“We’d like to keep you in another night, just to monitor you.”
“No,” I say getting out of bed. “Do I have clothes here?”
“Ben, I really think you should—”
“Fighting me isn’t going to work. I’m not sitting around in here. I’m fine.”
“You’ve been unconscious for a day. You’re anything but fine.”
“I need her, Mum.”
“I know you do, but now’s not the time. She’ll be gone–”
“Gone—” A memory hits me. Her one-sided conversation about flights and Heathrow airport. “Shit.”
Jumping from the bed, pain from my ribs makes my breath catch and my head spins. I lift my arm, hoping to ease the pounding in my head, but the cast collides with my forehead, knocking me back to the bed.
None of this is going to stop me. I need to find her before it’s too late.
Finding a little cupboard next to the bed, I pull the door open, not giving two shits that I’m flashing Mum in my open-back hospital gown.
“Ben, please be sensible. If the doctor says you should stay, then you should.” Her warnings go unheard as I pull some fresh clothes from a bag and tug them on.
“Where’s she going?” I demand.
Mum’s face pales when she realises that I know. “I don’t know.”
“Don’t give me that. Tell me. Make up for sabotaging me the other night.”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I told her not to tell me so I wouldn’t be put in this position. All I know is that she and Danni are going away for a few days.”
Fucking hell.
Grabbing the bag and the few belongings I have, I storm from the room and then the hospital.
The sun’s setting when I drag my broken body out of the main entrance, and I realise for the first time that I lost a whole day of my life in a hospital bed. I eventually find a taxi idling at the entrance whose driver is willing to give me a lift. Fuck knows what I look like right now. If his wide eyes are anything to go by, probably like I’ve been hit by a truck.
Scaffolding…A memory of being on top of the scaffolding on site, talking to Joe, emerges. We were arguing, no surprise there.
The taxi pulls up beside my car, which is still parked up by the strip club, and the last piece of the puzzle falls into place. This is what we were arguing about. Joe knew I was here, which means so does Lauren. Christ only knows what kind of stories he made up after finding me there.
I pay the driver, dig my keys from the bottom of my bag, and climb into my car. Everything aches, and the pain in my ribs almost has me crying out.
I just about manage the short drive to the office. Thankfully, it’s my right arm that’s in a cast; I’d never manage this if it was my left. I practically drag my body up the last few stairs, desperate to rest. The thought of lying in that hospital bed suddenly seems appealing, but I know this is what I need to do.
Thankfully, the office is deserted when I stumble through the front door, pull out her chair and sit gingerly at her desk. I’ve no idea if this is going to give me the information I need, but it’s my only chance of finding out.
Powering up her computer, I try a few possible passwords, but nothing lets me in. Groaning in frustration, I pick up the phone and call our IT support.
Twenty minutes later and I’ve got access to her account as well as her emails. Being the boss sure does have some perks.
She’s got loads of unread emails, so the only one that’s actually been read stands out like a sore thumb.
Subject: Rome, here we come!
Opening the email I discover that Danni’s forwarded the itinerary as Lauren requested. Scanning through the information to find out when their flight leaves, my heart drops.
“Fuck.”
Jumping from the seat, I cry out as pain shoots in all directions. Knowing that driving myself will take longer, I order a taxi. I don’t know what I’m going to have to do when I get to the airport, but I somehow remember to grab my passport that I’d left in my desk ready for the meeting with Chris. Getting back down the stairs is a bigger challenge than I was expecting. I clutch my ribs, but every time I take a step down, my body feels like it’s going to split in two.
The taxi’s already waiting by the time I get to the front doors. I must look as pathetic as I feel, because the driver actually gets out to come and help me.
“I’m fine, thanks,” I grunt.
After giving him my destination, I sit back and allow my head to drop to the headrest. I intend to just shut my eyes for a moment in the hope the painkillers will start kicking in, but when I open them again, we’re pulling up to the drop-off area at Heathrow.
“You okay, mate?” the driver asks, looking back at me in the rear-view mirror.
I mumble a polite response as I dig some cash from my wallet and pass it over. “Thank you.”
Standing in front of the colossal terminal, I’m not sure I can put another foot in front of the other. I knew this was a stupid idea the second I walked out of the hospital, but the magnitude of the challenge ahead of me now seems very real. There are thousands of people inside that building—what really are my chances of finding the one I want?
Deciding that she’s worth the risk, I drag my foot from the ground and haul my aching body inside and towards the British Airways desks.
“I’m looking for someone who’s scheduled to board your flight to Rome in thirty minutes.”
The woman stares at me like I’ve got three heads. I know I probably look like a crazy man, but I don’t care. I need to get to Lauren before it’s too late.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but the gate has already been called.”
I think for a second. “Give me a ticket.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Are there any seats available on the plane?”
“Uh…yes.”
“Great, I’ll have one.”
The woman’s eyes widen, but she clicks on her computer and, in a few seconds, she's asking for payment. I cough to cover my surprise when she tells me the cost. Lauren’s worth it and then some, so I hand my card over willingly.
“It’s departing from gate forty-three. You’re going to need to hurry.” She glances down at my cast and then to where I’m holding my ribs. “Would you like some assistance?
I hate the idea of being treated like an invalid, but the pain radiating through my body soon gives the answer I need. “That would be great, thank you.”
She lifts the phone to her ear and is soon looking back up at me with sympathy filling her eyes. “Someone will be here to pick you up in just a second. Good luck, sir.”
As promised, a guy on a golf buggy type thing pulls to a stop in front of me. “Your carriage awaits, sir. Where to?”
I rattle off the gate number and carefully climb on board. He wastes no time in putting his foot down and we speed off through the crowds at a fucking snails pace. The longer I sit there, the more my frustration grows. It probably would have been faster to fucking walk.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the gate number comes into view. I pray that she’ll still be in there and that I’m not going to have to say what I need to on the plane with hundreds of witnesses.
The moment I turn to enter the gate, I see her. She’s standing with Danni, just about to hand their tickets over to board.
“Lauren, wait.”
Chapter Six
Lauren
As hard as it was to walk away from Ben, I knew it was what I needed to do. Danni had been talking about us getting away for a few days for weeks, and when the doctors confirmed that Ben would most probably make a full recovery and be fully awake within the next twelve hours, I knew it was time. It wasn’t healthy for me to be sitting beside his bed, waiting for him to wake up. It was safe while he was asleep. I could cry and tell him all the things I was too scared to when he was awake. I could pretend that all the bullshit hadn’t happened and that things were just like they once were between us as I held his hand and allowed h
is warmth to soothe me…see, unhealthy.
I told Danni I didn’t care where we went, just that I needed some time away, and she came through within minutes, telling me that she’d booked us a few days in Rome. Of course I’m excited. I’m not only about to get to spend some much needed girl time with my best friend, but I’m going to be able to explore a new place while I attempt to push home and Ben to the back of my mind.
With Danni back at uni to do her Masters degree, we haven’t spent much time together recently. There’s so much that’s happened in the last few weeks that she doesn’t know about. My time has pretty much been taken up by family, Ben and Joe. I feel guilty that I haven’t filled her in on all the huge revelations I’ve discovered. I’m also desperate to get her take on everything. She’s always been the slightly more straight-headed one out of the two of us.
“Wait, so you’re telling me that I shut myself in my flat for a few days to write an essay and missed all this? No wonder Joe demanded we go out the other night. Jesus, Lauren,” Danni says when I finish explaining about what Dad did to both Ben and Erica. “So, where are things at with you and Ben? Please tell me you jumped him the second he reappeared, because if you don’t mind me saying, that boy’s only got hotter. He looked like sex on a stick when Joe pointed him out the other night at the stri—shit.”
“It’s okay. I was mortified when Joe sent the picture, but I’ve realised since that Ben wasn’t really doing anything wrong. It’s not like we’re—”
“Joe sent a picture?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
“I told Joe to do anything he had to keep me away from Ben. I guess that was his way of helping. He’s done everything I’ve asked of him.”
“I think you’d be better off sitting down with Ben and hashing it all out. Everything’s changed now you know the truth.”
“Has it? He still left, Danni. He took the easy way out. What’s to say he won’t do it again?”
“And what if he won’t?”
Glancing over at my best friend as we head towards the airport, I narrow my eyes at how easily she’s willing to forgive Ben after everything he put me through. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. He thinks I’m with Joe.”
Snorting out the coffee she just sipped, she turns her glare on me. “I’m sorry. What? Why?”
“Because we’ve made it look that way.”
“Lauren, please don’t tell me you’ve done what I think you’ve done,” she warns, but the taxi pulls up in front of the airport and cuts off any further conversation. I’m grateful, because I can already tell that Danni’s going to give me a serious ear bashing over this. For some reason, she seems to be on Team Ben all of a sudden, and it’s pissing me off. Maybe this little trip wasn’t such a good idea.
It’s not until we’re settled on a couple of tall bar stools with a cocktail each that Danni turns her disappointed stare on me.
“Start talking, Lauren.” I look around at the happy people surrounding me and let out a sigh. “No point planning your escape. You’re not going anywhere.”
“Fine. I told Joe that under no circumstances was he to allow me to fall back into any kind of relationship with Ben. He witnessed the majority of the fallout after Ben left the first time, and he was only too happy to agree.
“I didn’t think any more of it until Dad’s funeral. Ben thought he was hiding in the shadows at the back, but I knew the moment he entered that room. I fought to keep my eyes from seeking him out, but when Joe arrived and pulled me into his arms, I managed to find him. He was staring daggers into Joe’s back, and I realised then that the best thing to do to keep him at arm’s length was to pretend I was taken.”
“And how did that work out for you?” Amusement fills her voice.
“Oh, it was great for all of about six hours, because then I fell into bed with him.”
“Lauren, what are you doing?”
“I don’t know. That’s the problem.”
“You’re still in love with him, aren’t you?”
I look at her over the rim of my glass. She can read me like a book so I don’t need to say the words aloud.
“Don’t you think you should give him a second chance now you know the truth?” Just remember how good it was. You can always let me know if you don’t want him, because I could sure use a little bit of that.”
I know Danni’s only messing, but still, the thought of her going after Ben has jealousy rising within me. “I’m trying not to think about the good stuff. I’m trying to focus on how much it hurt when he left and reminding myself that I don’t ever want to feel that again.”
“Lauren,” she sighs, realising that she’s not getting anywhere. “Hopefully a few days away will help give you some perspective.”
“You really think I should forget everything that happened, what he did, and just dive back in?”
“No, I’m not suggesting you continue where you left off at all. I’m suggesting that you at least tell him the truth and spend some time with him…nowhere near a bed, ideally.”
“Or a car park,” I mutter, but it’s not quiet enough.
“You screwed him in a car park?”
Groaning, I lift my glass to my lips and drain it. Danni doesn’t need the details.
Flight number BA439 to Rome is now boarding. Please make your way to the gate and have your ticket and passport ready.
“Ready to run away?” Danni smiles at me innocently, but it’s just another way of her showing me how she really feels about what I’m doing with Ben.
“I’m not running. I just need a few days.”
“Sure, whatever you say.”
“Danni,” I breathe, already losing my enthusiasm for this trip.
“No, it’s fine. If you say it’s what you need, then I’ll stop. Let’s just go and enjoy ourselves.”
A little of my previous excitement flutters in my belly as we finish our drinks and head towards the gate, ready to board our plane.
We’ve got seats booked, so we don’t bother getting up to queue to get on board, instead favouring the uncomfortable seats and enjoying the coffees we stopped to pick up on the walk here.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Rome,” Danni says, pulling out a travel guide. I can’t help but groan at her. She’s the same wherever we’ve gone. She’s so organised it makes my brain hurt. She’s even had an itinerary for the couple of beach holidays we’ve been on.
“What? I like to know what I’m going to be doing.”
“Don’t I know it! So what does our schedule look like for the next three days?” I ask with a laugh.
“Well…” She pulls out a list and I burst out laughing.
“You’re something else, you know that?”
“You love it.”
I sit and listen as Danni talks through our plans and how we’re going to squeeze in as much of Rome as humanly possible in the next three days.
Once the queue has died down a little, Danni stuffs her guidebook and list into her bag and we head over.
I feel lighter knowing I’m about to get on a plane and disappear from everything for a few days. What Danni said earlier was wrong: I’m not running away. I’m just going to get my head together, to get some much needed sleep and to hopefully relax—not that I remember seeing that on Danni’s schedule. I’m well aware that everything I’m about to leave behind will still be here when I get back. Joe wasn’t all that happy about me going at short notice. He tried to convince me to wait until he could get the time off, but I knew I needed to go now. Jenny was equally as disappointed because she believed I should be there for Ben. I know she understood my reasons, and she’s trying not to get in the middle of us after warning me about his arrival a few days ago, but she’s got her hopes on us sorting everything out. I can only imagine Ben’s reaction when he realises I’ve gone. I can still vividly remember the excitement and relief in his eyes when he first opened them yesterday and found me sitting there. I knew I was going to give him the wrong idea if
I was still there when he woke up, but I couldn’t find it in me to leave.
“Lauren, passport,” Danni prompts when we’re at the front of the queue.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter.
I’ve just taken it and my ticket back when every muscle in my body stills and my stomach turns over.
“Lauren, wait.”
“Holy shit. How did he…” Danni trails off as she looks over my shoulder.
His stare burns into my back as Danni’s eyes flick between the two of us. I stare at the tunnel just in front of me that’s going to take me away from here as my head and heart duel.
“You need to deal with this now, Lauren. Look at him; he should be in a hospital, yet he’s here, chasing you down,” Danni warns.
I know she’s right, but the desire to run right now is so strong. Dragging in a deep breath, I prepare to turn around and see him. I keep my eyes on the floor, afraid of what’ll happen if I look at him. I can only imagine the state he’s in and how he’s managed to get here.
When he was lying in that hospital bed, I prayed that I’d see him up on his feet again, but right now, I hate myself a little for wanting him to be incapable of chasing me.
“Please, don’t leave me.” My heart hammers against my chest. The attendant next to me gasps, along with a couple of the other passengers waiting to board.
“I’m just going for a few days. I’m not…” I trail off, not really wanting to explain in front of an audience.
“Look at me, Lauren.”
My heart continues to pound, and the only sound I can hear is the blood whooshing past my ears. My hands tremble as I fight to keep my eyes from him, but after a few seconds, my need and concern for him gets too much. I drag my eyes up his ripped jeans, over one tattooed arm that’s wrapped around his ribs and then the other that’s covered in a pristine white cast. His shoulders are slumped, like it’s a real effort to keep himself upright. But it’s when I get to his face that tears start to burn my eyes and my fingers twitch to reach for him. His usual tanned skin is pale and grey, his eyes are dark, and the bruising down the side of his face is purple and angry.
Fighting for the Forbidden: Forbidden Series #3 Page 5
