Page 66 of Love, Rekindled

Fuck. I didn’t mean to snap at her. It’s not her fault. “That was out of line. I’m fine, I’m just uncomfortable.”

“Is it your leg?” Gretchen asks.

I don’t want to admit defeat. In fact, I hate it. I’ve come to terms with my life for the most part, but I’m still pissed. I lost everything because of this injury. I’m tired of things being chipped away from me. There’s no fucking glory in feeling weak.

“Let’s just forget about this and deal with what we have to.”

Gretchen looks like she’s going to keep pushing, but she nods. “Okay, but,” she says and presses her hand to my mouth, “if you insist on being stubborn, I understand because you always were an idiot, but if you’re in pain, you should take care of yourself. I know all too well about neglecting yourself for the sake of appearances.”

Her hand drops and her features are soft, just like my heart when it comes to her.

I was just a dick to her and she’s worried about me. “Don’t worry about me, babe. I’ve learned to endure through much worse pain.”

Then Gretchen reaches up on her toes, her eyes on me asking a million questions. There’s hesitancy, fear, excitement, and lust as her mouth inches closer. I don’t move, allowing her the control over what she does. That’s something she hasn’t had in many years and if she wants this, she has to take the next step.

“I’m going to kiss you, Ben.”

I stand like a statue. “I’m right here, babe.”

Her hand rests on my chest as she moves slowly, measuring each breath and I have to lock my muscles to stop myself from hauling her to my body and crushing our lips together.

But I don’t—I wait.

Dying a slow death.

Until our lips touch, and I remember what breathing feels like again—her.

CHAPTER 10

Gretchen

“Thanks for doing this,”Liam says as he lets me in the door.

“Not a problem. I love kids.”

I enter their home and Natalie rushes down the stairs.

“Gretchen! You saved me, you have no idea!”

“Seriously, guys, it’s babysitting, I’m happy to do it. Not like I have anything going on that I can’t step away from.”

My life...is boring. I sit around Jackson and Catherine’s apartment, clean, sit some more, clean up again, and stop myself from texting Ben.

That’s my life.

“Still, we appreciate it.” Natalie smiles. “Liam promised me a date three weeks ago and then the kids got sick which led to the man-flu, which is a whole other type of disease.”

I laugh. “Oh, I remember all too well when Harold got sick.”

She rolls her eyes. “What is it with men? I get sick and I still function.”

Liam clears his throat. “Umm, sweetheart, if you need to be reminded of that one time you were sick...”

“One time. One. Not the sniffles, I was on my death bed,” she says with a challenge in her voice.

“See what I deal with?” Liam says to me.

“No way am I stepping in this one.”

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