I pinched myself to check this wasn’t some sort of crazy dream.
Ben was being so lovely to me and I didn’t deserve it. I’d snarled and glared at him almost constantly since we’d officially met and now he was treating me like a queen. Guilt washed over me.
I was starting to think that what Jess had said in the beginning was actually true: Ben was a good guy.
Today I’d seen none of his cocky arrogance or swagger. Only selflessness, care, kindness and consideration. How had I got him so wrong?
And if I thought about it, this wasn’t the first time. When we were filming our debut video a few days ago, he was really patient and kind then too. We’d even cracked up several times. I’d actually enjoyed it.
Maybe we could use some of those funny moments for a bloopers reel? I reckoned that’d be popular. Good idea. I hadn’t had many of them lately, but maybe I was starting to get my creative mojo back.
‘Here,’ Ben said as he returned. ‘Glenda gave me a bath tray, so you’ve got some water, chocolate and fruit. And I brought up some of the pads and tampons. Is that enough?’
‘More than enough! Honestly, Ben, I don’t know how to thank you. Even Ben-evolent isn’t a good enough nickname for how much you’ve helped me today. I’m starting to think you are a saint after all.’ I flashed him a warm, genuine smile.
‘Saint Ben will be fine for now. Unless you prefer to call me Superman, or God or?—’
‘Okay, I walked right into that one,’ I laughed. ‘But seriously, thank you.’
‘You’re welcome.’ He shifted on the spot like the compliments had embarrassed him. Which was weird again, because I thought he’d use it as another opportunity to gloat. ‘But my work here isn’t done yet.’ He stepped out of the bathroom and picked up my phone. ‘It’s back on. Do you want to bring up your audiobook?’
‘Sure.’ I walked slowly outside, wincing a little as my stomach squeezed. It was nowhere near as painful as earlier, though.
After unlocking the screen and logging into the Audible app, I brought up the audiobook. I couldn’t remember if I’d synced it because I was reading it on my Kindle last night when I was trying to distract myself from the cramps, but I had to give up mid-chapter as the pain was too much.
‘Is it okay?’ Ben asked.
‘It needs to be synced with where I got up to on my Kindle. But I need the loo…’
‘Go, I’ll do it. Then I’ll connect the speaker via Bluetooth so it’s all set up.’
‘Thanks!’ I said, flying back into the bathroom and shutting the door.
When I’d finished, I flushed the toilet and was just washing my hands when the sound of the male narrator speaking bellowed around the room.
‘Oh yeah, baby, that’s right. Suck my cock. Fuck yeah…’
Shit.
Using every ounce of strength I had left, I quickly flung the bathroom door open to stop the audiobook playing. I’d completely forgotten that the chapter I was reading was spicy.
Ben stood there with a grin the size of the Atlantic Ocean on his face.
‘I… I…’ I stuttered, scrambling for my phone to stop it playing.
‘Don’t stop it on my account.’ Ben smirked as my cheeks heated with embarrassment. ‘Sounds like it’s just getting interesting. I’ll leave you to it!’
Ground swallow me up.
Now.
20
BEN
‘You sure you’re up for doing this?’ I sat in front of Sarah.
We were in Love & Lattes, about to start filming another social media video.
