My Alluring Indiscretion

Chapter 39- Call It Love

Emma's PoV

One week later

It had been one week now and the only sound that stood evident to my ears was the sound of my own hiccups. Leo has given me the space I required and I was thankful for it. It wasn't that he hadn't attempted to talk to me but as soon as he did I would promptly move away.

The house reminded me of him too much so I decided to crash at Stacey's. I just hoped he wouldn't have any more nightmares like he did. He once told me that when he was with me he they used to go away.

Carter had gone back home but not before making sure I was alright staying with Stacey. I still remember the way he blushed at seeing her when he dropped me off. As for Meredith, I knew she was staying with Leo, which made me happy because I knew she would be safe with him.

Still too engrossed with my own sadness I fail to realise the presence of another enter the room. It was not until a hand touched my shoulder that I was aware of my surroundings. Bennett gave me a calming smile unlike his usual smirk. He helped me get up from the floor and I wiped my runny nose with the back of my hand.

Bennett, what are you doing here?" I asked but Bennett ignored my question.

"Is everything okay?" Even the jokester Bennett Woodson looked at me with seriousness etched into his features.

"Umm yeah—" almost at the brim of spilling dreary tears I looked away, my voice caught on an unbearable sob. "No, not really" I choked before Bennett could counter my state.

"Come on" he said wrapping his hands around my shoulders and dragging me away to sit down, it was highly unlikely for me to see Bennett as anything more than the happy go lucky best friend of Leo but this side of his, this extremely soft and caring Bennett was simply put, beautiful. He was a pretty boy with a pretty heart.

After explaining it all to Bennett without much persuasion from his end, he said nothing but continued to look at me with a soft expression.

"Aren't you going to say something?" I asked softly, wiping my runny nose with the back of my hand yet again.

"You are right".

"What?" I ask unsure

"Emma, the things that have happened in the last few months are far from normal. Hoisting a runaway with the man who ended up kidnapping you, getting chased by a psycho, tracking a missing person, hell you can have you own CSI series. You need to take a break and just breathe for a second. You need to understand yourself before you can even begin to understand any another dynamic".

I was shocked, who knew Bennett had the brain cells to think so deep and be so thoughtful. "Thank you" is all I could say at the moment.

Bennett was right I had to take charge of my life, it was high time now, I was never the one to be so emotional and mopey.

"You were surprisingly insightful" I gratefully remark.

"I'm not just a hot bod babe" I roll my eyes at his usual cockiness.

"Alright I'm going to go figure out my life, wish me luck" I turn to leave, feeling a little hopeful and energised.

"Luck is definitely needed when you love a man like Leo". I halted. There it was again. Love. This word just seemed to follow me everywhere. Ever since I realised my love for Leo, it's like all arrows were pointing to a neon sign that blinked LOVE.

I loved Leo.

Three words that fit so strangely yet smoothly on my lips. There's no denying that now. This was what I was afraid of but at the same time this was what I always wanted. Just thinking about it made me giddy. I couldn't continue any longer like this. I needed reinforcements, known in the form of Ellie and Jordan.