oh no, I’m fine, I don’t want to kick anyone out,” Rey replied. Darn, the table was full. He should have gotten up and offered his seat. Wait, he still could- “Besides, since I’ve gotten this one” she nodded towards Tire “I usually have to eat standing up or she makes me share with her.”
“Psst, Tire, I’ll give you food if you love me,” Poe stage whispered at the dog while waving a bit of hamburger.
“Poe, stop trying to bribe her!”
“I want her to love me!”
“She will only ever tolerate you just like I do, because we are telepathically linked,” Rey shot back between bites of her burger. ”So did you end up actually getting the dog life jackets?”
“No, Finn talked me out of it.”
“I had to hide his laptop and phone for several hours before he gave up,” Finn informed the group.
“Well, let’s hope the dogs can swim then,” Rey laughed as she finished her burger and threw her plate in the trash. “Come on, Tire, you’re gonna be better than Bebe, aren’t you? Yes you are.”
Then Rey was shucking off her shirt and shorts before leading Tire to the pool. Oh goodness, the picture did not prepare Ben enough. There was such a low v - neck on the swimsuit and the bottom came up so high on her hips. When she turned around, the suit was backless and the bottom- no, stop, don’t look. Don’t be a creep.
He needed to get Rey alone. He would tell her how he felt. Apologize- no, grovel about the miscommunication. Beg her to give him a second chance.
“What do you say Kylo? Do you want to swim too?” Ben got up and took off his shirt on the way over to the pool. So what if he did a few extra push ups and crunches this morning. No one here had to know that.
Rey started with just trying to get Tire used to the water. At the moment, she was doing pretty good with her front paws sitting on the first step. “Oh, that’s a good girl! Do you want to come in a little bit more?”
“Kylo wait! Rey watch out!” It was too late. Kylo jumped into the pool spraying Rey and Tire with water. Rey would have just laughed it off but Tire got spooked and tried to pull away.
“Oh baby, it’s okay,” Rey soothed. “You’re alright girl, just a little water.”
“I’m so sorry, Rey. He made a run for it when I took off my shirt,” Ben apologized.
“No problem.” She hopes that didn’t sound too strained. Why was he torturing her with his amazing abs? Couldn’t he be one of those guys that wore a shirt in the pool? She focuses all her attention on Tire trying to ignore Ben. “Come here, girl.”
“Do you want me to get some hamburger? It might help to bribe her in,” Ben suggested.
“Yeah, maybe that would help.”
“So should I assume this means you don’t like her?” Poe corners him by the grill. “Or what’s taking so long? We’re all specifically staying away from the pool to give you a bit of privacy.”
“What, no?” Ben splutters. “I’m just… I need… a little… I’m working up to it okay. I can also clearly see that you are filming me.”
“Um, yes, you’re welcome. I’m going to show this video as part of my best man’s speech at your wedding.”
Ben heaves a sigh, takes a hamburger patty, and heads back to the pool.
“He’s going to chicken out, isn’t he?” Hux asked when Poe came back to the table. He had taken Rey’s seat and Rose was perched on his lap.
“I believe in him,” Finn tells them. “I think he can do it.”
“I believe he has five minutes before I go over and slap some sense into him,” Poe responds.
“Shut up, he looks really serious. I think he’s telling her now!” Rose whisper screamed.
The group watches as Rey suddenly launches herself at Ben, wrapping her arms around his neck and smashing her lips to his.
“Finally!” Poe yells.
Rey backs away from Ben, shy now that she knows she has an audience. “So do you maybe want to come back to mine after this and have a movie date?” she asked.
“I would love that,” Ben told her.
Tire, having gone long enough not being the center of attention, splashed into the water. “Be careful, baby girl!”
“Well that was a pleasant surprise!” Paige cheered.
“Speaking of pleasant surprises… I’ll be right back.” Hux told the group cryptically as he got up and headed inside the house. He came back out a few minutes later holding a squirming ball of white fur. “I got my Rosie a little present.”
“Oh, it’s adorable,” Rose squealed as she took the puppy from Hux. “What are we gonna call this little cutie?”
“Check the name tag on her collar,” Hux told her.
“You named her without me? How rude!” Rose scoffed. She searched for the name tag under all the fur. “It says, ‘Will you-’, are you serious?” She looked back at Hux who was already kneeling.
“Rose, will you marry me?”