Page 101 of Every Good Thing
I scoop Ruthie into my arms as Ben’s tall, wall-like frame moves between us and the crowd. His head tilts briefly to the walkie clipped to his shirt.
He intercepts a lanky, clean-cut teenager in khakis and button-downs, reaching nervously into a backpack as he approaches Jaye’s table.
“Stop!” Ben yells as the boy extracts a glass jar, flinging it.
“Repent! Repent!” he yells as the glass shatters against the cinderblock wall near Jaye’s head.
Screams. Shuffling feet. The crowd shifts like a wave, amassing. Holding Ruthie to my chest, I cower against the wall. Peeking over Ruthie’s head, I see Dot shielding Jaye behind the table.
Ben hooks the offender around his chest and yanks him to the ground—a decisive move that happens so fast my brain barely registers it. Holding the perpetrator down, Ben shoves the backpack aside and unholsters his taser.
“Don’t move,” he warns, and the assailant complies. Ben’s voice breaks through the crowd’s distress, silencing even them.
“Daddy!” Ruthie screams, her voice shaking with fear, and her legs latched tightly to my torso.
“It’s okay, baby. We’re all safe,” I whisper, rocking her gently.
Ben side-glances us, ensuring that we’re okay.
Officers surround the scene and take the suspect into custody.
“Holy shit! That was fucking awesome!” Dot cheers, hooting and clapping. The crowd joins in, none louder than Jaye. Ruthie shimmies down and rushes to Dot, probably to scold her for her bad words. Onlookers praise and applaud Ben while recording with their phones.
Relief and pride overwhelm me when our eyes meet. Of course, he’s a great cop—his calm but strong demeanor assures it—but I’ve rarely seen Ben in action and never like this. I long for An Officer and a Gentleman moment, him scooping me up and carrying me away for fun, sexy times—I’ve missed our closeness so much lately.
Instead, he retreats to my side, looking sheepish and uncomfortable.
“You okay?”
“Hell, yes! That was amazing!” I’m a flushing, grinning idiot over him, and his light smile assures me he likes it.
He gives a manly, one-shoulder shrug. “All in a day.”
“How’d you see it coming?”
He shrugs. “Jaye’s received some distressing hate mail. When I noticed the religious icons on his bag and how nervous he was, I suspected—” He blinks a few times before wobbling. He catches my shoulder to steady himself while my arm slips around him.
“Ben! You okay?”
“Dizzy.”
“Dot, take care of Ruthie. Ruthie, don’t leave Dot’s side,” I order, locking eyes with them as Ben leans against me. They salute me almost in unison. I curl under Ben’s arm. “Let me take you somewhere quiet.”
Twenty-Nine
BEN
Lena directs us into the first empty room—the back entry to a dimly lit conference area. Anger and embarrassment overtake me, forcing me to pull away from her grip.
This was not the fucking plan.
When I saw the Wilmington Comic-Con on the family calendar, I arranged to work the event. I wanted to interact with Lena and Ruthie in a neutral setting, something fun and engaging, to counter the tension that I’ve inadvertently created at home. This week has been rough, especially for Lena.
I know she has a million questions and things she wants to say. She’s glimpsed parts of me I don’t show anyone, not even her, and as Dr. Reese said when we met privately, “There’s a lot to unpack here.” But including Lena is difficult until I learn how to handle my emotions better.
She fell in love with a stable, understanding, patient man who had his shit together. That’s not who I am right now. And I don’t want to put us more at risk.
Today was meant to remind us of us. I intended to take an extended break to enjoy the convention as a family. With my uniform and responsibilities as a shield, I’d hoped she’d be reminded of the capable, steady, and dutiful man I am. Or try to be.
