Loved & Loyal | 1

xvii

That was too close.

I didn't like the idea of Abby checking out tanned, Greek guys. I was jealous and I tried not to let it show but I know she saw something. I can never get anything past her.

When she said it was just her and me, I realized that I may never have her. I may never get to take her on a date or put a ring on her finger. I may never get to give her everything she deserves. She might always just be my friend.

I tried to get her to drop it but I know she didn't. So, all I can do now is act normal and hope she forgets about it for a bit. I don't want to tell her I love her, yet. I'm not ready. And, I'm not sure I ever will be. But I might have to be.

For now, though, I'm content with just holding her in my arms while we watch our favourite movie of the month.

~Abby's P.O.V.~

I had almost fallen asleep on Ben's shoulder by the time the movie finished.

My eyes were closed, I could feel my brain getting groggy, and my body losing all it's tension. I heard the sound of the music that played when the credits started but I couldn't bring myself to un-snuggle from Ben's side. I was way too comfy.

"Abby, honey, get up. It's almost supper," I heard Ben's soft voice blow past my ear and shivered, as if his voice had ran up and down my spine.

I groaned and pushed my face into his shoulder. "But I'm tired. Can we just nap for a few minutes. I'm not hungry. I ate at the food court."

"Yeah, like six hours ago. Come on, sweetheart, you need to eat." His voice was low and soft, almost sending me to sleep like a lullaby. I could feel his care for me move through my body and that is when I found the energy to remove myself from his embrace and sit up.

My hair was a light brown mess, half of it falling out of my ponytail. My shorts and t-shirt ensemble that I wore to the mall is all crumpled and my mascara is undoubtedly smudged under my eyes but Ben has seen me look worse than this.

I turn my head to the right to look over at him. He's staring at me, like he's trying to commit everything to memory. Every curve, crumple, tangle, and smudge. He knows my features like the back of his hand and I know this, because I have him memorized, too. But this is different. This is almost intimate and it sends a shiver through my body, bringing goose-bumps to the surface.

"Come on, then. If you're going to make me get up then you have to, too."

He smiles at me and shoots a wink. I smile back and shake my head. I get up off the bed once I see he's sat up but not moving. I walk around to the other side of the bed and grab his outstretched hands.

I try and pull him up to his feet, leaning back with all my weight. My hands slip from his and my butt falls to the floor. I land with an 'oof' and glare up at him. I can tell Ben's trying hard not to laugh but he's struggling. He eventually lets out his signature deep chuckle and stands up. He reaches down to help me but as I grab his hands, I loop my foot around the back of his leg and bring him down to the floor with me.

He lands with a similar sound to me and turns his face to glare at me from the floor where he fell.

"Better watch your balance, Bear. You're not as steady on your feet as you are in skates." It may seem weird but Ben seems much more coordinated on the ice than on the ground.

He sticks his tongue out at me and we both bust our asses laughing. Eventually we calm down enough to get up off the floor; without each others help, this time. As we walk towards the door, I bend down to grab my Shoppers Drug Mart bag but Ben snatches it before I do. He smirks at me before moving and dumping it all out on his bed.

From the bag falls purchases, but they aren't mine. I must've grabbed the wrong bag, but Ben doesn't know that.

Now on top of Ben's duvet, a pack of tampons and a box of pads, and a box of condoms and four pregnancy tests are scattered about.

Of course, though, it's the pregnancy tests that Ben sees first. And he thinks they're mine.

His eyes blow wide and his jaw drops straight to the floor. As he slowly pivots to face me, I can see that same sadness from earlier along with hurt and what seems to me like betrayal written on his face.

"Abby..."

~End of Abby's P.O.V.~