Annie
Istand at the top of the steps—half frozen, half liquid—eavesdropping on Ben’s conversation. It’s like I’m in a dream I never want to wake up from.
No one’s taking me away from her. She’s mine.
That was…that was big. I’m not imagining things. He wants me—I knew it. But Benny is professional, and he wants to keep me safe, so he won’t let himself admit that he likes me.
And it’s not just because I’m a job. It’s because I’mme…he likes me the way that I like him.
God, months of wondering, thinking I was insane. Worried I’m too young, hating that I’m not pretty enough, wondering if he thinks I’m stupid. Those sparks I felt aren’t a figment of my imagination. They aren’t a dream. They’re real.
And since I know he’s professional and won’t cross the line, I’ll have to be the one to make the first move.
I take the quickest shower ever and then dig through my underwear drawer. I slide on a pair of pink silk pajama shorts with a matching top. I’ve only worn the set once, the night of prom, but my date didn’t get a chance to see it because he drank too much and went home early. I was mad then, but I’m grateful now.
The tank top is low cut and almost too revealing. I don’t want to look desperate, so I put on a loose sweater that hangsoff one shoulder. I go back to the bathroom and blow-dry my hair, curling the ends with a round brush. I bought a dark pink lipstick the last time we went to the store and haven’t opened it yet, so I rip the plastic off and swipe it across my lips.
I think the color looks good and complements the black frames on my glasses.
With a final spritz of hairspray, I head down the steps, anticipation making my belly quiver.
I get to the kitchen just as Ben is draining the noodles, and when I see cookie dough in a bowl, I can’t help the huge smile that spreads across my face. My favorite. I doubt bodyguards normally make double-chunk chocolate chip cookies for their clients, but mine does.
Ben is watching, so I make a bold move and swipe my finger in the bowl, then slowly lick off the chocolatey goodness.
His gaze shoots down from my lips to my chest, then slowly glides up until our eyes lock. He swallows, then clears his throat. “Don’t do that shit again.” My confidence plummets until he adds, “Raw dough can make you sick.”
Hours later, I’m curled up on one end of the couch, and Ben is sitting on the opposite side. Like most nights, I’m watching a movie, and he’s on his laptop monitoring things, casual, calm, and content with the silence. I’m restless and have a hard time concentrating on anything but what I’m feeling, and I’m feeling a lot of things.
I check the time.10:47
Slow music starts, and the love scene begins. Ben glances up from the screen, then over at me. “What the hell is this?”
“Endless Love, my favorite.”
He raises a brow. “You told me it wasThe Notebook.”
“That’s one of them. This one’s myfavorite, favorite.”
“Right.” He goes back to his screen, but I catch him glancing up several times.
As soon as the credits roll, he closes his laptop, and I check the time again.11:36
“Are you tired?” I ask, hoping he says no.
“I’m fine. Why?”
I look at the clock as if somehow half an hour has passed from two seconds ago. “No reason.”
“Okay.” He turns to me. “What’s up?”
“Nothing.”
“Annie.”
She’s mine.
Okay, this is it. I’m going to do it. Normally, I try to forget this day, let alone celebrate it, but for once, it means something good.
