Hot n Bothered, page 20
“Belle? Come on my Sleeping Beauty, time to open those gorgeous eyes.” She heard Ben whisper in her ear before pressing a kiss to her cheek.
She was too tired to do anything other than sigh and reach out her arm for him. Except it hit empty cold sheets. That got her eyes open.
She scowled up at him to see he was dressed.
“Don’t call me that and why are you dressed?”
“Call you what? Belle? You asked me to remember. And I’m dressed because it’s time to get up.”
She rubbed her eyes yawning widely. “Sleeping Beauty. I’m not.”
“Yes you are.”
“Stop talking rubbish.”
Now he was scowling at her. “I’m not talking rubbish. You are beautiful. How many times do I have to tell you this? Why do you never believe me?”
“Because I have eyes.” She snapped at him, irritated he still felt the need to go through this charade when they both knew the truth. “I can see myself in mirrors you know. I also know you think I need to hear stuff like that, but I don’t. I know you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“I’m not… well ok, yes I guess I am. I’m just telling you what I know to be true because you don’t see that in yourself and I wish you would.”
She closed her eyes with a sigh, she didn’t want to argue with him. “Look, can we just agree to disagree on this? I don’t want to fight with you right now. What’s dad’s plan for today?”
“Taking your mum and sisters shopping. Which means you and I are going out, just the two of us.”
“Really? Can’t we just stay here?”
“No. I have somewhere we can go and I don’t want them to come back early and disrupt your writing.”
She bounded up onto her knees, wrapping her arms around his neck at that. “You’re going to let me write? You promise?”
He laughed, his arms pulling her into him. “How could I not when you light up like that? Anyway, I know you Belle. Writing is not what you do. It’s who you are. Not being able to write has been hard for you.”
“But won’t you be bored?”
He shook his head. “I’ll be working too. I have edits to do on the cookbook. So can I borrow your Surface?”
She pretended to think about it before nodding. She was about to lean up and kiss him, but the waft of minty fresh breath from him had her clamping her mouth closed and rushing to the bathroom.
Chapter 37
“Excuse me?”
Isobelle looked up from her writing to see a young girl holding a red rose.
“Hello.”
The girl grinned widely. “I really like your hair. Here.” She handed the rose to her and dashed off to some adults.
“Oh, thank you.” She called out after her. “Aw how sweet was that?” She said to Ben, blushing a little from the compliment.
He smiled at her over the top of her Surface. “Is that smile because you’re finally writing, the compliment, the rose, or being in the company of the world’s best boyfriend?”
She laughed. “How about all of them?”
“Excusé moi? Parlez-vous français?”
She frowned at the young man stood looking expectantly at her.
“Um.. Non, moi français c’est les nest tres bian?” She stumbled out. “Sorry.”
He beamed. “Ah, English. Here.” He held out another red rose. “I have been tasked with giving a rose to the prettiest smile I could see.”
“Really?” She squeaked, going even redder. “Um… thank you?”
He actually bowed like some kind of old fashioned gentleman, before walking away.
“Well that was random.” She shot a look at Ben who just shrugged with a smile.
She kept glancing at the roses next to her on the picnic table, where they were sat. She had to admit it was nice to have those compliments, especially after all the remarks she’d been on the receiving end of for so long. It was only two, but they went a long way.
Except it wasn’t just two.
Not long after a woman came up and complimented her outfit, she also had a rose. Then it was her glasses were cute, then she had a kind face. Followed by a young boy who said she was ‘booteefull’ and it went on through the rest of their time there. Soon she had a collection of roses.
“What’s with all the roses?” She asked looking around. She could see several other people carrying roses as well. “I’m going to Google it.” She pulled out her phone.
“No need. Look, they’re at the entrances to the park.”
Ben handed his phone over, he must’ve been curious as well to have an Instagram post open about it. Someone had paid for several buckets of red roses to be put out along with signs written in multiple languages saying:
Free rose to give to a stranger with a compliment #makesomonesday #sharethelove
“Aw that’s super sweet. Do they know who did that?”
Ben shook his head as he came around and sat next to her straddling the bench. “Anonymous. People are wondering if it’s a promotion for a film or show.”
“You know what?” She looked at the bunch she had. “I don’t care, look at all those smiles out there. It’s a beautiful thing they’ve done.”
“Almost as beautiful as your smile.”
She rolled her eyes. “Really Ben? I told you to stop that.”
“So you’ll believe strangers, but not me?”
“Well. Yes, kind of.”
“Kind of?” He frowned at her. “Why kind of?”
She shrugged. “I guess I feel that some of these were given more out of sympathy. You know so the fugly didn’t feel left out.”
She squeaked in surprise at Ben suddenly dragging her onto his lap.
“I fucking despise your family.” He said angrily. “You are the most beautiful person I have ever known and because of them you won’t believe it. You drive me crazy with how much I want you. All you have to do is smile and I’m hard. You are not fugly.” He pulled her tight against his erection. “You feel that? I’m so attracted to you that I’m thinking about fucking you in the bushes somewhere. So don’t you dare tell me you aren’t attractive or stunningly beautiful.”
She couldn’t say anything, just stared at him like a complete idiot. What could she say anyway?
Thank you? That sounded so conceited. Her face burned red, if she was normal then she’d know exactly how to deal with what he said. But his words flustered her so much. Part of her believed him, could see the sincerity in his eyes, hear it in his voice. But that was such a tiny, small part.
The other, bigger part knew he was lying. He had to be right? There was no way she was even a fraction of what he said she was. It was impossible.
He sighed, his face softening as he watched her struggle. “Look, you may not believe me, but look at how many roses you have here. These strangers haven’t given them to you so you weren’t left out. Because you haven’t been. Believe them, because every single thing they said to you was true.”
She sighed and leant her head on his shoulder, taking comfort in him being there and being so Ben.
“Why are you so good to me?” She asked.
“Because… well… um… I…”
She could feel how he tensed up. He had been so relaxed, but it was like his entire body was now rigid.
“Ben?” She lifted her head to look at him. He had the same tense look on his face he had right before they boarded the plane. “Are you alright? What’s wrong?”
“I… Belle, I…” He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. “Fuck.” He muttered.
“Hey.” She was worried now, cupping his face with her hands. “Talk to me. What can I do? What do you need?”
He opened his eyes, searching her face for a long while. He captured her lips in a soft, sweet, lingering kiss.
“Just keep being you.” He sighed, resting his forehead against hers, eyes closed. “That’s all I need.”
“If you insist. I was going to be like Darren. I’ve been practising being super annoying. But for you I won’t be.”
There was his adorable snort laugh. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he buried his face in her neck. She stroked his hair, how was she going to give this up? How was she going to give him up?
She mentally shook her head. That was not a now problem, that was a two-weeks from now problem. A now problem was the fact that she was ravenously hungry and also needing the loo. But it didn’t look like he was going to be letting go of her anytime soon.
“Belle?” His voice muffled.
“Yeah?”
“I’m enjoying this, but… I’m really hungry right now.”
She burst out laughing. “It’s like you can read my mind.”
He lifted his head. “Would I be reading it if I say fuck asking your family what they are doing? I just want it to be you and me tonight.”
“Ah, I see now why you say you are the world’s best boyfriend.” She giggled at his smug grin. “But we still have to go back to the villa.”
“Why?”
Seriously, that pout was so adorable, it should be illegal.
“I am busting for the loo. Plus I need to put my roses in water, drop off my writing bag and most importantly.” She leaned back, pulling her top out at the bottom to display the stains across it. “I am not going out to dinner in a top with ice-cream and coffee on it.”
“I thought you were saving them for later?”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s such a Darren joke.”
He snorted another laugh. "I swear if rolling your eyes was an Olympic sport you'd be unbeaten."
"Well then stop making me roll them."
"New rule. No eye-rolls when someone compliments you."
"I don't…"
"Yes you do, pretty much every damn time. So from now on that's a pinchable offense."
"Again with the pinching." She glared at him. "How about a new rule of no pinching?"
He just shook his head. "You insult my favourite person you get pinched." He grinned. "You were going to roll your eyes again weren't you?"
She ignored him, rather than admit he was right. Instead she stood stretching, working the kinks out of her back and shoulders. “Come on. If we’re quick, everyone’ll still be out so we don’t have to deal with them.”
“I still can’t believe just how toxic they are to you. Are they like that to Darren?” He started packing everything in her writing bag.
“Sometimes.” She shrugged thinking about it. “I think they are worse than he lets on though. You know how he likes to protect me. So I think he might hide a lot of it. But then I think maybe they aren’t because he can stick up for himself. I wish I was half as strong as him sometimes.”
He caught her hand, interlocking their fingers.
“Hey. You are strong remember? They don’t pick on you because you are weak, they do it because you are too nice to fight back. Plus they have an ally in your depression. That thing makes you believe them over all the people who actually care about you.”
He had a very valid point. She looked down at all the roses she had, every single one of them given with a compliment. Compliments that she’d heard hundreds of times from Ben, Darren and their group. Compliments she never believed because of that whispering voice in her head because it believed what her family told her.
“Is it wrong of me to wish there to be some kind of emergency that takes them home and leaves us to actually enjoy this holiday by ourselves?”
He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
“Absolutely not, because I want that as well and I’m never wrong.”
Chapter 38
Isobelle was enjoying a post-orgasm snuggle with Ben when her phone rudely interrupted.
Ben had actually been awake when she got back to bed after emptying her bladder. He’d not let her think about how neither of them had brushed their teeth yet. How did he do that to her? Normally she was so hung up on her flaws, be so self-conscious, but he just had to kiss her and all that disappeared.
“Ah fuck.” She swore, leaping from the bed. “Why do you have to be such a neat freak.” She snapped at Ben as she had to go to the wardrobe to snag something to wear. Why was Darren wanting a video call of all things?
“Why? Oh.” He nodded when she showed him her phone. “Wait.” He stopped her from answering and gave her another deep kiss. “Happy Birthday.” He murmured when he pulled back.
Oh right. She had completely forgotten about that. Perching on the edge of the bed, making sure Ben was out of the shot she answered.
“Happy Birthday!”
She laughed to see everyone huddled close around Darren’s phone.
“How’s the holiday?”
“Is it gloriously sunny?”
“We miss you Iz.”
They all spoke at once. Ben made her jump by coming up behind her, arm across her chest and resting his chin on her shoulder. She didn’t realise they all knew about him being there.
“You don’t miss me?” He asked with a grin.
“Well…” Cat looked at Bianca thoughtfully. “Do we?”
“Depends on how well he’s treating our Iz.”
“Oh! I miss the food. Does that count?” Rob asked.
“I miss the cleaning.” Rich said.
Even as she laughed, Isobelle could feel her eyes well up. This right here, this warmth, this relaxation that she felt down to her soul. This was the feeling of truly belonging.
These guys could make her feel better with a simple call. They were her family.
Ben wrapped his other arm around her waist and she couldn’t help but relax back into him.
“You ok?” He whispered in her ear.
She nodded wiping her eyes, she could see Darren’s concerned look.
“Iz?” He asked.
“I’m alright.” She said. “Happy tears, that’s all.”
“That’s good.” Bianca said. “Otherwise we’d be having to beat Wallace up when you get back.”
Joey was nodding. “He was tasked with taking good care of our Iz. If he failed we would’ve had to take drastic measures.”
“Drastic measures?” Isobelle giggled.
“A complete removal of access to all things Disney.” Richie sounded so serious making her laugh.
Katie nodded. “Including his favourite mug.”
“That’s too cruel.” She laughed. “And no, he’s been brilliant. He’s helped me see that… well…” She paused almost too shy to say. She looked at them all on the screen and Ben’s face close to hers. Each one cared for her, it was obvious to see. She felt no anxiety with them, no feeling of dread of what they might find fault in her. She only ever felt love and complete acceptance. So that gave her the courage to say.
“You guys are my real family and I never realised it before. I’m sorry it took me so long to see.”
“Goddammit Iz. It’s your birthday. I don’t want to be crying on your birthday.” Cat wailed wiping her eyes.
“Of course we’re your family.” Joey said.
“Took you long enough, but glad you see it too.” Rich said.
“Does this mean we can ditch Darren now we’ve got Iz to admit it?” Rob asked,
“Hey! I’m right here.” Darren protested.
“Yeah, but we only kept you around for Iz.” Cat laughed as he flipped her off.
Ben pressed a kiss to Isobelle’s cheek. “Told you.”
Her face heated, why did he do that in front of everyone? Why was Bianca squeaking and getting glared at by Cat? Katie and Richie were doing that grabby thing to each other when they got excited. Darren fumbled the phone as everyone was suddenly hissing whispers at each other.
Wait… was that?
“Are you guys in my flat?” She asked.
“Yep. How else are we going to show you your birthday presents from us?” Darren said. “Hang on let me flip this. Ta da!”
The camera flipped to show that her usual messy cheap dining table she used for a desk was gone. In it’s place was a gorgeous solid wood proper writing desk.
“Here’s our glamorous assistants showing you what you’ve got.”
She laughed to see Bianca and Joey acting like old school game show models. Complete with over the top arm gestures and facial expressions.
“As well as a sturdy place to write, you also have a drawer full of pens. No more pots to be knocked over.” Darren continued narrating, as Bianca pulled open the first small drawer on the top. “Filled to the brim, so no running out for at least a good month. This drawer is full of your favourite sweets. You need to keep your energy up for writing. Oooh what do we have here Joey? Is that a hole in her new desk?”
“Oh no Darren. This is the height of luxury.” Joey pulled open the drawer that had a hole in one of the corners, revealing two power sockets. “That’s right our Iz can charge both her phone and Surface at the same time without losing the chargers or kicking them off by tripping on the cables.”
“Oh my God, guys. It’s perfect.” She gushed. “I can’t wait to use it. It’s the best present ever.”
The camera turned to Darren mock scowling. “Calm your tits we’ve not finished yet.” It flipped back to show Joey pulling open the smaller of the two drawers on the side.
“Here we have all brand new notepads. Waiting to be filled with your brilliance.” Darren continued. “All your others are in the drawer underneath. And because we can’t have you sitting on any old plain chair.”
Cat and Katie wheeled in what looked like a high end, comfortable desk chair. Isobelle and Ben laughed to see Rob sat in it striking a pose.
After a pause of silence Darren flipped the camera round to him again. “That’s it. Now you can go on with the gushing thanks.”
“It really is perfect. It’s from all of you? Thank you so much. I love it so much.”
“It’s not from Wallace though. He said he was getting his own.” Darren moved away from the others into her bedroom, looking serious. “How is everything going?”
“Don’t get a big head, but it was a good plan.” She admitted. “It would’ve been a lot worse if…” She turned and frowned at Ben throwing a thumbs up to Darren behind her.
