Ben's Ex-Girlfriend (Parks and Rec | Ben and Leslie)

Chapter 19 - Road Trip

Sunday:
In Ben's Car:

"OK, here's a good question.  When did you start having a crush on me?"  Leslie is excited to hear Ben's answer.  He has been driving for half an hour now and his eyes are focused on the road.  But a wide grin appears as he thinks of his answer. They'd been asking each other questions since the road trip started.

"Remember that time you were sick with the flu?"  He takes a quick glance at Leslie and sees her trying to rack her memories of that day. 

"Barely. I was high on flu medicine then."

"Well, I was so worried you'd end up vomiting on the podium because you looked so pale.  Then all of the sudden your mood changes, your speech was perfect, you were on your A game.  And I realized, that when you're that passionate about something, short of being on your deathbed, nothing would stop you."  He takes her hand in his and massages her palm with his thumb without taking his eyes of the road.  "I was so impressed that I just, I think, I admitted to myself that I was starting to get attracted to you."

Leslie's heart wants to burst at this information. "Is that why you brought me waffles the next day?  And that weird smelling chicken soup?"  Her laughter rings out and Ben laughs along.

"Don't make fun of my chicken soup.  It's an old family recipe!"  Ben releases her hand as he uses both hands to make a sharp right. "OK, my turn.  Same question."

"That's not fair! I keep thinking of these awesome questions and you just keep re-using them!"  She crosses her arms and tries to recall when she started having a crush on Ben.  "Hmm, I remember that I really hated your guts when we first met." 

"You called me a jerk on several occasions."

"Well, you were.  Don't deny it.  You burst into the office all ready to chop people's heads off."

"I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that in all my time of slashing budgets, I have never once encountered anyone as belligerent as you."

"Good.  You deserve every annoying email that I sent.  Anyway, back to my story.  So, at first I hated your guts.  Then you agreed to let me have the Harvest Festival, I started not to hate you so much.  Then we spent so much time together getting ready for it that I started to consider you a friend."

"So, what got me out of the friendzone?"

Leslie looks thoughtfully at Ben.  "When you told me that you were considering going back to Indianapolis.  I felt this weird flip flop in my gut when I imagined not seeing you around in City Hall anymore."  Her eyes trace the profile of his face. Appreciating his perfectly angled jawline.  "Like, there was a sudden realization that I wanted more time with you and not just as a friend."

"So, you realized you wanted to get into my pants?"

"Shut up, Wyatt!  You wanted to get into my pants first."

"You're so cute when you want to bone me."  Leslie pokes him on his side for teasing her. Ben, being ticklish, makes a knee jerk reaction to her poke. "Don't do that, Leslie. I'll end up crashing the car."  Leslie laughs out loud.  The last time they went on a road trip, she had to distract herself from imagining hot make out sessions with Ben.  On this road, it was all she could think about. And this time, there was no Chris around to stop her.

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At the Muncie Grand Hotel

They both check in to the hotel and are given rooms at the opposite side of the same floor. Leslie is unpacking her things when she hears a soft knock. She knows it's Ben.  Soon as she unlocks it, Ben closes the door behind him, grabs her by the waist, twirls her around and pushes her against the door.  Leslie's arms circle around his neck as she catches her breath and she looks deep into his eyes.