“So imagine my surprise when I looked up one day and saw that same woman working in the office across from mine.”
I’m so engrossed in his story that I didn’t see the obvious twist coming.
“Wait, what?!” Now I do swing my legs off his lap and sit up. “You’re saying the woman you met... wasme?”
He continues like I haven’t spoken. “I started watching her. It became sort of a thing for me. What’s she up to today? Can I figure out what she’s working on from here? Do I know the person she’s meeting with? Who’s the guy who’s always in her office? What insane footwear does she have on today?” He smiles to himself. “No matter how difficult my day was, I could always look over at her and just... feel better. Even if it was only for a minute.” His eyes catch and hold mine. “You were the most beautiful distraction.”
“Ben,” I breathe.
He holds up a hand like he’s not done. “Imagine my surpriseagainmonths later when I saw her name show up in my email asking for a meeting.” He laces our fingers together. “It was my second chance to make a first impression.”
A sunburst of emotion flares in my chest. “If that was how you felt, then why were you so mean to me?”
He grimaces. “It wasn’t exactly planned. From the email you’d sent, it wasn’t obvious if you remembered meeting me or not, and in my mind I think I just expected you to recognize me.” He swallows. “And then you didn’t.”
“Ben, I’m so sor—”
He cuts me off. “I was agitated that I’d kept you waiting, and thenyou immediately introduced yourself like you’d never seen me before. Keep in mind, at that point I knew you eat dark chocolate when you’re stressed and I could tell exactly how you felt about something based on which smile you used.”
The tears I’ve been keeping at bay spill over, and he squeezes my hand.
“I treated you like shit because my ego was bruised. It was irrational and stupid and wrong of me. And I’m so sorry for that, Kate. I thought your bill was smart and important, and I wish I’d told you that.”
A sob escapes and the tears are really flowing now, streaking my face like raindrops. He brushes them away with his thumbs.
“But something good came out of all that stupidity. The more I poked you—and poked and poked—the more pissed you got, and it was like a lightbulb went on. If I just kept poking, then there was no way you could forget me this time.”
I close my eyes, overcome. I can’t believe... this whole time...
“I realize this was the worst, most juvenile courtship strategy I could’ve come up with, okay? But once I started, I couldn’t walk it back.” He grins guiltily. “And in my defense, it did work. Kind of.”
“I can’t believe you,” I laugh-sob, swiping at my eyes.
“As soon as you left, I regretted it. I knew I had to apologize, so I went to your office that night to do just that, and... well, you know the rest.”
“Backwoods Ben,” I murmur. “I do know the rest.”
I climb onto his lap and hug his neck as hard as I can. I wish I could climb inside him. His arms tighten around me and we stay that way for a long time.
When I finally pull back, I stare into his eyes. “I’m so sorry, Ben. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize how special you were the second I met you. I’m sorry I didn’t remember you. I’m especially sorry I wasted all thesemonths not knowing you.” I take his face in my hands. “How could I have evernotseen you, when now you’re all I see?”
He exhales, and nowhelooks shaken.
“Please forgive me.”
He makes a strangled noise in his throat and crushes me to him.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I say into his neck.
When he laughs, I feel it clear down to my toes. Eventually his lips find mine, and we’re kissing and he’s picking me up and walking us back to my bedroom.
I pull back, breathless. “That’s the end of your surprises, right?”
“Ask me again tomorrow.” He lays me back against the pillows.
“Next thing you’ll tell me Ben’s not your real name.”
“It’s Benjy, actually.” He drags his shirt over his head.
