“Sera—” he said, stepping closer to me.
“Stop,” I said. “I’ll see you at work.” I pushed him out of the way of my car door and climbed in. I sat for a while as I watched him walk to his car. As soon as he got in, I turned the key and yes—you guessed it—it didn’t start.
“Crap!” I screamed as I hit the steering wheel. All the anger, frustration, hurt and jealousy came bubbling to the surface as I tried again and again and again, but nothing. To make matters worse, Ben climbed out of his car and started walking towards me. I climbed out, humiliated.
“Can I take a look at it?” he asked. “I know a bit about cars.”
“No, thanks. I can take it to a mechanic.”
“I don’t think it’s going anywhere. It sounds like the starter motor.”
“Aren’t you going to be late for work?” I said pointedly. “You don’t want to set a bad example for your staff?”
“Come, I’ll give you a lift.”
“Not a chance, Ben! I am not—” I pointed, “NOT. Ever. Getting back into that car again.”
“How will you get to work, then?”
“I’d rather walk.”
I huffed and pulled my laptop bag onto my shoulder and started walking, of course that was just about the most childish thing I’d ever done in my entire life—but hey!
As soon as I got out of the gate and looked down the street, I realized that I would not be walking to the office, not today, not ever. And Ben’s black car was hot on my heels, winding down its window.
“Just get in, Sera.” He was sticking his head out the window.
I walked on stubbornly. “No.”
“You can’t walk to work.”
“I can walk anywhere I God damn want to.”
“It’s ten miles . . . unless you’re planning on jogging there?” There was a playful tone in his voice now which I did not appreciate.
“You’re right. I can’t.” I swung around. “It’s far too far. But I can always catch a taxi or wake JJ or Bruce up and ask them to take me.”
“If you get in the car, I promise we don’t have to say a word.”
I stopped and looked at him considering it carefully. This was the easiest and most obvious choice or else I would be late for work.
“Not a word?” I asked.
“Not a word.”
I climbed in reluctantly and kept my eyes in front of me without looking in his direction once. But he lied, because as soon as he had driven a little way, he started talking.
“Sera, there’re some things in my life that are very complicated and messed up and I don’t want to share them with you right now, but can’t we just try and—”
I cut him off. “Ben. It’s not about last night anymore. Last night actually has nothing to do with it.” That wasn’t really true at all. “There are so many reasons not to do this and they have nothing to do with whoever was in your place last night and whatever state of dress, or undress they were probably in.” That last part had come out in the wrong tone and had a kind of angry, jealous edge to it that I really hadn’t wanted it to have. “You have your secrets; I have mine. And trust me, if you knew what they were, you’d stay away.”
“That’s exactly how I feel, too,” he suddenly said.
“Well then we have that in common,” I said.
“Please, Sera.” He reached out for my leg and instead of smacking his hand away, I let him touch it. He squeezed my thigh and I bit my lip.Why was I letting him do this?
The car came to a stop and he turned and looked at me. I faced him and our eyes locked. He squeezed my leg and I involuntarily licked my lips.
