Loved & Loyal | 1

viii

We sat on her bed like that for a long time. I listened to her breathing and she listened to mine. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse and small.

"Ben, I'm tired. Can we lay down?"

"Sure, sweetheart, sure." I lay her down and pulled her against me as she pressed her face into my neck. She sniffled so I reached around her, lifting my body up to get her a Kleenex when she grabbed me tightly, a panicked look on her face.

"No," she said hoarsely.

I gave her a weak smile. "I'm not going anywhere, Abs, I'm just getting you a tissue."

Her cheeks turned pink and she gave me a weak smile. She took the tissue and wiped her nose and eyes, then balled up the Kleenex and squeezed it in her hands. I pulled her closer to me and kissed her head, whispering little things in her ear until she fell asleep.

I looked at the clock and realized it was about 10:00pm. We had been up here for about two hours. I dug in my sweatpants pocket and brought out my phone. Sending Mom a quick text.

To: Mom
Hey mum. Im worried about Abby. She was cryin. I was wonderin if ud let me stay over tonite?

I got a text back a few minutes later.

From: Mom
Your still grounded, Ben.

To: Mom
I kno. But please? Im worried about her.

From: Mom
Okay. But I want you home for lunch tomorrow.

To: Mom
Thx mum. Ur the best.

I said goodnight and proceeded to fall asleep with Abby.

I woke up the next morning to light shining in my eyes and the smell of strawberries and raspberries surrounding me. I breathed in the sweet scent and let it out with a contented sigh, then, remembered last night and how Abby cried. I carefully looked down at her, taking in our position.

We had gone to bed laying on our sides, arms wrapped around each other, and faces pressed into each others necks. Now, I was on my back, my arms still wrapped around her, but her head was on my chest will mine was on her pillow. She was laying mostly on top of me, with her forearms resting against my sides and her hands holding the backs of my shoulders, kind of like some of those hugs that you might get from prissy girls. This though, was comfortable compared to those hugs because the girl who hugged like that usually had long fake nails that pressed into your skin through your clothes.

Abs was so peaceful in her sleep. Her eyes were still a bit puffy but she always looks beautiful in the mornings. Her face held a content expression so I hoped she was having a good dream. At this thought, she started to mumble a bit in her sleep. Something she hasn't done since we were fourteen.

"Ben... - don't...go - I need you - Bear, I love -..." I couldn't make out the rest of her sentence however but a few seconds later, the corners of her mouth twitched up in a small, barely-there smile.

My grin was huge. I thought it would split my face. But I was really happy. She was dreaming about me. As much as I loved to here her sleepy babble, I needed to get up. I really had to piss. I slowly shifted Abs off of me and tucked the blanket in around her, hoping to keep our body heat around her for as long as possible. I went into her ensuite and closed the door.

Doing my business then washing my hands, I excited the bathroom and found Abby in the same position as when I left her. I smiled to myself and crawled back into bed with her, trying not to disturb her. Regrettably, though, my sneaking in skills are not as good as my sneaking out skills because of all the times I've had to sneak out of some girls bed. Not in. She stirred and opened her dark brown eyes, murky with sleep. She saw me hovering over her on my way to the other side of the bed that I usually slept on and her arms wound around my neck, pulling me down to her.

"Good morning," She breathed in my ear. My pulse quickened, my breath caught, and my dick started to get hard at the sound of her gravelly, sexy, morning voice.

"Morning, sweetheart. How'd you sleep?"

She frowned, "Alright, I guess. I had a really good dream and I want to go back to it." I smirked at this because I know I was in it.

"Oh, yeah? What was it about?" I was curious and wanted to know what was happening in her dream.

In her sleepy state, her mind wasn't functioning properly so her words weren't filtered when they came out. "I finally told this guy that I loved him and he told me he loved me, too."

Her voice was soft but I know I still heard every word correctly. My eyes went wide at her confession, wondering if I was 'this guy'. Is she in love with me? Am I in love with her? My mouth fell open as I asked myself that first question and realized how much I wanted it to be yes. Abby must have realized what she said when I didn't respond because she pushed me away from her and got out of bed, her back to me.

"Uh, I-I'm gunna go ha-ave a shower," She stuttered then practically ran into her ensuite. I heard the shower turn on and a minute or so later saw steam coming from around the door.

I flopped down onto her bed and stared at the ceiling in shock. Was I in love with Abbigail Wesley? I turned my head and looked at her alarm clock on the nightstand next to the bed. It was 9:27. My stomach growled like it usually did when I woke up so I ran my hand over my face and sat up. I got off Abby's and left the room, going downstairs to make us some breakfast. On Thursdays, both of Abby's parents were gone by 9:00am so she and I were alone until I had to go home for lunch.

I went around the island and started getting all of the equipment and ingredients I needed for my pancakes. I almost had the batter mixed when Abby came down the stairs. Her hair was wet and hanging down her back and she was wearing a pair of my boxers and one of my t-shirts that she kept. She usually wore them on days like today, when it was too hot for sweatpants or she wanted to be comfy. I smiled at the sight, liking my clothes on her.

Her face brightened when she saw me making my famous pancakes and sat down across from me at the island.

"I love your pancakes." She sighed happily and leaned over the counter, sticking her finger in the bowl and getting some batter before I could smack her hand away.

"Hey! Get! I love them, too, so don't eat all my batter." She smiled and looked into my green eyes. Her smile faded as she remembered this morning but I only winked and went back to making us pancakes.

"So, how ya feeling after last night? You crying, I mean," I said, sounding unsure.

"It's okay. I'm alright. Thanks for staying with me, Bear." She came over and kissed my cheek, which was a little scruffy because I hadn't shaved very well yesterday before I came here.

"No problem, Abs. I just have to go home for lunch. 'Cause, you know, grounded and all."

"Oh, yeah! I forgot you were still grounded. Sucker." She stuck her tongue out at me and I grabbed it between my thumb and forefinger.

"I think you're the sucker, because you have to live with my miserable self while I'm grounded because of all the pent up sexual frustration." I winked at her and she gasped and bit my finger so I let go of her tongue.

"You are so gross! God, you're such a guy!" She huffed and crossed her arms.

"Hey. The dick wants what the dick wants!" I winked at her again and she stormed into the living room, not before slapping me on the chest.

"Oh, you like it rough?" I joked, yelling to her in the other room. I heard her scoff.

"Yeah, right! You wish!"

"Maybe," I said under my breath.

I continued making the pancakes and after I had about three cooked, the smell brought Abs back into the room. She sat at her previously vacated spot and watched me as I expertly flipped the pancakes.

"How do you even do that?" She asked herself under her breath, but loud enough that I could hear.

My broad shoulders shook as I chuckled at her amazement, completely forgetting our early disagreement.

"Practice, darling, practice."