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There is something about the way he says that which makes me suspicious. I stare at him.
“What did you do, Ben?”
“What? You think I did something?”
“I’ve known you for eight years. I think I know you well enough by now. What have you done, Ben? Did you say something to Luke?”
Ben doesn’t respond, but he doesn’t need to; I can read the look on his face. There’s a faint smugness about him.
“Are you insane? Why the hell would you do that?”
“What? He wasn’t there for Amy for all these years, and he thinks he can come back into your life like nothing’s happened? Amy doesn’t need him. She’s got whatever she’s wanted in life from us. What can Luke give her except money?”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I knew Ben wasn’t happy about Luke coming back, but I didn’t think he would do something like this.
“So you told Luke to go away and not return? Is that about right?”
“Of course I did. He doesn’t get to take what I’ve been cultivating since before Amy was born.”
“Excuse me? Cultivating?” I fold my arms. “What do you mean by that? You’ve not been cultivating anything. I swallowed my pride and asked you and Carly for help during my pregnancy, and you stepped up to help. Did you think you were doing this for some big outcome?”
“Well, I became Amy’s dad, didn’t I?” Ben spreads his hands. “She calls me ‘papa’.”
“Which she interchanges with ‘Uncle Ben’! It’s not exclusive. She adores you, yes, but she knows you’re not her dad.”
“But I’m sure she would like me to be her dad more than Luke.”
I’m getting the feeling that this is turning back onto our relationship. I look past Ben to check on Amy, and see that she’s on the climbing frame. Confident that she can’t hear us arguing, I turn back to Ben.
“This is about jealousy, isn’t it? You want me and Amy to yourself, and you see Luke as a threat to what you’re comfortable with. Did you really think that you would be able to claim us as a family in more than just a simple title for our little group?”
“As far as I’m concerned, you are my family. What twenty-year-old year would agree to help out with their classmate’s pregnancy and expect nothing in return?” Ben shakes his head. “I did it because I love you, Elle. I always loved you, and you wouldn’t look at me like that. I thought if I stepped up to help and show that I could be the partner you deserve, you would fall in love with me in return. But no, you had to hold onto your feelings for Luke Ward, and as soon as he returned you were back in his arms. You think I’m going to let that happen after what I’ve done for years?”
It feels like I’ve been slapped in the face. I knew that Ben had feelings for me, but I’ve never felt the same way. I thought he knew that. It’s why nothing ever happened before.
I need to get away from him.
“Ben, I do appreciate what you’ve done in the past. To do what you’ve done is amazing, and I think you’ll be a great dad when you have your own children one day. But it won’t be with me.”
“You’re rejecting me?”
“I rejected you before, remember? I said that I am with Luke. I love him, and that’s not going to change because you don’t want him around.”
Ben growls in a way that makes me jump. He grabs my arms.
“You used me for eight years, Elle! The least you can do is be my girl.”
“That’s not how it works, Ben. Now let me go!”
“I’ve loved you for a long time. I’m not about to have that rich bastard step in and take everything from me. You and I are meant to be together. Don’t you see that? We even have a ready-made family! The only thing you need to say is yes to me.”
“For what?”
“For everything!”
He is sounding insane, and I’m getting very scared. I shove him in the chest, but he doesn’t let go.
“Ben, stop it! You’re sounding crazy!”
