Warmth flooded through me, an unfathomable joy spreading through my veins at the thought of being seen for the first time in years. Ben certainly had never seen the real me.
Jameson tugged me to my feet, and I stood on tiptoes to kiss him, hoping to express my feelings even though I didn’t know how tosaythem.
“Sweet dreams, sunshine,” he said against my lips. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”
I nodded, sliding my arms around his waist one last time, letting his woodsy scent settle into me, calm me.
“Goodnight,” I squeaked.
He opened the door and pressed one last kiss to my lips. “Goodnight.”
Through the window, I watched him drive away, confused at this strange emotion settling on my chest. Was this…happiness? Joy over feeling accepted for the first time? Whatever this was, I could get used to it.
I went through my nightly routine, brushing my teeth, and slipping on my pajamas with the cute fox print. Not long after Jameson left, as I was about to crawl into bed, a knock sounded, and I scanned the living room, wondering if he had forgotten something. Head still spinning from the night, I crossed to the door and opened it with a smile, expecting to see Jameson standing there.
The smile slid from my face, like I had seen a ghost.
But it was worse than a ghost.
It was Ben.
Elsie
Ben stood in my doorway, his blonde hair and long black coat dripping water onto the ground. Rain fell in blowing sheets behind him, and I couldn’t help seeing that as a bad omen.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, wishing the words had come out stronger, snappier than an unsure, breathy whisper.
“Can I come in?”
The absolute last thing I wanted was to let him inside my house, but at that moment, the wind shifted, blowing the rain directly at my door. I had no choice but to step back and let him in.Ben shook his wet hair like a dog, flinging water all over me. I didn’t even attempt to hide my scowl.
“Could you get me a towel or something?” he demanded, not even bothering to look at me as he wrung his coat out on my floor, soaking the rug beneath him.
“Why?” I snapped, anger filling me like hot fire. “You’re just going to get wet again when I kick you out in…” I looked at the invisible watch on my wrist. “Thirty seconds.”
Ben narrowed his eyes. “Don’t be like that, Els.”
“Get to the point or get out.”
He let out an exasperated breath, running a hand through his hair. “What happened to you? You used to be a sweet, quiet wallflower.”
I shook my head in disgust. “It’s amazing what happens when you leave a relationship with a guy who keeps you in a box until it’s convenient for him to let you out.”
“Don’t be like that, Elsie,” he repeated, reaching for me.
I took a step back, crossing my arms. “Don’t touch me.”
“You used to like me touching you.” He had the audacity to sound wounded.
I bit my cheek to keep from voicing that I never did. His kisses were sloppy, and his hands were too grabby—when he bothered to show any type of affection at all.
I wasn’t about to fall for his fake hurt. “Twenty seconds, Ben.”
He threw his hands into the air. “Fine. Stay away from that Beck guy.”
“I don’t see how it’s any of your business whom I do or don’t spend time with.”
“You told me when youleft methat you didn’t want anyone at all. So why are you wasting time with that guy?”
