Page 106 of Love in Fine Print

“I’m not really sure. I’m still a little unclear about what happened,” I explained as I sat up, or attempted to sit up in bed.

Trevor gave me a quick assist and then fixed my pillows behind my head.

“Well, when everyone was instructed to rise, you fell.”

“In court?” I clarified.

“Yep. Dropped like a sack of potatoes.”

I knew at some point I would be embarrassed by that happening, but right now, I was too weak and tired to care.

“Ben said I’m anemic.”

“Apparently. But thankfully, you’re not pregnant, which was what I assumed the issue was.”

For some reason, hearing that I wasn’t pregnant disappointed me. I’d always said I didn’t want kids. Kids complicated things. Kids tied you to someone else forever. I’dalways viewed having children as giving someone power over my life, something that I absolutely refused to do.

So why did hearing I wasn’t pregnant make me feel like I’d lost something?

My disappointment must have shown because Trevor said, “Wait. Did you…have you and Ben been trying to?—"

“No,” I quickly corrected him. “No. We’re not. This isn’t even a real marriage.”

I was reminding myself more than him.

Trevor’s head tilted to the side. “Are you sure your fake husband knows that?”

“Yes. Why?”

“You should have seen him yesterday. He came in with some very strong ‘that’s my wife’ energy. He was ready to burn this place down to find out what was going on with you, and then when they told him he couldn’t stay the night because of visiting hours…” Trevor fanned himself and then pretended to swoon. “Hell,Iwanted to have his baby.”

I was sure that Trevor was exaggerating. Ben was probably just worried about me the same way he would be about Jake or Miss B. When he felt responsible for someone, he took it seriously.

Which would also make him an incredible father.

“I think that man has definitely caught some feelings. Not that I blame him.”

“Stop. He’s not…it’s not like that.”

Trevor’s single eyebrow lifted the way it did when he thought I was wrong. “You two are living together. Sleeping together. Eating dinner together. Watching trash reality TV together. You spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s together. He bought you a hummingbird necklace with your daddy’s initials on it for Christmas and for Valentine’s Day he started a scholarship in your father’s name for kids with woodworkingtalent to go to trade school. He was ready to get arrested before he was going to let you spend a night in the hospital alone, even though they told him you’d be asleep the entire night.” He took a breath. “Yeah, you’re right. That sounds like a business arrangement to me.”

Both the Christmas and Valentine’s gifts had taken me by surprise. They were both so personal, so specific to me. Anyone could get flowers or chocolates or even jewelry. But Ben listened. He knew how much my dad meant to me and also how much education meant to my dad. That scholarship was so thoughtful, and even when our relationship was over, it would be a legacy for my father.

In the past few months, I’d felt closer to my dad than I had in so long because even though Ben and my dad never met, I was introducing my father to him. I was talking about him more than I had in years.

“The real question is, haveyoucaught feelings, too?” Trevor asked.

Before I could respond, Ben was back. “Okay, I just got off the phone with Dr. Benson. He’s going to fast-track your discharge so I can get you home.”

“I need to use the bathroom, and then I want to get changed.”

Trevor started to help me sit up, but Ben was at my side.

“I’ve got it,” he stated firmly. “You can wait outside and if you see the nurse let her know that we're ready.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trevor walk behind Ben and mouth, “Feelings. Exhibit A,” as he waved his hand up and down toward him before heading out of the room.

The next fifteen minutes were a battle of how much Ben would allow me to do alone, which was basically use the restroom. He helped me get changed. Stood beside me as I brushed my teeth and hair, and carried me back to bed instead of letting me walk.

---