AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s lovely. Don’t let himgo.”
My chest tightens at her words. I’m not the kind of woman who gets swept off her feet by the gorgeous rich guy with the wickedsmile.
But he’s not a type.He’sBen.
He playsFortnite.
Wears his hair “I’m in a band”long.
Worries about hismom.
Carries my dog in hispocket.
I have friends, but Ben's the closest person in the world to me—next to Lil, and even then, there are things I tell him that I won’t tell her. Professional fears, personalambitions.
The other night, the admiration on his face seemed to blur with something intense, something that had me wishing he'd drag me into a dark corner and do dark things tome.
But we can’t have the kind of relationship I’ll admit to craving when it’s late and I’malone.
He thinks he knows me, but if he knows everything, he’ll decide I’m not enough. He’ll take the hole Vi left in my chest, the one that’s mostly healed, and drive a truck throughit.
The man occupying way too much of my brain hangs up and spots me watching, then he starts my way. By the time Ben comes up to me, we’re alone, Camila back withAiden.
“How’s it going?” heasks.
“Good, Ithink."
The photographer comes over and shows me some of theshots.
Ben dutifully inspects the images. “I never understood why people getmarried."
“Having someone with you always, someone you let in and trust, doesn’t appeal to you in the slightest?” Iask.
“I trustyou.”
My heart skips. “It’s not the same. When you want to spend your life with someone… they’re your other. Not only your default plans when you come home from a trip, they’re the one you race home to because you can’t wait to tell them about it. Because there’s no one else you want to bewith.”
He grimaces. “Pretty words, and the dangerous thing is we want to believe them.” His voice is low, a whisper over the breeze. “Love only sticks around for the pictures. That's why people take them—because after that, all bets areoff.”
The ache low in my stomach is for him—the boy he was, the man he is. I want to show him all kinds of love can be lasting,meaningful.
“Relationships start to feel heavy if you’re the only one carrying them,” I murmur, thinking of his family and what he did to hold them together. “I promise, I will always fight for you. And forus.”
He brushes hair out of my face, his gaze searchingmine.
“Oooh, I love that.” The photographer’s voice cuts into my haze. The next second, the clicking of camera does too. “Let’s get some options we can show the bride andgroom.”
“I’m not dressed for this side of the camera.” I force myself to relax as she moves aroundus.
"You look great." Ben's appreciative gaze runs down my body and backup.
My hands find his biceps. "You don't look so badyourself."
“This is good," the photographer insists, humming her approval. "Can youkiss?”
I’m so caught off guard, I can’t look anywhere else, especially when his hands tighten around me. His mouth is rightthere…
Ben replies without breaking my gaze. "The last time I kissed her in public, she was pissed fordays."
