Page 58 of Love, Rekindled

“Yup.”

I wait for him to elaborate but he doesn’t. “Are you going to share it?”

Ben smirks. “We’re going on a date.”

Okay. That’s definitely not what I was expecting. “Excuse me?”

“A date. I’m going to pick you up tomorrow night and we’re going to go out.”

I laugh once, thinking he’s kidding.

However, the look on his face tells me he’s not. He’s serious. And crazy.

No way am I going on a date.

With Ben.

Who I just wanted to kiss me.

“You’re funny. We’re not going on a date.”

Ben puts his hand up. “Just listen. You haven’t had a date or a real anything because you were with an asshat. So, when someone worthy comes around, you’re going to be confused on what chivalry and all of what is supposed to go on during a real date. I think that it’s important to know what to expectand,” he says when I open my mouth to stop him, “if that guy doesn’t do what I plan to do, you dump his piece of shit assimmediately. So I’ll be over tomorrow at six.”

I stand here unsure of what just happened. But I think I’m going on a date with Benjamin Pryce.

CHAPTER 7

Ben

Why the fuckam I nervous? It’s not a real date. It’s me showing Gretchen what her douchefucker of an ex was too much of a pussy to do. Show her a good night where she’s treated how she should’ve been all along.

Never been on date?

Ridiculous.

I need to man the fuck up and show her a date like she’s never seen. I make my way to Catherine and Jackson’s condo that they still own, where Gretchen is staying, and ring the doorbell.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I moved out about four months ago and I try not to think about the fact that she’s sleeping in the same bed that I did.

Before I can focus too much on it, she opens the door wearing a pair of jeans and a shirt that hangs down on one side, giving me a view of her shoulder. Her blonde hair is swept to the side over the shoulder that isn’t exposed.

She’s beautiful.

Absolutely fucking breathtaking.

The last few years haven’t been kind to me and I haven’t been to myself either. When I lost my leg, I was fucking furious at the world. Sometimes I still am. But right now, I just want to fall to my knees and thank God for allowing me even just tonight to be with Gretchen.

“You look...” I stumble.

“Homeless?”

Definitely not the adjective I would’ve used.“What?”

She sighs. “I have all my stuff in storage until I find somewhere permanent. I wasn’t really thinking of keeping out date clothes when I packed essentials. I mean, I think the jeans make my butt look good at least.” She turns her perfect ass toward me and looks at it over her shoulder. “Right?”

I clear my throat, trying to wipe away the images of her bent over with my hands gripping it. “Very good.”

Gretchen beams. “But this top sucks. Catherine had it in her closet and since she’s in California, I borrowed it because well...she won’t care.”

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