“More than ready,” I murmur, wincing as a sharp pain shoots up my arm.
We haven’t had a chance to talk about us and what all of this means. Ben’s been by my side through everything tonight, but I don’t know where that leaves us, and I’m too scared to ask.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, glancing around the now nearly empty waiting room.
“I asked them to head home,” Ben says. “Told them you’d see them tomorrow. You’ve had a hell of a night. I know you appreciate them coming, but I can see how exhausted you are.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “Pretty sure you just read my mind. Thank you, Ben.”
“How did Laney get home?” I ask, noticing she’s not in the waiting room either.
“Officer Jenks took her,” Ben says, his voice tight.
I frown. “Officer Jenks?”
“The guy she went on a date with. He was working tonight.”
“You met him?” I ask as he leads me outside and across the parking lot toward his car.
“Briefly.”
I grin. “Sounds like it’s going well, then?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
I smirk. “You’re not planning on being an overprotective dad, are you? You know how annoying overprotective family members can be.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, I have some experience with that. I’ll behave, I promise.”
“Good.”
He opens the car door for me, and I gingerly slide in. Every part of me aches from the way Eddie manhandled me.
I lean my head back against the plush leather seat and sigh. Exhaustion weighs on me, but I know sleep won’t come easily, not when my mind is still reeling from everything that happened. I want to ask Ben to stay the night, knowing that as soon as I close my eyes, all I’ll see is Eddie. But I don’t wantto push him, not when I know he’s still struggling with Molly’s death.
“How are you feeling?” Ben asks as he pulls away from the hospital.
“Sore,” I admit. “Eddie was rough with me. I think I’m going to feel it even more tomorrow.”
Ben exhales sharply. “God, I wish Nash had done more than just clip his shoulder.”
“Me too,” I whisper.
I frown as I realize we’re heading away from Hope Creek and away from my apartment.
“Where are we going?” I ask, confused.
“My place.”
“Oh, okay,” I reply, trying not to let my surprise show.
He reaches across the car and tangles his fingers with mine.
“We need to talk, Ash, but tomorrow, when you’re feeling better.”
I stay silent as his thumb gently traces circles on my skin. The past two weeks have been hell, thinking I’d lost him for good. I get that grief affects everyone differently, and his situation with Molly was complicated, but the truth is, he hurt me. Despite that, when Eddie was standing behind me with the knife at my neck, the only person I wanted was Ben. He’s the only person I’ll ever want, but I still don’t know if he feels the same. I thought he did before Molly died, but now... I’m not so sure.
“Ash,” he urges gently when I still don’t respond.
