This Love

4

When Miranda woke up the next day, she prayed, thanking God for last night's events, and for Ben.

She prepared some eggs for breakfast, not being able to stop herself from humming a random, happy tune. She drank her water, moving around the house in glee.

Her phone rang, and she smiled as she saw Tucker's number. Her son must've missed her. She hadn't called last night due to exhaustion.

She answered the call, her smile getting wider with each second. "Hello?"

"Mommy!" Tuck shrieked in her ear. "Hi, mommy!"

Miranda chuckled as she tried to pull her phone away from her ear. "William George, you're hurting my ears."

His voice lowered a pitch. "Sorry. How are you? You didn't call to say goodnight."

Her heart tugged in her chest. Guilt spread through her bones, thinking about her long surgery, and her date with Ben. "I'm sorry, hon, there was an all-hands on deck, and as soon as I got home, I was asleep."

"Oh. That's okay, mommy. Daddy's taking me to school now, you're picking me up after, right?" He rambled, with some rustling in the background.

"Tuck, come on, you're going to be late!" She heard Tucker's voice.

"Okay, daddy!" Tuck shouted back, then he lowered his voice. "Mommy?"

"Yeah, baby, you better not be late. Go." She smiled softly. "I love you."

"I love you too, bye!" The call ended, and excitement built up on her skin at the thought of seeing her son later on in the afternoon.

She grabbed her things, picking up the same tune she was humming a while ago and when she opened the door, Ben was there in her driveway, leaning sexily on his car. "Ben!"

He grinned, and pushed himself off his car. He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. "Hey, good morning. I hope I'm not being stalker-y. I wanted to take you out for breakfast. I should have called, and I would've, if I had your number," he rambled.

Miranda laughed. He was adorable. "It's fine, I, uhm, I wanted to see you too." She moved a stray hair over her ear. "I already had breakfast, though."

"That's okay. I'll drive you to work?" He posed it as a question.

She nodded. "Yes, thank you."

Ben escorted her to the other side of the car, bowing theatrically. "Your Highness," he said, gesturing to her seat.

Miranda laughed, remembering him doing the same yesterday and hit his shoulder playfully. "Stop it." His head moved to the side, and a smile graced his lips. He stopped to stare at her, and she felt her face flush. "What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. I just… your laugh makes me smile."

She blushed harder, and cleared her throat. "Um, thank you." She bit her lip shyly, looking down. "We should probably, uh, g-go. I don't wanna be late."

Ben nodded. "Right, right. Give me a sec."

He waited until she was seated to close her door, before going around to the driver's side.

They were quiet as Ben drove, but after a few seconds, his hand wandered to her thigh. She smiled, and put her hand on top of his. He turned his hand palm up, and their fingers intertwined.

They pulled up at a stoplight, and Ben glanced at their hands. "I like the way your hand fits in mine." She scoffed, and he looked at her questioningly. "What? I-Is that too much? I know we only just met recently, but I like you, Miranda. I really, really do."