Will You Love Me?

Chapter 52

"No," you said, your voice cracking. "No, you...you wouldn't do that." You let out a nervous laugh with tears brimming your eyes. "Ben...tell me this is a joke." He let out a hard sigh and opened his eyes, letting his built up tears fall one at a time. 

He looked at your confused and frustrated face, then slowly shook his head. "I'm so sorry, [Y/N]," he whispered. "I promise you, it didn't go any further than that." You put your hand over your mouth and tried blinking back your tears, but a few managed to escape. 

You couldn't process what was happening. This was so sudden and so unexpected. You never imagined this happening to you...ever. Especially with Ben. 

"When?" You managed to ask. "Where?" Ben ran a hand down his face, then ran it through his hair. "Three hours ago," he said, "in the classroom. She just...she just came on to me!" You sniffled and wiped away your tears. 

"So she...so she kissed you? You didn't kiss her?" You asked. He sighed. "Well, yes, but it's more complicated than that. Look, let's get the kids and go home and we'll talk about it." You ignored what he had just said and asked, "How is it more complicated? What else happened, Ben?"

You were acting strong before, but it was slowly fading now. "Nothing further than kissing," he promised. "It was still so wrong, baby, I know. It was a moment of weakness." He took a step towards you, but you quickly stepped back. 

"D-Don't," you told him with a wobbly voice. "Just don't." He put his hands up and slowly stepped back. "[Y/N]," he said, "I feel so bloody awful. That's why I couldn't hold it in any longer. Please, let's just get the kids and go home. I can't be in the same room with woman."

"What happened?" You asked, now looking and feeling emotionless. This was all so surreal. You thought you might be dreaming. You had to know that it wasn't. You didn't want to discuss this later, you needed to know now.

He was looking frustrated, but it was more with himself. He was causing this, so the least he could do was provide you with some answers. He just wish it weren't here. Unfortunately, he can see the urgency in your eyes. 

He looked towards the classroom door, then back to you. It seemed like reality was starting to hit you. "She's been flirting with me since I first met her. I thought it was playful, so I went along, but then I stopped. After I ran into her at Wimbledon, I--."

"She was there?" You asked. He nodded. "I only spoke to her for a moment," he told you. You shook your head and closed your eyes. "That's why you were acting so weird," you said. "You didn't want to touch me that night, you--...oh my god."

It suddenly dawned on you. He didn't want to touch you because you weren't Mrs. Reed. He was thinking about her. Not you. "You son-of-a-bitch," you whispered. "You stupid...asshole!" Your voice echoed through the hallway, causing Ben to jump. 

This was the storm he feared. 

"What, is it because she's more fuckable than your pregnant wife?!" You shouted. Ben harshly shushed you, then said, "Sweetheart, nothing happened, I promise!" You scoffed and shook your head with tears in your eyes. 

You didn't know what to do, you were at a loss! You've never imagined this happening to you! You were so angry, so furious! What had you done to make him do this to you? Were you not good enough? Not sexy enough? You certainly didn't look like Mrs. Reed. 

"[Y/N], darling, we should take this outside," Ben suggested. You suddenly felt pissed off that he even opened his mouth. He had no right to tell you what to do, no right to make this situation lighter! You shook your head at him and put a protecting hand over your stomach.