Page 19 of Beauty and the Nerd
“That and what Carter did in the car on our way home that night,” she said before telling them the truth, knowing she couldn’t hide it any longer.
Nicole physically restrained her husband from running out the door to find Carter and she settled him down next to Emma going to call their family doctor to check on her wrist.
“You should have told me, angel,” Jack said giving her a hug, cupping the back of her head. “We’re telling the police what happened that night and that Carter hurt you again today. I won’t let him get by hurting you. No one hurts you and gets away with it. Got that Ben?”
“I swear I’ll never hurt her Mr. Watkins,” he said holding her free hand. “She means everything to me and I’m not about to be stupid and ruin that.”
“Good,” he said as Nicole came back over to them.
“Dr. Shaw said to come by the emergency room, and he’ll x-ray your wrist to make sure everything’s alright,” she stated, and Emma nodded letting Ben help her up from the couch.
“So much for spending the whole day together,” Emma said giving him a grin wanting him with her especially if her dad wasn’t going to go nuts after discovering their relationship.
“Who says we can’t?” he questioned meeting her gaze.
“You’re not going to waste your afternoon at the hospital waiting to see about my wrist.”
Ben reached down to grab the pack of jellybeans from her bag and held them up for her to see. “We’ve still got plenty of entertainment right here and you have your throwing arm.”
His offer made her laugh, and she looked up at him in hope as her parents went out to start the car. “You really want to come?”
“Yeah Em, I do. I want to know you’re safe and I can back you up about today at the mall and what Carter did.” He slid his arm around her waist, and she was glad he was there as the next two hours slipped by them. She left the hospital with a brace on her wrist and the cops’ assurance they would speak with Carter about staying away from her after getting the security tapes from the mall that showed Carter purposely grabbing her and twisting her arm.
Her mom stopped her dad from forbidding them from going up to her room when they got back, and she slipped onto the bed with Ben, letting out a deep sigh. Ben’s arms slipped around her, and she snuggled deeper into his hold as he ran a gentle hand up and down her wrist.
“I’m fine, it’s just sprained. Thankfully, that’s it and I should still be able to get my dress for the dance on Friday night on over it. I’d really hate it if Carter ruined that night for me too.” She looked up at him for a kiss, and he didn’t disappoint.
“Me too baby.” He brushed the hair from her face after she took it down lightly massaging her scalp before lying back down with him. “Speaking of the dance though, you are going with me, aren’t you? Or at least meeting me there, dancing with me at it?”
“There’s no one else I’d rather spend the night with than you Ben. I’ll be going into the dance with the rest of the court and last year’s king but once I’m finished with that, I intend to spend the rest of the night with you.” She sighed contently as he held her to him further.
“And that tease about the bikini, Megan’s parents’ place, and the hot tub?” he asked, and she felt the smile on his lips as she rested her head against his.
“All real if you want them to be, I don’t care what anyone else coming to the place might think about us. I want to be there with you, just you,” she promised kissing him softly before snuggling into his hold again, letting his hands soothe her into a nap that led to dinner with her parents and a mini movie marathon until two a.m. when his parents asked him where he was.
She gave him a smile as he headed out the door, kissing him softly, amazed at how much better she felt about them now. Despite everything that happened, she knew they had something incredibly special, and she wasn’t going to lose it. Especially not by letting her worries get the best of her.
Chapter 7
“There’s no reason to be nervous Emma,” Ben said pushing open the door to his house, ushering her inside out of the cold. He gave her a soft smile as he helped her with her coat brushing a few strands of hair from her eyes. “Don’t worry, my parents will love you.”
“I hope so.” She leaned into his side as a slightly smaller body rushed down the stairs towards them. She tightened her hold on Ben’s hand, her other lightly touching his arm needing a little more connection in order to meet his family. She’d never had a good meet and greet with any of the moms of guys she’d dated. It never really bothered her before, but Ben was different, the way she felt about him was different, and she didn’t want his family hating her.
“Whoa, who’s the babe?” the boy questioned, and she could easily see the resemblance between him and Ben.
“Watch it,” Ben warned before glancing over to Emma with a smile. “This is my brother Adam, and that’s his twin Daphne,” he added seeing her coming around the corner with his aunt and uncle.
“You’re so annoying always calling us the twins,” Daphne said rolling her eyes before looking at her. “Wow big brother,you have seriously good tastes but why the heck are you with him?”
“Daphne,” Ben heard his mother say as she came out from the kitchen with his father. He watched the smile slip from her face when she saw Emma in his arms, and he knew things weren’t going to go as he’d hoped with her.
“Mom, Dad, this is my friend Emma,” he stated, wanting to jump over the worst of it. “Emma, this is my mom Tara, my dad Simon, my Aunt Lisa and Uncle Jordan,” he added feeling her hand tighten in his again sensing the disapproval coming from his mother.
“Why don’t we all head to the dining room?” his mom suggested putting her hands onto Adam’s shoulders to turn him that way.
He walked Emma into the room and sat her down next to him as his mother moved into the kitchen for the rest of the food. It was a complete let down to realize this wasn’t going to be as pleasant as the dinners with her parents who’d never had an issue with him being in Emma’s life, not even as her boyfriend now. He’d wanted the same to be true about his family but that was clearly not happening yet. Hopefully his mom would see the real her, not just what she looked like and get over it fast.
“So, are you two dating or just friends?” Adam asked into the straining silence.
