Page 42 of Pull
I glance at Ben.She remembers our new anniversary with Ryan? Is that weird?
I have no clue anymore.
“We were gonna keep it casual,” Ben says. “But now that you’re coming, we can do a little barbecue.”
“Sounds great,” Hailey smiles.
I give her another kiss on the cheek, as does Ryan, then Ben. Ryan and I turn to walk away, but Ben stays planted right where he is, watching the two of them expectantly until Hailey sighs and gets up, taking Oliver by the hand and dragging him to leave, waving at us as they walk away.
I can’t help but giggle at Ben.
“Don’t say a word,” he grumbles.
Ryan and I look at each other and burst out laughing.
We don’t even have to.
“Imean… it’s crazy right?”
“It’s notcrazy.”
“Oh, it’s crazy.”
I’m pacing and I can’t help it. This feels weird.
“Ben, you know no one appreciates your delusions more than me,” Ryan says with an audible grin, though I’m not looking at him. I’m too busy prancing around the living room in a haze of worry for my only daughter. “But the way you’re reacting to your daughter dating an older man is entirely hypocritical.”
That gets me to stop. I turn my face is his direction, gaping down at him where he sits on the couch, eating an apple. As if nothing’s wrong. As if my baby girl isn’t being defiled by a predator nearly twice her age.
I shake my head a little. “It’s not about the age. The age is irrelevant.”
He lifts his brow, “Right,” motioning a hand between the two of us.
I roll my eyes.Yes, Ryan is fifteen years younger than me, almost the exact same age difference between Hailey and Oliver Morrison.Stupid British name, but whatever.
But that’s not the point.
“It’s about him being her teacher,” I grunt, giving my husband a warning look. “He’s in a position of power and he used that to prey on her like some sicko. He’s basically Harvey Weinstein!”
Ryan chokes on his apple and starts coughing, covering his mouth to mask the laughter. It makes me smile, but I’m desperately trying to cover it up as I take a seat next to him, rubbing his back. Once his windpipe is cleared, he turns to blink at me with amusement dancing in his evergreen green eyes.
“Oh, Benjamin,” he sighs, reaching out to brush my hair back with his fingers, before trailing them along my jaw. “You’re too pretty to have this many issues.”
“You’re not helping,” I growl. “You’re my husband, you’re supposed to support me, no matter how ridiculous I am.” I give him a pointed look, then take a bite of his apple.
“I’m just saying, she’s an adult,” he goes on. “You can’t make her decisions for her, and you can’t stifle her either. It’s not like she’s fifteen. Plus…” His voice sort of dissolves and he breaks eye contact, biting his lip.
“Plus what?” I narrow my gaze at him.
His eyes slide back up to mine slowly and he whispers, “He’s like… really fucking hot.”
I gawk at him for a solid three seconds before a laugh bursts from between my lips. “You’re so annoying.” He chuckles while I crawl over him, trapping him beneath me on the couch. “Is he hotter than me?”
“Nobody’shotter than you,” he grins. And my lips brush over his.
“Only you,” I press my hips into his until he hums. “Sexy ass husband.”
“I love you,” he mumbles as I kiss his soft lips. “And all your irrational, control-freakish ways.”
