Me: “Then date me and marry me.”
Long silence-
Ben: “Miss James, please be respectful.”
When I saw that text, I laughed out loud.
This was the best.
“Babe, I’m gonna be a guest in your class
tomorrow.”
Ben didn’t reply.
From that day forward, I went to his lectures.
There, he was, in a suit and tie, gold–rimmed
glasses, so hot, so restrained.
<
Every move, every word he uttered was so
captivating.
During the lecture, Ben posed a question.
While everyone was thinking, I secretly texted
him:
“Babe, so gorgeous.”
“Babe, your voice is amazing.”
“Babe, let’s grab some food after class?”
His phone buzzed.
Ben glanced at his screen, then looked at me
across the room.
I mouthed the word “babe.
33
<
His eyes flickered behind his glasses.
I saw Ben’s long, slender fingers reach for the
black mic.
Then, his lips moved, speaking my name.
“Miss James, why don’t you answer the
question?”
That was the first time I heard him say my
name.
For some reason, my heart skipped a beat.
I was so flustered.
I was just a guest, and a totally distracted
one. I had no idea what he was talking about.
<
He was just trying to teach me a lesson.
He wanted me to give up.
No way.
Everyone turned to see who Ben was talking
about.
I stood up, looked him directly in the eye, and,
with a touch of mischief, I said, loud and
clear: “Babe, I have no idea.”
The whole place erupted with noise.
Everyone was gasping and whispering.
Ben’s expression didn’t change, but I saw his
Adam’s apple move.
く
He just calmly said, “Sit down.”
He didn’t say a word about me calling him
babe, and just moved on.
That’s how I became famous. Everyone in
Ben’s classes knew he had a “fiancée” who
was always hanging around.
I stopped hiding.
I went from the back of the room to the front
row.
I’d stare him right down.
But he never called on me again.
He was still cold and distant.
く
03
Ben was impossible.
After chasing him for a month, I was getting
tired.
Last time, I braved a storm to get to his
lecture, and I caught a cold.
Today I was feeling pretty crappy.
I laid my head on the desk and fell asleep.
I woke up to the sound of Ben saying my
name.
I lifted my head, feeling foggy.
L
He touched my forehead, looking worried.
“You’re burning up.”
He started to pull back, but I grabbed his
hand.
My face pressed against his hand, sighing,
“So cool…so nice.”
Ben froze up. His lips were drawn tight.
I was probably delirious, but I was treating
him like my husband.
My eyes filled with tears and I said, “Babe, I
feel terrible.”
Ben picked me up and carried me out of the
lecture hall.
<
I was in and out of it.
I just knew I was being carried to his car.
I was clinging to him so tight that he had to
call a driver.
In the backseat, I was like a koala bear,
wrapped around him.
There were lots of red lights and the car kept
stopping.
I pressed against him for comfort.
Ben’s expression darkened.
He tried to push me away, but when he did, I
was poked by something and grabbed at it,
saving. “Stop poking me.”
く
Ben went completely stiff. He was breathing
faster.
He covered my hand with his, his voice low
and controlled.
He tried to soothe me, saying, “Okay, let go.”
“No.”
I buried my face into his shoulder.
Ben’s voice had a sharp edge, “Taylor
James!”
I pressed my luck and said, “Will you be my
man?”
That was when Ben had enough. He pushed
me off him.
L
Up until that point, he’d been tolerating my
nonsense.
But this time, he was pissed.
He took the belt off his waist and used it to
tie my fidgeting hands.
Then, with those gorgeous hands that got
right at my core, he grabbed my chin.
His tone was a warning. “If you don’t calm down, I’m kicking you out of the car.”
I looked at him, stunned, and the fevered fog
lifted a bit.
I saw a familiar darkness in his expression.
It reminded me of someone.
<
My uncle’s son, I called him ‘Cousin,” the guy
involved in some shady stuff, with a
dangerous aura.
He tried to hide it when he was around us,
but he still had this menacing thing about
him.
I
I was always scared of him.
Ben squeezed my chin a bit tighter.
He hissed, “Taylor, stop messing with me.”
“And don’t come to the school anymore.”
“Nod if you understand.”
I winced and nodded.
<
Ben studied me, and then he released me.
He stared at my lip and frowned.
He muttered, “You’re such a drama queen.”
I knew that the spot where his fingers were,
was probably bright red.
