Inevitable, A modern day Reylo AU

Chapter 8 - Thanksgiving and Black Friday

A/N - Hi Lovelies!  Well, slowly but surely, we're getting there.  We still have some ground to cover (sorry if this isn't happening as fast as you'd all like it to but Happily Ever After takes time!!)  This chapter moves the story along a bit, and gives a bit more insight into their characters and what they're going through.  Don't worry, the heat slowly will start to turn up.  And yes, the photo above is the dress....  I hope you're liking the story so far.  Please let me know what you think and don't forget to vote if you like it (remember its that li'l bitty star in the corner)!  Enjoy!!

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Ben glanced over at Kay as he sped down the freeway on the way to his parent's house for their Thanksgiving dinner.  Ever since his heart to heart with Rey about sex a couple of days ago, he was thinking of a few things in a slightly new light.  Rey's questions about his feelings regarding Kay gave him pause.  He'd met her in his 3rd year of studies, but they didn't really start dating until the summer before 4th year.

She was strikingly pretty – in a sweet way – and he was drawn to her goodness from literally the moment he'd met her.  But she was so shy, it took her almost a month to meet his eyes in class, then another month to finally speak to him.  He'd taken it slow and steady with her ever since that time – so it wasn't surprising to him that he'd had to be equally slow and steady when it came to their sex life.  However, she hadn't been a virgin when they'd first slept together – more than a year after they'd first met – and so, at first, he had been surprised that she was so timid when it came to sex.  But he rationalized that that was just who she was.

Her timidness had continued though, to the point where Rey's questions weighed on his mind.  If he actually loved her, did he love her enough to continue to work through this.  He was 28 years old, and should be able to enjoy sex – a lot.  He'd had such a shitty life for so many years – he really wanted to find happiness.  But, was that with Kay?  Did she even want that with him?

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see her turn to look at him.  "You seem lost in thought.  What are you thinking about?"

"Oh.  A lot of things.  Work.  The future of my company.  Us."  He glanced at her with a small smile.

"What about us?"  She asked curiously.

He grinned, testing the waters.  "I was wondering when you were going to give in and finally move in with me."

Her face fell.  "Ben, you know I can't.  We've talked about this....my parents –"

"Are adults, Kay."  He cut her off, his frustrations tumbling out.  "Just because you move out doesn't mean you won't get to see them.  You can visit them all the time.  I know you – you would.  But you can't just keep putting it off – they're just getting even older.  And I hate feeling alone so much of the time.   Some weeks I only see you a few hours here and there.  I....sometimes.....it feels like a bit of an excuse."

Although he hadn't really raised his voice, he'd been speaking sharply, a hint of pleading in his voice, and he could see her almost shrink into herself.  "Kay – please.  Talk to me."

She was quiet for several minutes, her gaze turned away from him, peering out the car window.  Finally, she spoke very quietly.  "I'm not ready to move in with you Ben.  I'm sorry."

"But....why not?"  He asked in frustration.

"I can't explain it.  It just doesn't feel right – not yet.  I'm....I'm sorry."  She told him with more certainty than he thought he'd ever heard her express.