Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Ashlyn
My heart pounds as Ben gently lowers my trembling legs to the ground. He keeps his arm wrapped securely around my waist, and I’m grateful, uncertain if my legs would hold me up on their own.
He leads me to the edge of the walk-in shower, reaching for a towel from the vanity.
“Let’s dry off and get to bed,” he murmurs, wrapping a soft, fluffy towel around me before grabbing one for himself. We step into the bedroom, the warmth of the shower lingering on my skin.
After drying off, I sit on the edge of the bed, naked, braiding my damp hair down my back. I can feel Ben’s gaze on me, and the anticipation of curling up in his arms makes my heart flutter.
When I finish, I stand, and Ben pulls back the comforter, opening his arms.
“Come here, baby.”
Smiling, I slip into bed, pressing my body against his. He tugs the comforter over us, then wraps me in his embrace.
He exhales a contented sigh and presses a soft kiss to my head. A deep warmth settles in my chest. I haven’t felt this happy in a long time.
“Where's Laney this weekend?” I ask, lifting my head to meet his gaze.
“She’s on a girls’ weekend for her friend’s birthday. Her parents rented a cabin with a hot tub about an hour from here.”
“Sounds fun.”
“I almost didn’t let her go after everything that’s happened, but she begged, and I caved.”
“Softie,” I tease.
He groans. “More like a pushover.”
“She’s your little girl. My dad’s just the same.”
Ben falls silent for a moment, his gaze holding mine a little longer than usual.
“Do you want kids, Ash?” he asks.
“Yes,” I answer without hesitation. I’ve always known I want children. But as soon as I say it, it hits me. Ben already has Laney. Maybe he doesn’t want more.
I hesitate before asking, “What about you? Have you ever thought about having more?”
He exhales slowly. “I don’t know. I’ve never had to think about it.”
My heart sinks a little at his uncertainty.
“What made you think about it now?” I ask, propping myself up on my elbow.
“I’ve seen you with Hunter. It’s obvious you’d want kids.”
I nod. “I’ve always wanted a big family. Growing up with my brothers was the best, and I want that for my own kids.”
His brows lift slightly. “There are five of you.”
I laugh. “Five is probably too many, but I was thinking maybe three.”
He clears his throat. “Three? That’s... a lot.”
“Are you freaking out?” I ask, watching him closely.
He reaches up, his fingers trailing gently across my cheek. “No. I’m not freaking out.”
I arch a brow. “You sure?”
A sheepish smile tugs at his lips. “Well... maybe a little. I guess I figured I was done with diapers and formula, but then I met you, and now... I want to give you everything you've ever wanted.”
Leaning in, I press a soft kiss to his lips. “You're everything I've ever wanted,” I whisper. “Anything else is just a bonus.”
He leans back just a little, his eyes scanning mine. “You don’t mean that. Kids, I could probably get on board with, but I know you want to get married, and that’s something I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to give you.”
A strange unease settles in my stomach. “Where’s this coming from? Who says I want to get married?”
“No one,” he mutters, dropping his gaze. “I just assumed.”
Then it clicks. “It was Nash, wasn’t it?”
Ben doesn’t say anything, confirming my suspicion.
I nudge him. “Ben, was it Nash?”
He sighs, resting his head back against the pillow. “He said you and Ivy used to run around the backyard with pillowcases on your heads, pretending to be brides.”
I laugh. “So? Doesn’t every girl do that?”
He shrugs. “He said you’ve had your wedding planned since you were eight.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah, when I wanted to marry Justin Timberlake!” Letting out a breath, I add. “I’m not naive, Ben. I know as long as you’re married to Molly, you can’t marry me.”
His head lifts slightly. “And you're okay with that?” There's uncertainty in his voice, and I realize we probably should have had this conversation sooner.
I cup his jaw, my thumb tracing the rough stubble there. “Yes. I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
Nash was right. I always dreamed of being a bride.
But a wedding is just one day. It’s the lifetime of commitment that truly matters.
I don’t need a piece of paper to prove that.
If Ben is the one, and right now, it’s feeling more and more like he is, then I’m perfectly content spending my life with him, marriage license or not.
Relief washes over his face. “I’m so in love with you, Ashlyn Brookes, and I want to give you the world.”
My heart stumbles over itself, the weight of his words making it feel like it might beat right out of my chest.
“I love you too, Ben.”
A wide smile spreads across his face, and I lean down to kiss him. It’s deep and all-consuming, a kiss that speaks volumes about how he feels. It sends a thrill through me, making my stomach flip and my heart race, and I silently hope he always kisses me like this.
“Night, Ash,” he murmurs against my lips as our kiss breaks.
“Night, Ben,” I whisper back, resting my head on his chest as his arms wrap around me. My eyes grow heavy, and I drift off to sleep feeling happier than I ever have before.
“Are you okay?” Ben asks, his hand resting firmly on my leg, halting its nervous bounce.
It’s Sunday afternoon, and we’re on our way to Ben’s parents' place for dinner. I’ve never been through the whole ‘meet the parents’ thing before, and I’m feeling a little nauseous.
“I’m nervous,” I admit, glancing over at him. “What if your parents don’t like me?”
He gives my leg a reassuring squeeze. “Ash, they’re going to love you.”
“How can you be so sure?”
He sighs, a small smile tugging at his lips. “They’ve been worrying about me for years. They’ve seen a change in me lately, and they know it’s because of you. They’re excited to meet you.”
I raise an eyebrow, surprised. “Really?”
“Really.” He chuckles, his eyes warm.
“I’m sorry for freaking out. I’ve just never met a guy’s parents before. I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“Just be yourself, Ash. It’ll be fine.”
I’m not entirely convinced, but I offer him a small smile and nod.
There’s no time to worry further as Ben pulls into the driveway of a stunning two-story house and parks.
The front yard is a lush display of wildflowers, with a white picket fence lining the lawn.
The porch steps lead to a wraparound porch, where a swing gently sways in the breeze.
“The house is beautiful, Ben. Have they lived here long?”
“About ten years, I think. They moved here when they retired. They wanted a quieter pace of life.”
Ben steps out of the car and I follow, meeting him by the hood.
“Ready?” he asks, intertwining his fingers with mine.
I take a deep breath, pushing down the nerves swirling in my stomach. “Ready.”
Hand in hand, we walk up the porch steps, and Ben pushes open the front door. “Hello!” he calls out as he shuts it behind us.
The inside is just as stunning as the outside, with high ceilings, polished wooden floors, and a grand staircase leading to the second floor.
As we pass the sitting room, I take in the elegant marble fireplace and the chandelier hanging overhead.
Unlike Ben’s house, this space is filled with framed photographs on every surface, and despite its size, the place feels welcoming.
“In here!” a voice calls out, and Ben squeezes my hand before leading me down the hall.
“Hey,” Ben greets as we step into the kitchen, the rich aroma of something delicious filling the air.
“You must be Ashlyn,” a woman says, stepping away from the stove. She crosses the room with a warm smile, taking my hand before pulling me into a hug. I return it, smiling at her kindness.
“Mom, this is Ashlyn,” Ben says. “Ash, this is my mom, Mary.”
“It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, Ashlyn. I’ve heard so much about you,” she says, casting a knowing glance at Ben.
Heat rushes to my cheeks and Ben chuckles, slipping an arm around my waist and pulling me close.
“It’s great to meet you too, Mary,” I reply, feeling a bit shy.
“Where’s Dad?” Ben asks.
“He’s lying down. He didn’t have the best night,” Mary replies, stirring whatever she’s cooking on the stove.
Ben’s brows knit together. “What? Why didn’t you call me?”
She waves a hand dismissively. “He’s fine. He has nights like this now and then. He’ll be awake in time for dinner.”
“You should have still called me.”
“Don’t fuss,” she says lightly. “Get Ashlyn a drink. I’m almost finished here and then we can sit down.”
“Can I help with anything?” I offer.
“That’s sweet of you, but everything’s under control,” she assures me with a smile.
Ben releases his hold on my waist and heads to the fridge. “What do you want to drink, Ash?”
“A soda, if you have it.”
“Sure.”
He grabs two cans, handing me one before Mary gestures toward the living room. “Let’s go and sit. Dinner will be ready whenever your dad wakes up.”
We follow her into the living room, where Ben and I settle on one of the large sofas next to the impressive fireplace. Mary takes a seat across from us, her expression warm and welcoming.
“Your home is beautiful, Mary,” I tell her.
“Thank you, dear. We moved here when Jeff retired.” She smiles. “We thought we might have had more grandchildren to fill all these empty rooms, but it turned out, Ben was the only one to give us that.”
“There’s still time, Mom,” Ben says. “Kirsten and Milo might settle down yet.”
She laughs. “I doubt that. Neither of them seems to have the time.” She looks at me.
“Ben mentioned you come from a big family, Ashlyn,” she says with genuine interest.
I nod, smiling. “I do. Four older brothers.”
She chuckles softly. “And I thought raising three kids was a challenge. Your mother must have the patience of a saint.”
I laugh. “Oh, my brothers definitely put her patience to the test over the years.”
Mary grins then glances at Ben. “Speaking of testing patience, where’s Laney this weekend? We haven’t seen her around.”
“She’s on a girls’ weekend,” Ben replies with a small sigh. “One of her friends’ birthdays.”
Mary’s brows draw together in a faint frown. “I thought she was grounded.”
He exhales. “She is.”
Mary gives me a sympathetic smile. “Ben mentioned Laney’s been… having a hard time adjusting to your relationship. Just give her time.”
Ben reaches over and laces his fingers through mine, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.
“I will,” I murmur softly.
“You won’t get any resistance from us,” Mary says warmly. “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Ben this happy and we know that’s because of you.”
Ben squeezes my hand again, and warmth rushes to my cheeks. He’d told me his parents were supportive, but I hadn’t expected her to be quite so upfront about it.
“You should have woken me,” a voice says from the doorway.
We all turn to see an older man standing there, looking frail but steady on his feet.
“Dad,” Ben says as he rises from the sofa and walks toward him. “Come and sit down.”
“I’m fine, son,” his dad replies, waving off Ben’s attempt to help him. Slowly, he makes his way across the room and settles into the seat beside Mary. His eyes flick to me and he smiles before turning to Ben.
“Aren’t you going to introduce us?” he asks.
Ben sits down and rests his hand on my knee. “Dad, this is Ashlyn. Ash, this is my dad, Jeff.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, offering him a warm smile.
“You too, sweetheart. Ben’s been talking about you for months,” Jeff says with a knowing grin.
“Dad.” Ben groans, clearly embarrassed.
I glance across at Ben, teasing. “Months, huh?”
He chuckles and leans in to press a soft kiss to my cheek. “What can I say? I knew you were something special from the start.”
My cheeks heat again, and Mary smiles as she stands. “I’ll go and get dinner served. We’ll eat in the dining room.”
The rest of the afternoon is spent eating, laughing, and sharing stories.
Ben’s parents are warm and welcoming, and it’s easy to see how close they are as a family.
Though my brothers have come around to accepting my relationship with Ben, it’s a relief to feel his parents’ support from the very beginning.
There’s no mention of our age difference, Ben being my boss, or even Molly. Instead, the conversation often circles back to Laney, and they clearly dote on her. I can’t help but hope she loves them just as much. Maybe their acceptance will help her come around to us too.