Page 43 of Need Him
Ben teared up, his throat closing at the words that he hadn’t realised he needed to hear. He scrunched his eyes tighter, not wanting the tears to escape, though he had a feeling he would lose the battle.
“Ben? Sweetheart?” Gareth paused. “Was that too much for you?” he asked quietly. “It’s okay, Ben. You don’t need to say anything. You’ve probably heard those words before but never believed them. I never say anything I don’t mean, sweetheart. Iamproud of you. So proud. You’re so strong to take back your life, and I will be there every step of the way if you’ll let me.”
The simple faith in those words strengthened Ben more than any others ever had. Because heknewthey were true. Coming from Gareth, who had never lied to him before, he believed them with his whole heart.
“Thank you,” he croaked.
They stayed quiet, though Ben knew Gareth was still there, even without taking the phone from his ear. He took his time to gather himself, tears drying against his cheeks.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“You’re more than welcome.” He paused. “Do you have much more work to do?”
“I’m here for a few more hours. The assistant manager doesn’t come in until five o’clock.”
“Okay. Well, you know where I am if you need me. Just call. Anytime, okay?”
“I know. Thanks.”
“Don’t work too hard.”
Ben chuckled. “I’ll try not to. Bye.”
With the deep certainty that he had made the right choice, both about Gareth and the apartment, he focused on his paperwork. He wouldn’t be working the following day, but Gareth would in the evening, so he’d have most of the day to spend with him, and he’d have to face going to his parents’ house—because it certainly wasn’t home any longer—and figure out how to get his stuff out of the house without them figuring out what he was doing.
Pushing that thought aside, he dug in, wanting the time to fly until he could head back to his Daddy.
****
“Benjamin, where are you?” his mother asked through the speakers of his car, which was connected to his phone.
He hadn’t considered who else it might be when he’d pressed the accept button on his steering wheel. He’d expected Gareth and, instead, got his mother.
“Benjamin!”
“Yes, Mother?”
“I asked you a question.”
“I’m driving.”
Alice gave an audible sigh. “I know that. I can tell by all that dreadful noise in the background. Why you connected your phone to the car, I do not know. Highly unprofessional.”
He didn’t mention that if he hadn’t done it, she wouldn’t have been able to contact him. He wasn’t that brave, although thinking about it now, maybe he should undo it. Neither of them would be able to get through to him until he wanted them to. Something to consider.
“What can I do for you, Mother?”
“You can get yourself home, is what you can do. We expected you back yesterday, but you weren’t there. Did you have a long meeting?”
Grabbing onto the idea, he said, “Yes, I did. I stayed over at the office to get an early start this morning.” Obviously, it wasn’t true, but he wasn’t about to tell her the real reason. Or the location of the house he had just pulled up in front of.
“Admirable work ethic, Benjamin. We expect you home shortly. Henry and Martha are coming for dinner, and you need to talk to him about the party.”
He gazed at the front door. “Yes, Mother.” The phone call ended with a beep and not a single word of goodbye. Ben continued to stare, wishing he could go in but knowing he needed to go to his parents. The door opened, and Gareth appeared, leaning on the door frame and tilting his head to the side as if knowing Ben needed to make a decision. The longer his Daddy stood there, waiting for Ben to make up his mind, the more Ben knew his decision was the right one.
He switched off the engine, climbed out and ran up the path and into Gareth’s arms, nuzzling his face into Gareth’s neck as he wound his arms around Gareth’s waist.
“Shh. It’s okay. Everything’s okay.”
