Come with Me (Let It Be Me #2) (24 page)
Read Come with Me (Let It Be Me #2) Online
Authors: Tiara Bosh
Liz was watching Alex and Kayla walk down the aisle towards the doors when she felt an arm around her waist. Goosebumps on her arms rose as she looked back to see Ben smiling down at her.
“Hey, I missed you,” he told her.
Liz smiled back. “I missed you, too.”
“Let’s go to the terrace,” Ben said, breaking into her thoughts.
The reception was going to be held in the beautiful garden terrace of the resort. It was enough to accommodate all the guests.
They passed by Henry and Diane, who turned to smile at them.
It’s been a little over a month since Ben and Liz admitted their love for each other in the hospital room, and they’ve been open about their relationship ever since. They had to take several steps to achieve that though.
She and Ben spoke to Henry first when Liz went back to work.
“Henry, I’ve spoken to Alex,” Ben started, as he and Liz were in Henry’s office the Wednesday morning after Liz’s accident. “I will be shifting to a role in the foundation similar to Alex’s – I will just be a consultant from now on. You and Liz would be running the foundation from now on, but of course Alex and I would try to be available for meetings and other discussions. I will proceed also meeting some of the benefactors and pass them on to you once agreements have been made.”
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Henry said, and Liz thought he really didn’t have any choice since the foundation was primarily Alex and Ben’s. The changes weren’t unreasonable anyway.
“If the load gets too much for the two of you, we can discuss about hiring a new assistant,” Ben added.
Henry nodded.
“One other thing,” Ben continued after a short pause. “Liz and I will be informing everyone that we are dating. Hopefully everyone will be fine with it, but they can talk to me if they have an issue with it.”
Liz looked at Ben, surprised by the vehemence in his voice. Since that day in the hospital, he has erased any doubts from her mind that he was really in it with her. She knew she had more to lose in this scenario, and she was glad she had him fighting for her.
Henry looked at Ben and Liz and surprised them both by breaking down into his signature toothless smile. “I doubt anyone would have a problem with it. I know I’m isolated here in my office, but I’m pretty sure Miranda, Sarah and Dana hwere hoping that you two should get together.”
Liz and Ben looked at each other in amazement. None of them have heard of such chatter within the office. How did their colleagues even come up with that?
Liz found out lunch that same day. She invited Dana and Sarah to one of their favorite delis for lunch, and she had a plan.
She gathered all her acting chops – and that would be very limited – as she put on a serious face as they sat down on the table after getting their sandwiches from the counter.
“Something was brought to my attention,” she started. Dana and Sarah must have noticed the seriousness of her tone as they looked at her inquiringly. “I heard through the grapevine that you've been talking to Miranda about pairing me and Ben?”
She saw the two of them squirm on their seats.
Liz waited for one of them to speak up.
“Liz, I’m sorry I –“ Dana started. Liz watched Dana struggle with her words, but knew she couldn’t let her friends sweat it out too long.
“Well it’s a good thing it’s not really a rumor now, isn’t it?” Liz said, cutting Dana off, raising one corner of her mouth in a half-smile.
Dana’s and Sarah’s jaws dropped.
“What do you mean?” Sarah dared to ask.
“Ben and I have been seeing each other,” Liz said openly, observing Sarah and Dana’s reactions.
“Oh my gosh!” Dana exclaimed, grinning.
“It’s perfect!” Sarah said.
Liz looked at her friends. “So you guys don’t have a problem with it?” she asked in a more somber tone.
“Of course not!” Dana said excitedly. “Miranda’s going to be so happy when she finds out!”
“I can’t believe I had to hear it from Henry that you guys have been talking about me and Ben though!” Liz said jokingly, embarrassed.
“I didn’t know Henry knew about it!” Dana said. “He must have heard Miranda or something.”
“Didn’t know Henry was that observant,” Sarah said.
“Well now we know,” Liz said, grinning.
“So? How did it start?” Dana asked.
So over their lunch Liz gave them a summary of how it happened, starting from the fund-raising event. She didn’t want to give too much detail of how her feelings developed. She wanted to savor it for herself.
“How did you guys come up with the idea that Ben and I could be a couple anyway?” Liz asked inquiringly as they were almost done with their lunch. She looked at both Dana and Sarah, and notice Sarah bow down her head.
“I showed Dana and Miranda a video one time,” Sarah confessed.
“Video?” Liz asked, having no idea what video it could be.
“Remember the caterpillar game we had during the family day?” Sarah asked and Liz nodded.
“I took a video of it,” Sarah said.
Liz had flashbacks of that day and she remembered how Ben stood behind her during the game and how conscious she was of him. Maybe she was already attracted to him then, and she didn’t realize it.
“Is it in your phone?” Liz asked, curious.
Sarah nodded, searching through her phone until she must have found the video. She passed her phone to Liz, and Liz pressed play.
The phone’s camera had a view of a large portion of the field, taken from Sarah’s location on the stage during the family day.
All the participants were on the field, forming the team’s caterpillar. Liz squinted until she found herself standing behind Haley. By then both of them had their blindfolds on. She noticed that Diane was already standing behind her – it would have been natural for Diane to take the place behind Liz – but she suddenly spotted Ben swooping in between them and put his blindfold on.
Liz gasped. She didn’t realize that he intentionally stood behind her.
Liz wasn’t sure what Sarah was thinking but her camera zoomed until it was just Liz and Ben in the screen. She noticed when her shoulders stiffened when she found out it was Ben behind her. And at the end of the game when they realize they’ve won, Liz saw the awkwardness she felt when she turned back to Ben. The smile Ben flashed her was adorable, but he also looked uneasy. When Liz turned back to look at the stage, she saw as Ben raised his hand to comb his fingers through his hair in discomfort.
Liz sighed, feeling some butterflies in her stomach.
Was it possible he was interested in her as early as then too?
“Why didn’t you show this to me earlier?” Liz asked Sarah.
Sarah shrugged. “We knew you had a boyfriend then.”
“I actually broke up with my boyfriend that same day,” Liz admitted.
“Really?” Dana asked, and Liz saw Dana and Sarah share a look.
“What is it?”
It was Dana who answered. “When Sarah showed me and Miranda this video – don’t worry, only the three of us saw it – we felt like we were watching the start of someone’s love story.”
“Then Ben sat with us on our table,” Sarah said, “and well, Dana and I were writing your story in our heads.”
Liz was flabbergasted that other people saw it before she and Ben probably did. And it just wasn’t her officemates. Even Kayla saw something that same day.
Funny that it seemed she and Ben were the last to know.
* * *
“Let us welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Stone!” the emcee announced.
Everyone stood up and cheered as Alex and Kayla walked through the doors to join everyone at the garden terrace. Liz noticed that Kayla has changed into a simpler white dress for the reception. She maintained the same hair minus the veil.
“She’s so beautiful,” Liz gushed.
“You’re more beautiful,” Ben countered, kissing her on her forehead.
“You’re biased,” Liz said, laughing. She did feel beautiful in the long old rose strapless Grecian dress she had on. She had her hair down in waves.
She squeezed Ben’s hand, with her other hand holding on to his arm.
Liz remembered the night Dana and Sarah showed her the video, she asked Ben about it as they were watching an old movie in her living room. They were lying down and she was snuggled against him, her arm around his waist.
“During the Family Day, did you deliberately cut into the line to stand behind me during the caterpillar game?”
Ben was quiet for a while, that Liz had to raise her head to peer at him.
“How did you know about that?” he asked, slightly embarrassed.
“I have my sources,” she said, grinning.
“Now that you mention it, that whole day I seemed to be drawn to you,” Ben admitted. “The caterpillar game, then lunch – I kept on wondering what you were doing. Then as much as I was pissed at your boyfriend for having you wait for him, I was thankful for the chance to get to know you.”
“So you really didn’t have to talk to me about work?” Liz asked, surprised.
Ben shook his head, grinning. “Of course I wouldn’t leave you there on your own. And as you already know, there’s no rush for the New Jersey project. I just needed a reason to stay with you.”
Liz rested her head back down and hugged him tightly. “Now that I think about it, you were so nice to me that day that it made me realize I could no longer bear the crap Jack was putting me through. I think you made me realize what I was missing and what I needed.”
“You were also what I needed,” Ben said.
Liz’s heart swelled. She was loving and loving him more each day.
“Shall we ask the best man to say a few words,” the emcee said, bringing Liz’s mind back to the present. They were already at the dessert course by then, which everyone was enjoying with champagne.
Ben squeezed her hand and walked to the small stage. He took the microphone, and scanned the crowd until his gaze stopped at Alex and Kayla who were seated at their own table.
“I’m not used to speaking in front of these many people -- that’s Alex’s job,” Ben said, as the people chuckled. “But today is Alex’s and Kayla’s night so I guess we can give him a break.”
“So I’ll keep this short and sweet. Everyone here knows that Alex isn’t just a pretty face,” Ben continued, resulting to laughter from the crowd. “Alex and I have been through a lot. Growing up with him, I know that Alex has a big heart, which he may have buried for a while. But Kayla walks into his life and brought out the best Alex could be. I couldn’t ask for a better woman for my best friend.”
Liz smiled, moved by Ben’s words. She turned to look at the couple and saw Alex and Kayla kiss. It was so sweet.
“Alex and Kayla together is a force to be reckoned with,” Ben said. “Words that comes to mind when I think about them are generosity and selflessness. Alex found someone who has as large a heart as he does. I have no doubt in my mind that the love they share will be for forever. So let us raise our glasses for this wonderful couple.”
Everyone did just that. Ben walked to Alex and Kayla to hug each of them. Liz couldn’t help but be proud of both Ben and Alex. Ben has told her about both Alex’s and Kayla’s stories. The three of them were all amazing people.
Ben turned to walk back to her as the emcee called on Alex and Kayla for their first dance.
“That was beautiful,” Liz told Ben as he was close enough. He sat back down on the seat next to hers and took her hand.
“Thanks,” Ben said, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
They both turned to watch Alex and Kayla dance, as Ray LaMontagne sang “You are the Best Thing”. Alex and Kayla looked like they had their own little world, and Liz felt the hope that she could have that too.
“Come dance with me,” Ben said, close to her ear.
Liz twisted her head to look at him. She saw gentleness in his eyes; she couldn’t say no.
She nodded.
Ben stood up, gently pulling her up.
They slowly walked to the dance floor, and Liz wasn’t really aware of what was going on around them; she was just watching Ben’s back as he led her.
Ben stopped at the corner of the dance floor as a new slow song started, and Liz recognized it as “Hold You in My Arms”. It was perfect.
Liz rested her arms on Ben’s shoulders and held on to his neck as Ben wrapped his arms around her waist.
“I would never find a better woman for me, Liz,” he said softly.
Liz looked up into his eyes, feeling the tears immediately well. His lovely words rendered her speechless.
“I know we’ve only been together for a short while,” Ben said, “But I just know that the future would still be you and me. You are my forever.”
Liz was unable to stop the tears that rolled down her cheeks as Ben bent to kiss her. How has she become so lucky?
Liz knew she just got her happily ever after.
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