Page 92 of Loved By The Bad Boy

“I have a few favorites,” I say. He hands his phone for me to select a few. “This one works.”

“How about that one?” Ben points at an oven with a price in four digits. “It looks better.”

“It’s more expensive.”

“Who cares?” His arms close around my waist, and he puckers his lips for a quick kiss. “Only the best for you.”

I laugh. “For me?”

“Mom.” He coughs into his fist. “Sorry. I meant Mom.”

Since price is not an issue for them, I select the best of everything a baker would need. Ben’s face presses into my chest, and I rest my jaw on his head. All done with the selection, I pass his phone without looking at the total price. If he’s not worried, then there’s no reason I should be.

Staring into his phone as he finalizes the orders, he says, “They will probably arrive tomorrow or next. Would you like to help me set up?” I’m up for anything as long as we don’t have to cut classes again. I tell him that, and he snorts. He helps me down. “Do you want to see their room?”

We exit the kitchen, and I return to give it one last sad look. I can picture Ben cooking while I bake and handle the dishes. He claims to be a great cook, but we will have to wait to test the theory.

I almost run into Ben’s back when he stops abruptly. He mumbles an apology as his hands reach out to grab me. Fear flashes across his face before he opens the door. I frown, and he smiles, a very fake smile. He should know better than to try to act like everything is fine when it’s not.

“Ben…”

Ben walks away before I can voice my concern, and I follow behind him. My breath catches, and my steps waver. There are pink petals scattered on the floor with a heart made from the petals.

“Well…” Ben says. He stands beside the curve of the heart, a shaky smile on his lips. “Yes, or yes?”

In the center of the heart, there’s a question directed at me and a box of chocolate by the question mark. A frustrated Ben runs his hand over his hair at my silence. Duhh, I’ll go to prom with him.

Covering my mouth, I nod. “Yes and yes.” I pick up a chocolate bar and peel it open. “What’s this for?” I take a bite, nod my approval, and then feed him a part of it. “Tastes so good, babe.”

“I meant it to be a bribe in case you said no.”

Laughter tumbles out of my lips. I like this bribe, but he didn’t need one. “Why would I even say no? To you?” He shrugs. If he were Calum, his doubts would be understandable. But this is Ben. My Benny. My gaze returns to the heart, and my chest tightens. “I didn’t think you would ask.”

Hugging me from behind, he kisses my neck and sighs softly. “You thought I forgot?”

“No. Not that.” Twisting in his arms, I palm his face. “I was thinking you wouldn’t ask. I mean, it’s automatic. It should be automatic, right? I’m your girlfriend, so I should be your prom date.”

A second later, I murmur, “I’ve never been asked to prom before.”

“Did I do good?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“How good?”

I grin. “Very good. One million over one hundred.”

My boyfriend’s brows scrunch as he tries to break that down. “That’s just zero point—”

“Shut up, Benny. You did awesomely well.”

Ben lifts me and whispers, “Really?” I nod because my words are stuck in my throat. “There is a room with clean sheets. I made sure yesterday. You can tell me how good I did there, babe.”

A grin accompanies his words, but his words please me even more.

“This was your plan all along, huh?”

“Maybe?” His hands move below my butt. “Is it a yes or a yes? Are you going to show your Benny?”

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