Until you choose me - Part 26
TW : age gap, mentions of assault, blackmail, revenge, manipulation, divorce, Ben 👀
A/N : spent so much time researching divorce laws in North Dakota lol hope I didn't get it wrong cause I aint doing that again 😭
You stared at Ben and he stared right back. “You're serious.”
“Completely.” He replied, and you shook your head.
“I need to talk to Gator.” Ben shrugged.
“Go ahead.” You had expected resistance, instead, he walked toward the kitchen like you just told him you needed to make a phone call.
“But I wouldn't take too long if I were you.” You frowned.
“What do you mean ?” Ben glanced back at you.
“My offer isn't gonna sit on the table for hours.”
“Are you fucking serious ?”
“Very.” He looked at the clock on the wall, then back at you. “Tick tock, bunny.” Your mouth fell open, something about hearing the nickname like that made your belly twist. It wasn’t affectionate anymore, it was weaponized. It snapped you out of your shock.
“Fuck this.” Ben merely shrugged again.
“Door's right there.” You stared at him for another second before leaving. He didn't follow you, didn’t call after you and didn't take it back. You practically ran to your car.
You made it back to the station in record time. Gator looked up the second you walked through the front doors and hope appeared on his face immediately. You didn't even stop at your desk. “Office.” His expression fell but he followed you inside. Once the door was shut, Gator barely waited.
“So ?” You stared at him.
“He'll do it.” Relief flooded his face and his whole body visibly relaxed.
“And he'll get Mia and Charlotte there too.” Gator blinked. “He says they'll do it if he asks them to.”
“Jesus Christ. Baby, I fucking…”
“He wants something in exchange though.” The smile disappeared right away.
“What ?” His entire posture changed. “What does he want ?” You couldn't believe you had to say this out loud, but you took a deep breath and went for it anyway.
“A night with me.” Gator frowned, apparently his brain hadn't gotten there yet.
“A night ?” You looked at him right as understanding hit. His face emptied and he started shaking his head, unsure if he was hearing that right. “What, a …a night ?”
“He said he'll do the picture and convince Mia and Charlotte if I spend one last night with him right after.” Gator stared at you and something in him fucking snapped.
“Gator.” He was already moving, snatching his keys from the desk. “Where are you going ?”
“Where the fuck do you think I’m going ?”
“Wait.” He yanked the office door open and you followed him. He didn't even look back. By the time you reached the parking lot, he was already unlocking the cruiser. You climbed into the passenger seat before he could leave without you. “Gator, you’re pissed.”
“You're gonna make it worse.”
“Probably, don’t fucking care.” The cruiser pulled out fast, making you grab the handle above the door.
“Can you at least not fucking kill us ?” Gator said nothing, his jaw looked like it might crack.
The entire building probably heard Gator knock on Ben’s door. His fist slammed against it hard enough that you genuinely saw it shake in the frame. “OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR.” You glanced around once, hoping none of the neighbors decided to check what was happening.
The door finally opened and Ben appeared. He looked at his father, then at you standing behind him. Something almost amused flickered across his face. Gator shoved right past him.
“You're fucking sick.” Ben shut the door.
“What the fuck is wrong with you ?” You stayed near the entrance as Ben leaned against the door, completely calm.
“You wanna narrow it down ?”
“Don't fucking play with me Ben. You asked her to fuck you in exchange for helping me.” Ben's eyes flicked toward you, then back to Gator.
“You tried to trade my fucking election for a night with her ?” Ben actually laughed out loud before the cold expression returned on his face.
“You traded your fucking family for her.” Gator went still as his son pushed away from the door. “Don't get righteous with me now.”
“Watch your fucking mouth Ben.”
“Why ?” He stepped closer. “You gonna lecture me about morals now ?”
“I'm gonna tell you you're not fucking touching her. This shit ends now.” Ben smiled, but it wasn’t anything nice.
“Actually, you don’t get to decide that.” Gator stepped toward him.
“She said no, so it’s no, that’s the end of it.”
“Sure.” Ben shrugged. “Then no picture. No mom, no Charlotte, and no happy little Tillman family.” His smile returned. “And you can explain to your campaign people why your wife and kids suddenly won't stand next to you two days before the election.” Gator looked like he wanted to put him through the wall.
“You sent her.” Ben's voice sharpened for the first time. “You sent her because you knew I'd do anything she asked, that’s why she's here, right ?” He pointed toward you without looking away from his father. “You knew I'd have a harder time saying no to her than I would to you.”
“Bullshit.” Gator's mouth snapped shut. Ben stepped closer, invading his dad’s personal space. “You used the fact that I'm still fucking in love with her because you needed something. So don't act disgusted because I finally asked for something back.” You felt sick, because there was enough truth buried inside the fucked-up logic that Gator couldn't immediately answer.
“You're talking about her like she's fucking currency.” Ben laughed bitterly.
“And you weren’t ? You asked her to come and talk to me because she’s the thing I want.” Your stomach dropped.
“Ben.” He finally looked at you and there was something different in his eyes, harder.
“You wanted honesty, right ?”
“That doesn't mean you get to talk about me like that.”
“Fine.” His attention returned to Gator. “She came here asking me to smile next to the man who fucked the woman I loved. To stand beside you and pretend we're one big happy fucking family so you can get elected.” Ben laughed under his breath. “And I'm supposed to do that because what ?”
“Exactly. I'm your fucking son.” Ben's composure finally cracked slightly. “And apparently that didn't mean shit when you wanted her.”
“No.” He stepped closer again. “You don't get to use that card now.”
“Oh, good.” Ben clapped ironically. “Great breakthrough, congratulations.”
“Stop acting like a fucking child.” Something dark crossed Ben's face as Gator stared at him. “You need to let this go.”
“Her.” Gator pointed toward you. “This obsession. This idea that if you get one more night with her, something's gonna fucking change.” Ben's expression hardened.
“It won’t. I know she's not coming back. I know she's gonna go right back to your fucking ranch afterward.” His eyes returned to Gator. “I know she loves you, that isn't what this is.”
“Then what the fuck is it ?” Ben was quiet for a moment, then he smiled.
“It’s just something I want.” Your stomach turned.
“Jesus Christ.” Gator stared at his son like he barely recognized him. “You hear yourself right now ?”
“You're blackmailing her into sex.” Ben's jaw shifted.
“I'm giving her a choice.”
“That's not a fucking choice.”
“The door’s unlocked. You’re free to leave.”
“You're still fucking sick for asking.” Gator said, jaw clenched.
“Maybe.” Another shrug, that casual acceptance seemed to infuriate Gator even more.
“You need help.” Ben's smile vanished.
“No. I needed my dad not to fuck the woman I loved.” His eyes then landed on you, cold and empty. “And I needed her to answer her fucking phone when I was completely falling apart.” You flinched, so that’s what it was. That night where he texted you saying he needed you but you didn’t have your phone, this was a sort of revenge ? “I needed a lot of things, didn’t get any of them.”
“So now everybody needs something from me.” He looked between you. “And suddenly what I want matters.” Gator shook his head.
“Not like this Ben, absolutely not.”
“Then leave.” Ben pointed toward the door. “You don't like the deal ? Don’t take it. But don't come into my apartment acting like you're morally fucking superior to me.”
“You call Mia and Charlotte and tell them to come to the ranch tonight.” Ben laughed.
“Or what ?” He stopped, and there it was. Gator had absolutely nothing, he couldn't force Ben, couldn’t force Mia and couldn't even fucking locate Charlotte. Ben's expression changed as he realized it too. For the first time in this entire disaster, he had the power, and he fucking liked it. He walked over to the couch and casually picked up his phone. “It's what, 1:30PM ?” Ben checked the screen. “Pictures are at seven.” He looked at you. “You know where I stand.” His eyes dropped back to his phone. “Offer expires at three.” Gator actually took a step toward him.
“Dad.” Ben looked up, and raised his brows. “Tick tock.” He walked to the front door, opened it and gestured for his dad to leave, which he did. He stormed out of the apartment and you followed. As you passed next to Ben, he smirked. “Bunny.”
The cruiser door slammed behind you. Gator got behind the wheel but didn't start the engine. For several seconds, neither of you spoke, then his fist slammed against the steering wheel. “Fuck !” You jumped.
“Jesus, Gator.” He hit it again.
“Okay.” You rubbed both hands over your face. “Can we think for a second ?” Gator leaned back and dragged his hands over his face, before turning his head toward you.
“We tell him yes.” Your stomach dropped.
“We tell him you agree. He calls Mia and Charlotte. They show up tonight, we do the fucking pictures.” He pointed toward Ben's building. “And afterward, we tell him to go fuck himself.”
“You want to lie to him ? This is gonna be a fucking disaster.”
“He's gonna lose his mind.”
“I'll deal with it later.”
“That's not very reassuring.” You said, voice low.
“I'll deal with the consequences when they fucking happen.” You looked toward the building.
“This is such a bad idea.”
“Got a better one ?” Unfortunately, you didn’t. Gator opened his door. “Come on.”
Ben looked considerably less surprised when he opened the door this time. His eyes moved between you. “Back already ?” Gator pushed past him. “Sure. Come on in.” You followed more reluctantly and Ben closed the door behind you.
“Fine.” Gator said and Ben's eyebrows lifted.
“She'll do it.” You tried not to react, but Ben’s eyes immediately moved to you. You forced yourself to hold his gaze and something changed in his expression, satisfaction. It made your skin crawl.
“She will ?” Gator's jaw clenched.
“You fucking heard me, don’t play dumb.”
“You agreeing to this or is dad doing your talking now ?” You swallowed.
“I'm agreeing.” Ben studied your face for several seconds. You wondered if he could tell you were both bluffing. Apparently not, or maybe he simply wanted to believe you badly enough.
“Okay.” Gator immediately stepped closer.
“Call your mother, and Charlotte.”
“Yeah, I said I'll do it.”
“Then fucking do it.” Ben pulled his phone from his pocket.
“I'll call them.” Gator stared at him.
“Seven o’clock. You promise me they're gonna be there ?” Ben looked almost offended.
“That isn't what I asked.” Ben's jaw shifted.
“I promise. At seven tonight, mom and Charlotte will be at the ranch.” Finally, Gator gave one sharp nod.
“Good.” He reached for your arm. “Come on.” You had almost made it to the door when Ben decided to speak again.
“What's the problem ?” You both stopped and Gator slowly turned around. Ben was still standing in the middle of the living room, that ugly little smile had returned. “You look like you're about to fucking kill somebody.”
“Watch yourself.” Ben's eyes flicked toward you, then back to his father.
“What's the problem ?” His smile widened. “You've already had her plenty, one night isn't gonna kill you.” Gator crossed the room before you even registered him moving. His fist connected with Ben's face and the sound made your stomach turn. He stumbled backward into the wall, stunned.
You grabbed Gator's arm before he could move again. “Stop !” For one terrifying second, you thought Ben might hit him back, but fortunately for you, he didn’t. He stayed against the wall, his hand slowly rising to his face. Blood was already running from his nose and Ben looked down at it on his fingers. Then, he laughed.
“You think this is funny ?” Ben wiped beneath his nose with the back of his hand.
“No.” Another laugh escaped him anyway. “But you should probably hit me again.” He looked straight at his father. “Really complete the family-man look before the photographer gets there.” Gator surged forward but this time you grabbed him with both hands, stepping directly in front of him.
“Don’t. That's exactly what he wants.” Gator's chest was rising and falling hard, and over his shoulder, you could see Ben still smiling and bleeding. Your boyfriend looked at you, then back at his son.
“Seven at the ranch with your mother and sister.” Ben wiped his nose again.
“I heard you the first three fucking times.” You felt Gator tense again and pushed him toward the door.
“Come on.” You looked back once, he was standing in the middle of his apartment, blood still trickling from his nose, watching you leave, nothing resembling the Ben who used to wait for your messages or call you bunny like the word actually meant something, just that cold fucking expression.
Apparently, the happy Tillman family was getting its picture after all.
It was a little before seven when you settled into the chair behind Gator's desk at the ranch. The office door stayed open and a stack of paperwork sat in front of you, computer turned on, pen in hand. To anybody walking through the ranch tonight, you were here for work, secretarial shit or last-minute campaign paperwork, nothing remotely suspicious about the sheriff's employee sitting in his home office two days before an election. At least, that was the idea.
Gator appeared in the doorway. “You okay baby ?”
“I'm fine.” You weren’t, but headlights appeared through the windows before he could say anything else. Your stomach tightened.
“They're here.” Gator disappeared toward the front door while you stayed exactly where you were. A few moments later, voices entered the house. Ben, Charlotte and Mia. All three had come, Ben had kept his word.
You could see part of the entryway from where you sat. Mia looked put together enough that nobody would ever guess she recently learned her husband was sleeping with the woman sitting twenty feet away. Charlotte looked equally polished and Ben had cleaned himself up remarkably well. If you didn't know exactly where to look, you'd barely notice the faint swelling around his nose. Gator opened his mouth. “Mia…”
“Don’t.” One word and Gator stopped. “Not tonight.”
“Okay.” Charlotte said nothing, just like her brother. You sank slightly lower into Gator's desk chair. Nobody acknowledged you and you were perfectly happy keeping it that way.
The silence that followed was fucking unbearable. Thankfully, headlights appeared outside only a few minutes later, the campaign team and the photographer, thank God. The ranch suddenly filled with voices. Someone complimented the house while someone else started moving furniture slightly to get a better background. And just like that, the Tillmans transformed.
Gator stood where they told him with Mia beside him. Charlotte moved slightly to the left and Ben to the right. “Mrs. Tillman, maybe just a little toward your husband.” You watched Mia's jaw tighten, but she moved anyway. “Perfect.”
Gator's hand hovered awkwardly behind her back. The camera clicked a few times. “Great, Charlotte, little closer.” Click. “Ben, chin down slightly.” Click. “Sheriff, bigger smile.”
For several minutes, they looked like exactly what the campaign wanted, the perfect fucking family. Nobody looking at those photographs would have guessed Mia wanted a lawyer between herself and Gator, or that Charlotte had threatened to destroy his election, or even that Gator had punched Ben in the face a few hours earlier.
Eventually, the photographer lowered his camera. “Got it.” The entire family seemed to exhale simultaneously, then the campaign people descended on Gator. “Latest numbers came in, we're still strong in the north precincts…”
“You need to hit these two areas tomorrow…” Gator barely had time to react before four men had surrounded him, and you watched his expression die. Mia lasted approximately fifteen seconds.
“Excuse me.” She escaped toward the other side of the room and Charlotte followed close behind. Ben stayed, and you felt his eyes before you looked at him. He was watching you, then he lifted his wrist and tapped his watch twice. Your stomach dropped as you looked toward Gator.
He was still trapped, one campaign manager had paperwork in front of him while another was talking about polling and a third had his phone out showing him something. Gator glanced toward you, then toward Ben. His expression changed immediately, he knew, but somebody stepped directly into his line of sight. Ben walked toward the office and your pulse picked up. He stepped inside. “Get up.” You stared at him.
“Then wait until he's finished.” Ben's expression remained completely calm.
“Just give him five minutes.”
“No.” You stared at him, this wasn't how this was supposed to happen. Gator was supposed to tell him to fuck off. Ben glanced toward the crowded living room, then back at you. “You really wanna do this here ?” Your blood ran cold.
“Make a scene ? Because I surely can.” His voice stayed quiet. “Or you can get up, come with me, and we can talk somewhere that isn't full of dad's campaign people.” You looked toward Gator again, still trapped and still watching whenever he could. Ben followed your gaze. “Probably not a great night for a family scandal, right bunny ?”
You hated him now, for the first time since you met him, you genuinely hated the way he was looking at you. But he was right about one thing, you couldn't do this here, not two fucking days before the election.
You stood and Ben stepped aside. Your legs felt weird, your entire body felt strangely disconnected from what was happening. This wasn't the fucking plan. You grabbed your purse and followed him, your mind racing to find a way out of this.
As you crossed the living room, you looked at Gator who was already looking at you. His eyes dropped to your purse, then to Ben and panic flashed across his face. He tried to step away but one of the campaign directors followed him. “Sheriff, one more thing about tomorrow…”
Gator barely looked at him, his eyes stayed on you. You wanted to stop, tell him with your face that it was fine, that you were handling it and you’d be back soon. But Ben opened the front door, and stopping now would draw attention, so you kept walking.
Gator watched you leave with his son unable to do a fucking thing. Outside, you headed toward your own car but Ben stopped you. “Mine.” Your stomach twisted when you noticed the photographer only a few feet away putting his stuff back inside his own car. You couldn’t say anything without him hearing it. Fine, you would go, tell Ben exactly where he could shove his fucking deal and come back here, even if you had to walk all the way there.
You climbed into the passenger seat while Ben got behind the wheel. The engine started and your heart was pounding. The ranch slowly disappeared behind you as Ben turned onto the road leading away from Gator. This wasn't how tonight was supposed to go, not even fucking close.
You stared through the passenger window, arms folded tightly across your chest while Ben drove like nothing was wrong, one hand on the wheel and eyes on the road. “You know how long I've wanted this ?” Your jaw tightened. Don't engage, not while he was driving, you needed to wait until the car stopped, then you would tell him to shove his stupid deal up his ass.
Ben glanced toward you. “Long fucking time bunny.” You kept staring outside. “I used to sit next to you and wonder what it'd be like.”
“I am driving.” A tiny smile appeared. “I can multitask.” You closed your eyes, Jesus Christ. “You really don't wanna hear this ?”
“Shame.” His fingers tapped against the steering wheel. “Because I've spent months keeping my fucking mouth shut around you.”
“Maybe keep doing that.” Ben laughed. “I'm serious.”
“So am I.” His eyes returned to the road. “I wanted you before I ever thought I had a chance with you. Then when we got together all you ever did was suck me off a few times and I was supposed to be happy with that ? Like a fucking idiot.” He laughed bitterly and you looked away again. “I kept thinking eventually you'd want me the way I wanted you.”
“And now you think blackmail fixes that ?”
“No, doesn’t fix shit. Just gets me something I want.”
“It doesn't bother you that I don't want this ?” That wiped the hint of amusement from his face.
“You agreed to this shit. You know what's fucked up ?”
“I would've done anything for you, anything. And you never fucking wanted me.” His grip tightened around the wheel, this wasn't the Ben you knew, or maybe it was. Maybe all the hurt and humiliation had simply twisted something inside him until you couldn't recognize what was left. “I've thought about what it'd finally be like to have one night where you weren't pulling away from me, and that’s exactly what’s gonna happen tonight.”
You let the silence sit there, let him fucking hear it. But apparently, he wasn’t having any of it. His hand landed on your thigh and he squeezed. “Fuck, I hope you’re wearing a sick lingerie set under all your clothes, I can’t wait to finally see you bunny.” You suddenly felt sick, his hand on your thigh felt like it was burning a hole through your skin.
The apartment building was getting closer, you could tell from the streets. “Nothing's happening tonight Ben, I mean it.” His eyes stayed on the road but he went quiet and withdrew his hand.
“I said what I needed to say to get you to make the calls.” His jaw tightened.
“So you lied.” A beat. “Dad's idea I guess ?”
“Doesn't matter Ben, nothing is happening between us.” His grip tightened around the steering wheel.
“I called them, got both of them to that fucking ranch. I showed up and stood next to him. I smiled for his fucking pictures, did exactly what I said I'd do.”
“I did my part.” Ben finally looked at you. “So now you do yours.” Your stomach turned.
“That's not how this works.”
“That's exactly how a deal works.”
“Not when the thing you're bargaining for is sex.”
“You agreed to it.” His voice was getting louder now. “You don't get to change your mind after I already did everything.” Your skin crawled.
“Yes, Ben. I fucking do. Sex isn't something you fucking earn because you did me a favor.”
“It wasn't a favor, it was a deal.”
“No. It was you taking advantage of a fucking disaster because you thought it was your chance to finally get me into your bed.” Ben's face hardened. “Take me back to the ranch.” He kept driving, slightly shaking his head. When you realized he was still driving toward his apartment, you reached into your purse. “I'm calling Gator.” Ben's head snapped toward you.
“No.” You pulled your phone out but he snatched it straight out of your hand.
“What the fuck ?!” You immediately reached for it but he shoved the phone into his pocket. “Give me my phone.” He caught your wrist when you reached toward his pocket.
“I'm driving, don’t do anything stupid.” Ben released you and put both hands back on the wheel. Your heart was pounding now, you were scared shitless. He ended up pulling into the parking lot of his apartment complex and killed the engine. The doors unlocked. “Get out.” You stared at him.
“No.” Ben sighed and his jaw tightened. He caught your arm but you immediately jerked away.
“Come upstairs. You owe me a fucking explanation.”
“I already gave you one !” You were screaming now as you tried to pull your arm free, but unfortunately for you, his grip tightened.
“Just come upstairs, I’m not gonna do anything to you.”
“Then let go of me.” That stopped him for half a second. His eyes flicked down to his hand around your arm, but instead of releasing you, he tugged at it.
“Five fucking minutes. I did everything you fucking asked me to do.”
“And that doesn't buy you access to me ! I'm not going inside with you.” Apparently you didn’t have much choice as he tugged at your arm again, forcing you to exit the car. He dragged you all the way to his front door, unlocked it and pushed you inside his apartment. Your stomach twisted. “Ben, you're fucking scaring me.”
That made him falter for just one second, like the old Ben was flickering somewhere underneath all of this, but it was gone just as quickly. Your pulse hammered in your ears, this had gone way too fucking far. Inside his pocket, your phone started ringing, but he ignored it. It stopped for a few seconds, then started again, and again.
“Give me my phone Ben.” He walked farther into the apartment.
“You keep saying that. So fucking talk.” You folded your arms. “What exactly is your plan here ?”
“I don't know.” He looked at you and that wasn’t the answer you were expecting. He walked inside the kitchen and you noticed two glasses out on the counter sitting next to an unopened bottle of red wine. Next to them, one single rose and a tall unlit candle. For some reason, imaging him putting all of these things here for you made your skin crawl.
He looked genuinely frustrated, lost underneath all that anger. “I wanted one fucking night with you, and you agreed to it.”
“Because you were blackmailing me !”
“I did my fucking part bunny !” Your phone rang again, which frustrated Ben even more. He surely realized that Gator was probably done with the people harassing him with his campaign and was definitely coming here, so he didn’t have much time left. He started pacing.
“I don't understand.” His voice cracked. “I've wanted you for fucking weeks, I thought about this every fucking day.”
“And then you finally said yes.”
“I know why you fucking said it ! Okay I heard you the first fucking time you don’t need to say it again, I Ian’t fucking dumb.” He dragged both hands through his hair. “But I did everything anyway.” Your phone started ringing again and it was driving him insane. “You looked me in the eyes and agreed.”
“No, you didn't change your mind. You never fucking meant it in the first place.” Ben stared at you, then something in his expression crumbled. “Am I really that fucking repulsive to you ? Is that what it is ? Because apparently you'd rather lie to me, use me to get my family there and run straight back to my fucking father than spend one single fucking night with me.”
“Ben, this isn't because you're repulsive.”
“Because I don't want to !” He flinched before a bitter laugh escaped his lips. “Stop fucking doing that Ben.”
“Turn this into something being wrong with you. You’re a grown fucking man, stop acting like a damn child whenever something doesn’t go your way !” Okay, maybe arguing with him in this situation wasn’t the best move, but you just couldn’t help it. Ben stepped closer, invading your space.
“What's he got that I don’t ? You said it wasn't because I'm younger, wasn’t because I'm not fucking Tillman enough and wasn't because you never cared about me.” He was so close to you now you could feel his hot breath on your face. You tried to step backward but the wall was apparently closer than what you expected. He noticed your movement and somehow, that made everything worse. His face twisted. “Now you're fucking scared of me ?”
“You took my phone and won’t give it back to me.”
“Because I know the second I do, you'll crawl into his fucking bed like none of this ever happened.” He got even closer, his body was caging you against the wall and you were suddenly terrified.
“Back up, I’m serious Ben.”
“Just tell me what the fuck he has that I don’t !” Your heart was hammering as your phone started ringing again inside his pocket. He grabbed your throat with his right hand and squeezed just enough to keep you in place. Both of your hands wrapped instinctively around his forearm, but he was way too strong. “I did my part of the deal bunny, now it’s time you fucking do yours.” And suddenly, you were so scared that you said the first thing that came into your head, the one thing you knew would stop him.
“We're gonna have a baby, Ben.” Silence, complete and absolute silence. His hand left your throat immediately and his eyes widened.
“What ?” You were catching your breath while looking at him. You were lying, but he didn’t know that. You thought about Gator on the couch, his face when you'd asked about stopping birth control and that was the first thing that came to your mind to stop his son from assaulting you.
“We're gonna have a baby, me and Gator.” Ben didn't move as your phone continued ringing inside his pocket, but he didn't seem to feel it anymore.
“You…” His eyes moved over your face, then down, then back up. “You're pregnant ?” Well shit, no but was it a good idea to tell the truth right now ? It was probably a bad idea, but you were in too deep already.
“Yes.” Ben stared at you and something inside him shattered.
“No.” He backed away from you, then laughed. “No fucking way.”
“He's forty-fucking-three ! You’ve barely know each other !” You flinched as his voice exploded through the apartment. “He already has fucking kids ! I’m one of them !”
“And now he's gonna have another one with you ?” He kicked the leg of the coffee table as he passed it, it scraped violently across the floor. “Are you fucking kidding me ?!”
“He gets everything !” He spun toward you. “Everything ! He takes you from me and now he gets to fucking start over with you too ?” His eyes were glassy. “You're gonna live at the ranch, have his fucking kid, play happy family while I get what ?” His voice broke completely. “Nothing ?”
A massive bang hit the front door and made both of you jump.
“OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR!” Gator was there, relief hit you so hard your knees nearly gave out. Another violent hit against the door and Ben’s face twisted. You started to walk to get to the door but Ben grabbed your throat again and pushed you back against the wall.
“Don’t you fucking dare bunny.”
The next impact sent the door inward and Ben barely had time to move before it flew open. Gator stormed inside and took in what was happening in front of him. His son chocking his girlfriend, and everything inside him changed.
You were pressed against the wall, tears in your eyes and hands trembling. He crossed the room immediately but Ben released you right away, knowing damn well he wouldn’t be able to fight his dad, especially not right now.
Gator’s arms wrapped around you immediately and you collapsed. “Come on baby, we’re leaving.” You grabbed his hand and squeezed. Ben stared at your joined hands, shaking his head.
“She's gonna have a fucking baby with you ?” Gator's head snapped toward you and you gave the tiniest shake of your head, not now, please. Something clicked in his expression and he understood enough.
“My phone, he has my phone.” The look he gave Ben could've fucking killed him.
“Give it back.” Ben didn't move so Gator stepped toward him. “Give her the fucking phone.” Slowly, Ben reached into his pocket, looked at the screen, then at you. Whatever he saw in your face finally seemed to reach him. He held it out and Gator took it before you had to go anywhere near him, then immediately handed it to you. “Come on, baby.”
His arm wrapped around you and you surely didn’t look back, almost running out of that damn apartment. The cruiser was parked half crooked near the entrance, driver's door still hanging open. Gator had apparently abandoned it the second he had arrived. He opened the passenger door for you and you climbed inside. Only when the door shut did you finally breathe.
Gator rounded the cruiser and got behind the wheel, locking the doors. Then his hand found yours again. “You're okay baby, I’m so sorry. This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Your eyes filled again as he squeezed your hand. “I got you, you’re safe. I love you.”
By the time you got back to the ranch, the adrenaline had worn off enough for the shaking to start. Gator sat you down on the couch, disappeared into the kitchen and came back a few minutes later with a mug of hot chocolate.
He sat beside you, one arm immediately settling around your shoulders. For a while, neither of you said anything. You drank and he kept you tucked against his side. Eventually, your breathing returned to something resembling normal.
Then, Gator's phone rang, making him sigh. “Jesus fucking Christ can we get a fucking moment of fucking peace in here ?” He checked the screen and his expression changed. “Lawyer.” Of course, apparently tonight hadn't been shitty enough. He answered.
“Yeah ?” You couldn't hear the other side as Gator listened. His arm slowly disappeared from around you. “What the fuck do you mean she proved my adultery ?”
You stopped drinking as Gator stood. “No, I know what fucking adultery means I Ian’t fucking stupid.” You watched his face filled with confusion, then concern.
Gator slowly turned toward you, his eyes were enormous. “No, she's not.” After a few seconds, he spoke again. “Because I fucking know she's not pregnant.” Fuck, you put the mug down as he listened to his lawyer for several seconds.
“No. Mia's wrong, I don't give a shit what Ben told her.” His jaw clenched as he rubbed his forehead. “So what happens now ?” His voice had gone considerably quieter. “Okay. I'll call you tomorrow.” He hung up and fell back on the couch, as if he had been drained of all the energy he had left. “What did you tell Ben ?” You swallowed and suddenly became extremely interested in your hot chocolate. “Baby.”
“I needed him to back off.”
“What. Did. You. Tell. Him. Exactly ?” You looked up.
“That I was pregnant.” Gator closed his eyes.
“I panicked ! He was losing his mind and I needed something that would make him stop ! He was fucking assaulting me !”
“I know.” Gator started rubbing both hands over his face.
“I didn't think he'd fucking tell Mia !”
“Well, apparently he did.” You sank farther into the couch.“She told her lawyer she wants the divorce pursued on adultery grounds, and now she can prove it.” Your eyes widened.
“Apparently North Dakota still gives a shit who you're fucking when you're married. And she thinks you’re pregnant so she fucking thinks this proves adultery.”
“I am painfully fucking aware of that.” Gator paced another few steps. “According to my lawyer, Mia told hers that her husband has been having an affair and has now gotten his mistress pregnant.”
“Yeah.” He looked at you. “Apparently Ben called her right after we left.” Gator stood there silently for a moment before rubbing both hands against his face. “Fuck my fucking life.” Somehow, your imaginary baby had just become the newest problem in Gator Tillman's very real divorce.
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