Page 3 of Broken By the Bad Boy

I retrieve my phone and open the calendar app. Ben groans. “What now?”

“Saving the date so I can buy you gifts on all our anniversaries. I like labels, and I like you, boyfriend.” His chest rumbles with laughter as I slide an arm around his neck. “I’m sorry, Benny.”

Ben gives my arm a slight squeeze, lifts the hem of my shirt, and traces a patch. “Vitiligo is not contagious. I wish you talked to me instead of letting Liv fill your head with lies.” That nickname again. I choose to ignore it. I am his girlfriend, not her. To show my remorse, I hug him tighter. “She doesn’t want us to be together, and she’s trying to tear us apart. It almost worked today.”

But it didn’t, and I don’t want to talk about that manipulative bitch anymore. She is ruining the moment without being here.

“Why are you broke?” That guarded look takes over his features. Ben grows stiff. “Babe, please talk to me. Why are you broke? What about your mom? Is your stepdad being mean to you?”

“No. Mom is okay. Josef is alright.” I roll my eyes. Chuckling, he laces our fingers. His lips brush my knuckles, and my toes curl in response. “It’s a long story. Can I tell you another day?”

Ben’s eyes plead with me to agree. I nod, and it earns me a chaste kiss.

“I didn’t mean to punch you.” I wonder if he will tire of explaining himself. He is sorry, and I get it. I forgive him. “Yes, I was angry about the loss. But come on, Gracie, you were this little scaredy cat who needed her best friend to defend her. I couldn’t believe I lost that match to you.”

“Hey.” I slap his arm. “I’m not a scaredy cat. I’m just an introvert.” Ben is still holding onto the spot I hit. I loop my arm through his and place a kiss there. He blushes. Sometimes, I’m certain he has a double personality. The mean and kind Benny. “You were mean to me in drama club.”

His mouth drops open. “Mean? No, I was not, Gracie.”

“Yes, you were. You wanted to trip me. You called me Mother Theresa.”

“I’m not the only one who called you that,” he protests.

“But you were the only one I kissed.”

Ben smirks. “Yeah, and I’m the only one you will kiss for the rest of your life.”

Butterflies flutter in my belly, and my cheeks grow warm. I itch to wipe his smile. “Whatever, meanie. You cornered me. It was because of you Olivia started the pranks. I was nice, but you weren’t. Mean Benny.” He gulps audibly. Beads of sweat break out on his forehead. This is all a charade, but the physical toll on him spurs me to continue. “Those were mean things to do, Ben.”

“Okay, okay.” He throws his hands up in resignation. “I was mean. I get it, Gracie. Do over?”

“I’ll think about it,” I whisper.

Ben’s head rears back. “Are you serious? Why can’t you think about it now?”

Laughter bubbles out of my lips. I almost fall out of his lap, but thanks to his strength, I don’t.

“I was kidding. You are not a meanie but a cutie.”

He grits his teeth. “I’m not a cutie, Gracie.”

I caress his jaw, my smile big and blinding. “Okay, cutie.” Ben scowls but steals a kiss from me. I love his random kisses.

The curious part of me stirs as we sit in silence. “Do you fight because you are broke?”

“Kind of. I wanted to get Asher a gift. I was so fucking sure I would win and didn’t understand why you would take that away from me. I followed you home. You live in this nice house with your parents. You didn’t need it as much as I did.” There’s no anger in his voice. I guess that’s why I let him pour it out. He needs a listening ear. Plus, I know it now. He was that guy on the bike. He closes his eyes and exhales. “You couldn’t even stand your ground against me in school, babe.”

“Because you are scary,” I say with a pout. Ben doesn’t smile.

“Do I scare you?” he whispers.

“No, Benny. I’m not scared of you.” I place his hand above my belly. With him, my insecurities always take a hiatus. He makes me feel like the main character. “I’m sorry about Asher’s gift.”

“Don’t be, Gracie. You deserved that win. I should have protected my knee, but no one noticed.” Coach is the only reason I remembered. Ben pushes the stray hair framing my face, and his eyes soften. “Just talk to me. If you have any doubts, talk to your boyfriend first. I don’t know how relationships work. This is my first, and I’m trying. I’ll always try, and you must do the same.”

My head bobs. “I will.”

“Good. I want you to be my fight partner, but I want you as my babe more than anything else.” He engulfs me in a hug, and the heat from his body seeps into mine. “I really like you for you, Gracie.”

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