Page 40 of Coming Home

Ben immediately began to relax. I somehow knew he was happy to have it out in the open.

“Look, we didn’t know until he showed up in my classroom three days ago,” I blurted out.

“You still didn’t know then,” Peyton pointed out.

“I sure did,” Ben added. “No doubt about it.”

“I know, Peyton. I’m dealing with it,” I told her. I knew she was worried about me. She understood how massive this was, more so than anyone else.

“You always told us he was the one,” Mom said, wiping tears from her eyes.

“I did?”

“Since you were like two,” Lizzy said.

“There’s no way I knew back then,” I laughed.

“I don’t know, you were pretty convincing,” Clara chimed in.

“Are you leaving her again without a word?” Peyton accused.

“Peyton, that’s enough,” Dad scolded.

“If I had known back then, I’d never have left to begin with,” Ben said. “I figure I’ve got nine years to make up for, but I will.” There was a promise in his voice and he gave my hand another squeeze.

“Well, this is certainly a surprise, but a happy one,” Mom proclaimed. “Welcome to the family, Ben.” She rose and walked over to hug him. “Feels like you always were, this just makes it official.”

“Thanks, Cora,” Ben said.

It dawned on me then that Peyton was the only person surprised by the announcement. It was as if everyone else had somehow expected it and went back to life as usual. What if I had chosen not to accept him? I mean, I hadn’t even decided for sure myself. There was still so much we needed to talk about. Ben might not even want me still when he found out the truth about me. I started to panic.

“Hey, sport, what’s going on?” Ben whispered.

“I need to get out of here,” I told him, fearing I was going into a full-blown anxiety attack.

Maddie walked over and hugged me. “I know that look, let’s get you out of here.” Then she turned to Ben. “Oscar’s really enjoying having your brothers here. Is it okay if they stick around to play a while longer?”

“Um, yeah, sure. That’s fine,” he said, a little confused and starting to worry about me.

“Take her home. Trust me. I’ll tell everyone you left,” Maddie said. “Call me if you need me,” she told me with one last hug.

Ben took my arm and walked me outside. I was starting to gulp for air. Walker had of course noticed our hasty exit and came to check on me.

“Shit!” he said, taking my other arm and assisting Ben with getting me into the car.

Ben was quiet and didn’t even growl at Walker for touching me.

Once inside the car, he started it up and took off, reaching his hand over to place it on my thigh. “Breathe, Shelby. In and out slowly. Find a happy thought.” He smiled over at me and kept talking in a soothing voice. “Remember our first kiss? I was so jealous when you told me you were going to kiss Grayson Ward. I always hated that punk.”

“You did?”

“Well yeah, I mean he always had a thing for you. I think that was why it was so easy for me to believe him when he told me you were his true mate. I was an idiot.”

“You weren’t,” I managed to say. “You didn’t know and didn’t have any reason not to believe him.”

I was starting to calm down some. My pulse was slowing back to normal and I wasn’t facing an impending blackout any longer. I hadn’t had an anxiety attack in a long time.

“I deal with a lot of PTSD in my field, you know. Do you want to talk about it?” he asked.

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