What a long day. I had clients back to back, a meeting with my boss, and cannot wait to spend my evening with Collins. I’m not sure what he has planned for us, but time with him is just the reprieve I need to reset before another day of work tomorrow.
Stepping out into the humid, Florida air, I see Collins waiting patiently in his Tacoma to my right, a smile pasted on his face. Then I notice the car that I’ve only seen in the occasional nightmare since a little over a year ago. The beat up, brown, twenty-year-old Miata sits across the parking lot—its engine humming lowly. I can feel my shoulders scrunch up, my stomach roiling uncomfortably, and my heart starts pounding away in my chest as Benji throws the door open and paces toward me.
I notice that rage isn’t painting his features, but his bright red face is covered in wetness which tells me all I need to know. He’s here to gaslight me, attempt to win me back, but I don’t need him anymore. I don’t want to hear his words, but if I don’t I’m scared what might happen. I freeze, unable to move as I wait to see what’s coming for me. I glance in Collins’ direction noticinghe’s ready to jump in, but a quick head shake tells him to stay put… For now.
Benji stops about a foot in front of me, crocodile tears rolling down his face as he waits for any sort of reaction from me.
“What are you doing here?” Clearing my throat as I speak, it’s all I can manage for now.
“I missed my girl. I noticed your car wasn’t here, so I was hoping that I could pick you up, take you out. I need to have you back in my life. I’ve been miserable without you. My sunshine on a rainy day,” he says with an attempt at a weak smile. He must not have noticed Collins yet; that’s probably a good thing.
“Benji, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m not interested, and I think I made that very clear to you when I walked away. Also, by the ignored texts and phone calls.”
“I thought you just needed a break, Baby. I’ve changed, I promise. I just want the best for you. I can be that, you remember how good I was to you, right?” His voice tenses the slightest bit before returning to an even tone.
Yep, being neglectful, accusing me of cheating, not letting me leave your apartment, and leaving bruises.So so good to me.
“It wasn’t a break, Benji, it’s been almost a year. I’ve healed and I won’t put myself back into this cycle with you.”
In a move I’m not expecting, he drops to a knee pulling out a small velvet box. I gasp because what the fuck does he think he’s doing right now?
“Get up,” I demand because I’m not putting up with this behavior, we aren’t getting married and he’s fully delusional if he thinks we are, and I refuse to get pulled back into his cycle.
He seems shocked before letting his head hang low as he wails. Expecting comfort, maybe? He won’t be getting that from me, along with anything else he thinks is going to happen by him blindsiding me at my job.
“Now, Benji!” I command again because his tears mean nothing to me.
His head whips up, and I see the shift. The way that his “pain” morphs into rage, his eyes darken, and his fists ball at his sides before he’s back on his feet. I give Collins another quick nod to wait it out, but this time Benji notices.
“What the fuck is he doing here?” He bellows, stepping closer but still not in my face.
“Picking me up from work, my car was in the shop,” I say casually, although the perspiration forming on my forehead and the back of my neck would give away my nervousness.
“You’re not leaving with him,” Benji orders.
“That’s not your choice to make.” I take one step back, and Benji takes one forward.
“You’ll regret it if you do.” His threat is one that would normally have me cowering, but I find myself squaring my shoulders, standing my ground.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do anymore, Benji.”
“Oh, Sunshine, that wasn’t me telling you what to do. That was just a simple statement about how we’re going to move forward now.”
“There is nowe, hasn’t been in a long time. You know that.” I tell him softly.
“There is a we, always has been. You just forgot because you needed to see he wasn’t it for you, that I was.” His smile is menacing as he speaks.
I just stare at him, I have nothing left to say, and my silence may set him off but I’m ready for this conversation to be over. Just as I thought, he begins to rampage.
“You’re a fucking whore!” His voice booms in my face, and he steps closer to me, almost in my face. “You told me you didn’t have feelings for him! You said over and over again there wasnothing to worry about, and now what? You’re sleeping in his bed, riding his cock, letting him touch you?”
“It’s none of your business, and I think it’s time for you to leave.” I try to step away but he steps forward again, hand grasping my forearm in a way that I know is going to bruise once he lets go.
“I told you that you aren’t leaving with him. Just because you ran to him and let him think he had a chance while you waited for me to come back. He means nothing to you, I know that.” He begins to pull me toward his car, and the adrenaline that I’ve felt since he showed up is beginning to wear off. I can’t pull back, but I don’t have to because the next thing I know Benji’s hands are no longer on me, and I’m wrapped in the warmth of Collins’ vanilla and spice smell, instantly relaxing into his touch.
“Don’t get up. I will not hesitate to lay your ass out on the concrete again. The police are already on their way, so don’t bother trying to leave. You’ll only make it worse.” Collins commands Benji, who only gives him a whimper in return from where he’s nursing one eye.
Collins turns his attention to me next, “Are you hurt?”
