Page 73 of Just Enough

“I saw you two leave that day together.”

“I drank. She drove me home because I got a little too carried away drinking… Because of you.”

That made her pause and breathe. “What? I don’t understand—”

“Emily,” I breathed. “Look at me. Just fucking look at me.” She did. “Reallylookbecause you haven’t been looking.” I needed her to grasp my words. I saw the moment she did. “Does it look like I’m fucking around with Kelly?”

Leaving her with those words, I turned and gave her time because by the time she got home tonight she’d have no more chances.

I was coming at her with every part of me.

Chapter 27

_______

Benjamin

Midnight-Present

After work,Istopped by the liquor store and grabbed some beer. My thoughts were obsessive since leaving Emily for work, but because of it, I knew everything I planned to do.

The green button was pushed the moment she gave me a sign.

Instead of staying at the apartment and waiting for her to get off work, I waited around and did some paperwork at the dealership and waited and waited. I knew she got off at eleven, but I waited until midnight before going home. I needed her to worry. I needed her to see what was happening if she truly didn’t know.

Her permission was all I needed. And I felt like I was about to get it.

It made me heady. It also made me feel powerful; the thought of having her affections.

I walked up the two flights of stairs carrying a twenty-four pack of beer. Once I was at our apartment, I knocked and waited. She came to the door right away. She greeted me in a pair of her tiny shorts and baggy T-shirt, looking edible. “Why did you knock?” she whispered.

I held the beer between us. “Still want to drink with me?”

She looked down at her feet and blushed.

“Still haven’t gotten drunk yet?”

She shook her head ‘no’ silently.

“Are you going to let me in?”

She let me in.

Then we shut the door.

Chapter 28

______

Emily

Benjamin wore hiscontacts. He had his glasses on when he left this morning. That felt like it meant something important…

He knocked at our door, then strolled in when I opened the door for him. My heart was erratic and clumsy as he followed behind me. He had purposely stopped next to me as I shut the door so that I’d have no choice but to walk before him. Now I felt the heat against my back.

He wore a pair of khakis and a dress shirt most days to work and it was what he still had on. Still, it was so late. “Where have you been?” I asked softly.

“At the office.”