Be With Me

Chapter Fifteen

"What're you doing here?" Ben asked.

"Well, I got a bit worried when you didn't answer my texts or calls after you two just darted out like that," Rey said with an innocent but worried expression.

"How'd you know we'd be here?"

She held up her phone that showed she had Snapchat opened and a little ginger avatar was placed on a digital map at this exact location. "Is everything OK?"

"Oh, yeah yeah, we're all fine," Ben answered promptly. "Sorry, I got distracted and just haven't gotten to checking my phone yet."

Rey nodded understanding. She looked beyond his shoulder into the house and asked, "is this where Aridema lives?"

"Yeah, it is," Ben said looking in the direction Rey was.

"Can I come in?" She asked with a shiver. Ben quickly opened the door wider, put his shirt over his belt and gun and invited her in. Tali must've done the same as he heard her shuffling around.

"Oh, shit," she mumbled. "Rey! What're you doing here?" She quickly added.

"I was just checking to see if you guys were alright."

Tali patted herself down, showing she was unharmed, "yup. I'm OK." She slowly walked over to Ben and stood very close next to him. "C'mon on in!" As Rey walked in and stood in the living room of Ari's little apartment, Tali quickly slipped behind Ben, took his gun out from his waistband, closed the door and quickly hid it in his jacket that was hanging on the coat stand behind the door while Ben followed Rey. "You want juice or something? Jeez, Ben tend to your guest," Tali added.

Ben walked over to the fridge and offered her various beverages but Rey declined. As she looked around the apartment with her tote bag in her hand and unsure what to do, Ari walked out of the bedroom in her navy blue pajama bottoms and an oversized sleep shirt. "Oh, hello, Rey."

"Hi," Rey said softly.

"I was wondering when the wind would sweep you to our humble abode," she winked.

"You were expecting me?" Rey asked surprised.

"Eventually, yeah. This one talks about you so much," Ari nodded towards Ben, "that, yeah, I was hoping he'd bring you one day."

Rey looked at Ben with a pleased smirk, "you talk about me?"

"Ugh, well, I mean-," Ben shrugged.

"Nonstop," Ari interrupted him smiling and scrunching her nose.

"That's not true," Ben put his hands on his hips.

"OK, for normal people it's not much. But for Ben standards – constantly!" She grinned teasingly. Rey blushed not being able to hide her smile and Ben shook his head, rolling his eyes. Tali still stood near the door with her arms crossed and an amused grin on her face. "Well, make yourself at home and if you need anything I'll be in here," she said pointing behind her to the bedroom door.

"Thank you," Rey smiled.

"I'll get you some blankets and a pillow," Ari said putting her finger up implying Rey should wait.

"Oh, blankets?" Rey looked up at Ben who gave her a warm look.

"I'm guessing you'll be sleeping here, right? It's pretty late," Ari's voice came from inside her bedroom.

"I'm crashing here tonight, too," Tali said taking off her jewelry and setting it on the kitchen table.

"I wasn't planning on it. We have school tomorrow and-," Rey said looking at Ben and Tali unsure.