Page 40 of Beauty and the Nerd
“She asked me straight out what I’d do if there was a photo of me on the side of a bus and some guys saw it and tried to touch me, so yes, we discussed it, Dad. No, I don’t want some stranger to think he can just touch me, that because I might have a picture up out there that it means it gives them some stupid idea that they have permission to try and touch me. I didn’t even know the guy that tried to grope me at that party, had never even seen him before, wasn’t wearing anything close to being called a swimsuit or lingerie, and he still did it.
“It won’t matter what I am or am not wearing, or being photographed in, if someone’s a disgusting perv, they’re going to try it regardless. It’s up to me as to how much I allow it to affect me going forward though, and I don’t want to let some creep have more control over my life than I do. So no, I’m not going to let the possibility of some jerks making rude comments or hitting on me or thinking because I have photos of me out there wearing some really awesome lingerie that it means I’m easy to stop me from doing something that was surprisingly enjoyable,” Emma said, loving the twinkle in Ben’s eyes as she said it all.
“Good, just please, don’t give your old man a heart attack and forewarn me if you end up in something tinier than this, especially if it’ll be on some billboard when I come into town, okay?” her dad mused, making her laugh fully but she agreed to it with ease, hoping that by next month, her parents would relent enough to let Ben stay with her even if just for the summer without argument.
Chapter 15
Ben let out a sigh as his phone rang, his screen showing it was his mother for the tenth time that week. She was pissed because he’d told his dad that he was staying in the city for the summer, trying to make it Emma’s fault that he’d pulled away from them. She simply couldn’t recognize that she was responsible for the rift between them. That she’d started it the night he brought Emma home for dinner last year, and nothing she’d done since then had helped to repair it.
Emma was the center of his world, and he wasn’t ever going to give her up, unless forced to in order to make her happy. Thank god that wasn’t the case, even if she was a bit frustrated that he’d told her to hold onto the sexy little pieces that Emerson had given her for now. He wanted her more than ever, but he’d rather not have to lie to her parents if they questioned them about their not sleeping together yet.
Plus, he had a surprise planned for May thanks to Emerson and Lyle, and he hoped it would be the perfect place for them to take that next step together.
He couldn’t believe the amazing opportunity that’d landed at his feet all thanks to Emma. No way would he have been given an opportunity to sit down and really talk with Lyle if he had done an internship deal with the school. Not the way he hadlast month when they’d gone out after Emerson and Emma were finished with the photo shoot.
The girls were more than happy to discuss fashion and Emma’s schooling while he and Lyle talked finance as they waited for their food. Lyle had not only offered him a paid job for the summer but also said that he’d pay for a hotel room for him for the entire summer if needed to ensure he stayed in the city. It led them into a more open discussion amongst the four of them about the rest of their semesters and ended up on Emma’s writing focus that she was hoping to get into after next year.
He knew Emma was still hesitant to tell people about the scholarship she’d won, but he wasn’t, and if there were any doubts in Lyle’s mind about just how much his attraction was based on how Emma looked versus what he truly saw in her, they were all gone by the end of the night. Which had Lyle offering to pay for him to come to a conference in Hawaii in late May with him and bring Emma with him.
Emma and Emerson could enjoy the beach or go shopping or sightseeing while he and Lyle were at the four-day conference, and then they’d get to enjoy another three full days doing whatever they wanted. Lyle had an extra bungalow already reserved, originally meant for his now ex-assistant, who he fired for hitting on him, and there was no way he could turn down a trip like that. Not only was the conference supposed to be world class, but add in three full days in Hawaii with Emma? It sounded like heaven.
Now, he was trying to figure out how to surprise her with it. But first, he had dinner with her, her mom, and her dad to get to so they could potentially discuss the whole staying over thing.
If her parents relented on it, nothing his might say would stop him from being with Emma every night possible. He hated being away from her, not having her softness next to him whilethey slept—even if it was just sleeping while his body craved more.
He put his phone on ‘do not disturb’ as he slid onto the subway. If Emma, or even her parents, called it would still ring. She was one of the few names that he’d added as an exception in case she needed something urgently. After what happened the night that creep broke into the house and then Carter’s shit at the New Year’s party, he wasn’t taking any chances that he might miss her call. She knew his schedule, knew when he had exams, so if she called during them, it would clearly be an emergency, and he’d absolutely flunk a test to get to her.
He gave a nod to one of the other residents when they held the door open for him rather than let it shut in his face. It’d been a bit of a shock the first time it happened. He’d heard all about how rude people in the city were and yeah, he’d definitely run into plenty of them, but there were also some really cool people they’d met. Some of their favorite were ones from the Thai restaurant.
Any time he went in there now, especially if he was alone and just grabbing something for them, they’d call him Miss Emma’s boyfriend. One of the guys from his study group overheard it one night and asked if it bothered him that they didn’t seem to know his name and he’d just laughed, especially when Emma showed up just after that and they called her Mr. Ben’s girlfriend. He’d rather be called Miss Emma’s boyfriend than just Ben though, it showed they knew not only him but also Emma, as well as showed that he was taken. And there was a definite rush when he heard Emma being called his, so it definitely didn’t bother him at all.
With her parents in town, he gave the door a knock rather than unlock it himself, and he dropped a kiss onto her lips when she smiled fully up at him when it opened. “You look all nice and cozy,” he teased taking in her new lounge set from Satin Touch.
“We figured it’d be better to have dinner here than go out if we were going to have any kind of serious discussion,” she told him and he nodded, liking that. He didn’t really care who knew they were still on a bit of a wait or that Emma was still technically a virgin.
He knew she wanted him, that she was ready for more. If someone tried to claim she wasn’t that into him since they hadn’t slept together yet, it wouldn’t bother him, but for her sake, he’d rather have those discussions here in private. The rest of the world didn’t need to know why she’d been hesitant to move forward with sex. That was her business foremost, then his with her.
The food was amazing, and he held Emma’s hand as the conversation turned a bit more serious. Her mom gave him a smile asking him, “Have you heard anything more about a possible summer internship? Jack mentioned that you were looking into some or else looking to do more classes to stay in the city during it.”
“Thanks to Emma meeting Emerson, I was able to talk to her husband Lyle about the potential to have his company partner with the school for one. He’s still interested in looking into that further, but he actually offered me what’s essentially a full-time job for the summer, with pay and since it would likely mean me not being able to take classes, he’d see that there’s a hotel room available for me for the summer to go along with it,” he admitted, pressing a kiss to Emma’s temple. None of this would be a possibility without her.
Hell, this entire year of school wouldn’t have been nearly this amazing if it weren’t for her being in his life.
“So you’ll be staying for certain?” Nicole asked him and he nodded. “I have to admit, that makes me feel a lot better, knowing Emma won’t be in the city all alone for most of it.”
“I have to agree,” Jack added. “After discussing it, since you didn’t complain or try to argue it last year, have been respectful whenever I’ve been in town, we are willing to relent on the no overnight rule.”
“While we’re sure you haven’t completely abided by it, since you have been adults about it, and have also taken your time to truly settle into the emotional side of your relationship rather than rush the physical side, if you would like to move in after the semester ends, we won’t object Ben,” Nicole stated and he laughed when Emma launched herself across the space to give them hugs, before turning to him with one.
“Thank you,” Emma sighed, giving them smiles as she settled further into his hold.
“I will simply tell myself that all you do is sleep next to her until such time as I can’t deny it any longer,” Jack stated making Emma’s brow lift a bit. “I mean, I suppose I can just tell myself that a stork dropped a baby off and keep ignoring it, but it might be a bit harder to sell it then.”
“Dad!” Emma laughed, shaking her head at him and Ben loved the color in her cheeks as she glanced up at him again. There was a hunger in her eyes that matched his own and he kissed her forehead, holding her tighter.
“I think we both want to have a family one day, but not until we’re both ready, which is definitely going to be after we’re done with college,” he suggested, and Emma nodded.
“Definitely, I can’t imagine having a baby anytime soon, even if it sounds like heaven to be our own little family,” Emma agreed.
