“You’re going to take me back?” Prue asks, softly.
“No. Afraid not, but I am going to take you somewhere.”
She has no idea what my plan is. I know by the end of it she is probably going to hate me, but it will be worth it. She wanted to go to extremes to protect me but has no idea the levels I am about to go to save her.
THIRTY-THREE
Ben drivesfor two hours before pulling up to a hotel. He makes me wait in the car while he gets us a room. The child locks are on like he still thinks I’d try to escape. Which to be fair, I haven’t done the best job proving he can trust me.
He still hasn’t told me what his plan is. Part of me thinks that he doesn’t even have a plan and is just shooting off the cuff. I don’t really mind that plan. I’d go anywhere with him. Run for a lifetime with him if that’s what it takes for us to be together.
The ride has been quiet. He turned on music but didn’t say a word for the whole two hours. If my confession of wanting to be with him meant anything to him, he has a funny way of showing it.
Seems he is willing to go to great lengths to keep me safe, but not necessarily to keep me.
When he comes back from the hotel lobby, he walks to the trunk. I glance back as he takes out two backpacks and then opens my door for me. I eye the bags. One is purple with white flowers on it, much like one I have.
“One of those is mine?” I ask, staring at it.
“Cameron packed it with some of the stuff you left at his place.” Ben shrugs.
“You brought Cameron into this?”
“Let your brother help you for a change. He owes you. Plus, the shiny new record deal he is going to land in a few weeks will be more than enough to keep him safe from whatever backlash happens.”
“You got him a deal?” I don’t know how Cameron is going to feel about that, but the idea that Ben is willing to not only help me, but my brother, stirs emotions in me.
“No. He will get himself a deal. I’ll just make sure your father doesn’t mess it up.”
“Thank you,” I say softly, as tears fill my eyes. I can never repay Ben for any of this. Nothing I do will ever show him how much I appreciate all he has done for me.
“Come on. We have three flights of stairs to climb because their shitty elevator is down and I’m exhausted.” He holds out his hand, helping me from the car.
“Are you still in pain?” I ask, as he leads me to the stairs.
“I haven’t not been in pain since I was ten, Prue,” he says, carrying the backpacks up the stairs as I follow behind him.
“Is that when it all started with Martha?” He flinches at her name, pausing for a moment. “Your mother told me her name. She is your aunt.”
“Prue. I have a lot going on right now, can we not talk about that?” he says, marching up the stairs.
“So, I’m supposed to just let you in on all the details of my misery without getting a word about yours?”
“You’ve gotten plenty words out of me. More than anyone else in fact, so please, just let that go. I’m kind of busy saving you right now.”
“Will you tell me after?” I ask as we come to a stop outside a door. He jams a key into it, unlocking it.
“Tell you what exactly?” he asks, looking at me. “What do you want to know? The details? The timeline? What does that do for you? Paint a clearer picture that you aren’t the only one who’s broken? Have I not made that abundantly clear to you?” He swings open the door, stepping inside the room.
“No, you’ve made that very clear.” I fold my arms over my chest, glaring at him.
“So, what else could you possibly want to know?” He drops the backpacks on the floor, standing in the doorway, waiting for me to come in, but I don’t move.
“Do you love me?”
“Only completely.”
“Say it.”
