Husband With Benefits

Without another word, Elena walked away, leaving them standing there. In the next moment, Gabe too let go of her and walked into the house. Autumn gulped. Even though she knew that his mood had been ruined, seeing him walk away from her, made her ache. She didn’t want him to go away. She didn’t know why, but it felt as if he was walking away forever. She looked at the box in her hand and quickly pushed it into her pocket. She would find a way return this tomorrow.

As she followed him into the house, she winced, hearing his door bang against the door with a bang. She stood there, staring at the closed door for a while before feeling dejected. She thought tonight would be ’The Night’. But that was gone again.

Her shoulders slumped, she walked back towards her own room, giving up on getting any peace or sleep tonight. Her mind was going to be full of worry for Gabe. As she opened her closet, her eyes fell on the parcel that Nora had sent and she felt something in her change... So what if Gabe did not come to her. She could go to him.

She felt a surge of determination. Tonight was the night they would get together. And she would not let the appearance of some old hag change that. Taking a deep breath, she took out a short dress from the cupboard. It was one she’d bought herself... wanting to wear it for him... It was time for her to show him her heart...she wouldn’t let him shut her out, not when they had come so close. She couldn’t give him time to change back into the man with cold eyes that she had first met... The one she hadn’t even known had slowly disappeared.

She left her room and walked down the hallway, her footsteps soft against the wooden floor. Each step she took seemed to echo her racing heartbeat. As she reached his door, she paused for a moment, steeling herself before gently pushing it open. Hoping that he had not locked it. He hadn’t. It was a small thing. And yet, it gave her hope. He’d not felt the need to lock her outside.

The room was dimly lit, but her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Gabe was sitting on a recliner, his legs stretched out, and his arm draped over his eyes. Even from the doorway, she could see the tension in his body.

Without moving, he knew that she’d come inside. But he didn’t move his hand to even look at her. Instead murmuring," Autumn, I need to be alone...I’m sorry. I’ll... Please just go for now..."

She didn’t answer him, instead walking towards him slowly. She didn’t answer him. Instead, she walked softly towards him, her resolve unwavering. She reached his side, standing next to him, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on her. Her eyes traced his features, his tensed jaw and the way he remained stiff.

She smiled then. He knew she was next to him. She could feel his hands clench-unclench as he probably resisted the urge to push her away...

With a finger, she gently traced his jaw and was gratified when he only stiffened even more but did not push her away.."I’m not going anywhere."