4
Bunny
Sitting on the floor in Ben’s laundry room is the safest I’ve felt since I woke up in that trunk. I may not remember what happened to me in the past, but I know that I’m safe here with Ben.
This is the best place for me to get some sort of life back. I’m not sure what that future entails, but that’s for me to think about another day. Right now, I need to focus on putting one foot in front of the other and taking things day by day.
Buttons sits in my lap, purring like crazy while Dino nudges me with his nose if I stop petting him for even a second. Both of them are adorable.
“You both are the most adorable fur babies I’ve ever seen.” I gush over both of them. “I think they like me.” I peek over at Ben.
“Buttons doesn’t normally like anyone, but he’s all over you.” Ben stares down at Buttons in my lap, and I swear he’s glaring.
“Don’t get jelly if he falls in love with me. I’m sure he’ll still love you too,” I tease.
“That’s not why I’m jealous,” he grumbles.
“What do you mean?” I laugh.
His glare is quickly turning into a pout. My giant tough hero is utterly adorable while pouting. I swear there is nothing that could make this man not attractive.
There was no missing the way the nurses and even some of the doctors would eye Ben when they thought no one was paying attention. With everything going on, I shouldn’t have noticed it, but I did.
As terrible as it is, that's part of the reason I wanted out of the hospital. I was over the looks they’d give him. A few tried to flirt with him. He’d brushed them off or pretended to not notice they were low-key hitting on him, but I’m sure it’s something he’s used to.
“Just that—” Ben is cut off by the sound of the doorbell going off.
Dino bolts out of the laundry room, barking up a storm. Buttons follows after him but at a much more leisurely pace. “Expecting someone?” I ask.
Ben holds out his hand, helping me up from off the floor. It suddenly dawns on me that Ben might not live alone. Oh, crap. He could have a girlfriend. I know he’s not married—there’s no ring on his finger—but he could be engaged.
Why haven’t I thought of any of this before now?! Even with all the nurses batting their eyelashes at him, I never considered asking if he had someone in his life. And if that person would be okay with me staying here. I was so focused on getting out of that hospital and Ben being the only person that made me feel safe that I didn’t think about anything else.
“It could be Ollie.”
“Ollie?”
“Olivia,” he supplies. “Come meet her.” I have no choice. He moves his hand to my back, guiding me back toward the front door. Right before we get there, I hear whoever it is put the key in the code for the lock. It clicks, and the door swings open, revealing a beautiful girl with long, shiny hair and curves in all the right places.
“Ben.” She beams at him before she drops a bunch of bags she has in her hands and goes in for a hug. He wraps his arms around her, giving her a bear-like hug, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. I feel sick to my stomach watching him with this woman. “I brought tons of crap. Pink’s got more too. She should be here soon.”
My heart starts to pound. I will myself to keep a straight face and to be calm. It’s damn hard. The one thing that’s been grounding me is slipping away from me. He has someone. Of course, he has someone! I mean, how could he not? He’s not only handsome but sweet and caring too.
He stayed by my side for the past two days because I’ve been clinging to him. Guilt starts to flood me next. I take a step back and then another. I need a second to wrap my head around all the emotions I’m feeling. The urge to run is starting to overwhelm me.
“Ollie, meet Snow,” he introduces me.
“I’ve heard so much about you from Pink. She wasn’t joking when she said how beautiful you are.” She gives me the most genuine warm smile that meets her eyes. Gah, she’s sweet too. Not really a shocker since she landed Ben.
“Thank you.” I try my best to return the smile. “Can I use the bathroom?” I ask, needing a moment to myself. This is the first time since I laid eyes on Ben that I’ve wanted to be alone.
“Of course, you can—'' Before Ben can finish, I’m rushing toward the bathroom in the hallway to make my escape.
As soon as the door closes behind me, I burst into tears. I try to stop them, but I can’t. This is so embarrassing.
“Bunny,” Ben calls from the other side of the door. He tries to open the door, but I locked it. “Are you crying, sweetheart?”
“I’m fine.” I sniffle.
“Open the door.”
“I just need a minute,” I call back. What the hell am I going to do?
My breathing starts to accelerate. I brace my hand on the wall. No, I cannot have a panic attack right now. This is wrong on so many freaking levels. I can’t freak out because he has a fiancée or girlfriend, but even as I tell myself that, it only grows worse.
Ben has been my lifeline. But the truth is he’s been more than that. I know it. I’m not sure if the past me believed in soulmates or love at first sight, but when my eyes locked with his, something told me that he was mine. That whatever it was I went through was part of my journey to get to him.
Not for a second did I think he was the reason I was in the trunk. There was no fear. I knew he would save me. I felt it down to my soul.
“You don’t need me?” There is no missing the confusion in his voice.
“I, I, I—” No other words can come out. The panic attack is taking over. I step back as my knees grow weak. I go to sit down on the toilet, but I don’t make it. The bathroom door swings open suddenly. Ben's arm snags me around my waist to pull me into him.
My feet leave the ground, and he cradles me in his arms. I press my face into his neck. “I’ve got you.” He carries me out of the bathroom into the living room, where he sits on the couch with me in his arms. “I think we should have a no locking the doors inside the house rule for a while.” He runs his hand up and down my back, trying to soothe me.
“Can I get either of you anything?” Ollie asks.
“Nah, give us a second.”
“Yeah, I’ll bring the rest of the stuff in, and I’m going to whip up some food. I’m sure you both are over what they were feeding you at the hospital.” She’s so dang sweet. If she only knew I was freaking out because she’s with Ben, I’m sure she wouldn’t be feeling the same.
Hell, she’s a way better woman than me. If Ben was mine, I would not be okay with some woman sitting in his lap while he rubbed her back.
“Thanks, sis. I appreciate it.”
“Sis?” I breathe out the word, not meaning to say it out loud, but it’s so low I don’t think anyone hears it.
“No thanks needed. I’ve got you guys,” she chirps before she leaves us alone.
“Bunny. I need your eyes if you can give them to me.” Slowly I lift my head from out of his neck.
“I think I’m okay.” I press my hand to my chest, feeling my heart start to slow.
“You going to tell me what triggered you?” I shake my head no, my cheeks starting to warm.
“All right, how about I guess?” I shake my head no again. Ben is actually really good at reading me for the short time he’s known me. A silent laugh leaves him, his body shaking. I glare at him. “I’m sorry, babe, it’s not funny you almost had an attack, but you’re being adorable.”
“Adorable?!” I scrunch my nose.
“Yeah, not really hard for you to do.”
“Whatever.” I huff.
“See.” He smirks. “Adorable.” I roll my eyes, fighting a smile of my own. “She’s my sister.” His face grows serious now. “You don’t have to worry about me being with some other girl or one showing up here that is mine.”
“Okay,” I lick my lips. “I felt bad. I’ve been clinging to you and never really thought that maybe you had a girlfriend out there or something.”
“No one out there can call me theirs. Promise you that.”
“All right, I know you’re a good man, and you’re trying to do what’s right with me. So—”
“No, Bunny. You can stop there.” He cuts me off. “If I did have a girl, which I don’t, I sure as hell wouldn’t be acting with you the way I have been. I would have taken you to the hospital, but I would have stepped back from there.” I stare up at him, trying to digest that.
“I guess I’m lucky you’re single then. I don’t know how I would have made it through these past few days without you,” I admit.
“I’m going to be straight with you,” he says, and my stomach drops. “I try to be a good man, Bunny. But if I had been with someone, which is highly unlikely because I don’t really date with my work schedule, I wouldn't have been dating that person after I laid eyes on you.”
I stare at him, really not sure how to respond to that. He’s managed to shock me.
“I’m not going to push anything. I don’t want to scare you, Bunny. I just want you to know where I stand.”
“I’m not scared,” I rush to say. Scared is the last thing I’m feeling right now.
“Good.” He smiles. “Now I’m gonna feed you.” He stands with me in his arms, putting me on my feet. “Are you good with that?”
“Yes.” I nod.
Right now, I’m good with everything. Especially when it comes from Ben. My attachment to him is only growing.