Page 73 of Welcome to Forever
“Just a sprain. I’ll be fine.”
Which was what she was always pretending to be with him. Fine.
“The bandages look nice with your dress.” He attempted a smile, but the night had been too long.
She limped closer. “You looked angry just now.”
He nodded and tapped his pocket, where his cellphone was. “My dad, the control freak.”
Her lower lip puckered slightly. The movement made him wish they were back at his place, doing what they should have been doing instead of spending the evening here in the ER. This was his life, though. It wasn’t his every day, but Ben had medical issues that other children didn’t. And anyone who was going to be in their lives needed to know that.
His gaze moved to Kat, assessing her. “You disappeared for a while.”
“I thought I’d give you guys some privacy.”
“You didn’t have to leave. Ben missed you.” He stared at her. He’d missed her, too.
“I checked in on him just now,” she said, taking an unsteady step closer. “I’m glad he’s feeling better. He gave us quite a scare, didn’t he?”
“He does that from time to time.” His gaze held hers, and some part of him waited for her to run away. To tell him that she couldn’t do this anymore, whatever this was. That’s what Jessica had done. It’s what Nicole had also done.
Instead of running, though, Kat took another step closer to him. “I don’t scare easily,” she said, standing in front of him now. “And Ben’s worth it.”
Something in his chest shifted as she said those words. This was more than sex between them. He’d known it, deep down, but part of him had been waiting for Kat to realize what she was getting herself into. This was what any woman he dated seriously would be getting herself into, and they needed to know that.
She reached her hand toward his. “Come on. I’ll go back to the room with you,” she said.
“Are you sure?” He stood, pulling her against him. “I can take you home. He’s resting now.”
Shaking her head, she beamed up at him, looking more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. “I’m not going anywhere.”
—
Kat closed the front door quietly behind her the next morning, not wanting to wake Julie down the hall.
“All night long?” a voice said behind her.
Kat screamed and whirled around, her hands flying to her chest. “What—?” Her brows furrowed. Val and Julie were crumpled together on the couch, bleary-eyed and waiting for her. “Are you guys trying to kill me?” she asked, attempting to catch her breath.
“No. Just get you laid. Which, judging by the hour, you did in spades.” Val waggled her eyebrows.
Kat set her purse on the coffee table and plopped down on the couch between the girls, still wearing her gown from the ball. “Wrong. We spent the night at the ER.”
Julie’s gaze dropped to Kat’s bandaged ankle now. “What happened to you?”
Kat waved a hand. “We didn’t go to the ER because of me. Ben had a fall.”
Now Val was gasping. “Is he okay?”
“Yes. Just a bump on the head and some stitches. No concussion, but they’re keeping him overnight just in case. Micah is heading back to the hospital to be with him.”
“Of course,” Julie whispered, frowning disappointedly. “So, you were there all night?” she asked, lifting a brow. “No juicy details at all?”
Kat smiled at the two women sandwiching her. “Well, we may have gotten to the almost naked part before the fall.” Naked and panting, desperate for another’s body in a way she’d never been before.
“The kid has some timing, huh?” Val said, puckering her lower lip.
“But it’s okay. He’s worth it,” Kat said, repeating the words she’d said to Micah earlier at the hospital. And she’d meant them. She adored Ben. He was a good kid with a good heart. She was lucky to be a part of his and Micah’s life.
