Page 44 of Falling for the Forbidden
“What? Why?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“What are you talking about? I’m his daughter, he won’t do anything to me. It’s safer coming from me. I might be able to calm him down about it.”
“I doubt that very much. He’s going to lose his shit.”
“Then we won’t tell him yet. Let’s just enjoy ourselves.”
Ben’s face twists with uncertainty, and I know exactly how he feels. This fight between what we want and what we know is right is exhausting. “It’ll be worse if he finds out before we tell him.”
“Then we just have to be really careful.” I can tell he’s not happy about it. Neither am I, but there’s no way I’m giving up on us.
Leaning into my ear, he whispers, “You’ll have to stop screaming my name so loud.”
My face is burning red when the waiter comes over with our starters. Ben just sits and chuckles at me. It’s infectious as well as a relief to move on from our serious conversation. As much as it warms my heart that he seems to be thinking about a future for us, it also fills me with dread because I know that, as much as we might want to be together, doing so is going to involve a lot of pain.
* * *
I’maware of new diners coming and going but I’m too consumed with the man beside me and the incredible food we’re being served to take too much notice. That is, until a shiver runs down my spine. Untangling my fingers from Ben’s across the table, I look up, but the ball of dread that’s formed in my belly already knows what—or rather, who—I’m about to find.
I try to swallow down my panic as I look up into the angry eyes of my father with another woman on his arm. But he’s not focused on me. His death stare is on the person next to me, who is currently totally unaware of the situation unfolding in front of him.
“Ben,” I whisper, not taking my eyes from my dad for a second for fear of what he might do.
“Yeah, baby? What’s—” His stare follows mine until he finds the reason for my concern. “It’ll be fine.” I’m sure he’s trying to reassure me, but it’s not working.
Silence descends as the tension grows. Dad’s anger is palpable, and I start to think he’s going to fly at Ben at any second.
“Nick, this is a surprise. I bet Mum loves this place. Oh, you don’t seem to have brought her.”
“What the fuck are you doing?” I whisper through gritted teeth. Surely, pointing out that he’s here with a woman who isn’t my stepmum is not the thing to say right now. Ben ignores me, instead continuing his stare-off with my dad while the waiter stands with his eyes flicking between the two of them, not knowing what the hell is going on.
“What I’m doing isn’t any of your concern, boy. Unfortunately for you, whatyouare doing seems to have everything to do with me. Care to explain what you’re doing here with my daughter?”
“We’re—” Ben starts, but Dad’s having none of it. Marching forward, he lifts Ben from his seat and pushes him back until he’s up against the wall.
“What the fuck are you doing with her?” Dad growls in Ben’s face. “If you’ve fucking touched her…”
Every person in the restaurant turns to take in the evening’s entertainment, and my own anger bubbles over.
“Get off him.” I pull at the arm holding Ben up against the wall. I’ve no doubt that Ben could overpower him, yet he just stands there.
“Lauren, go home,” Dad demands, and it only adds fuel to my fire.
“Not a fucking chance. Get your hands off him. He wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“I warned him what would happen if he so much as touched you.”
“Dad, please.” The waiter flits about behind me, clearly not used to this kind of situation, and I try to come up with something. “I love him.”
“Youwhat?” It’s the first time Dad looks at me. When our eyes connect, fear races through me.
Letting go of Ben, he steps back like he’s been winded. I breathe a sigh of relief that it’s over, but I soon realise it’s only the start. Dad pulls his fist back, his eyes locked on Ben, who’s still staring at me.
“No!” I shriek, running to get between them. I’m too slow. Dad’s already committed to throwing the punch, only instead of landing on the person he was intending to hit, it connects with my cheek.
“You motherfucker!” Ben roars, pushing himself off the wall and forcefully shoving my Dad out of the way so he can get to me. Unfortunately, Dad’s so pumped up that he ignores me, still clutching my face while on the floor, and he goes for Ben. The noise that comes from Dad’s throat is something I’d expect to hear from an animal, not a human—and certainly not my fucking father.
