Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
Your Protector, Your Best Friend
“She’s gone.”
Those were his sister’s words when he came home. She had a few other choice words as well, but he didn’t hear any of them. Elle was gone.
Now it was two days later, and Benny stood by the window in his office at the distribution center, looking onto the busy interstate. He didn’t blame Lorielle for leaving. He shouldn’t have said what he said to her. He didn’t even know where that came from.
Benny missed her terribly. It only added to his misery.
He later found out Lorielle was back at her home, and for now he was okay with that.
The whole thing with Tara left a bitter taste in his mouth.
He had always treated that woman like a lady.
He never disrespected her, harmed her, and he always kept it real with her, even after she cheated.
When he entertained the idea of them getting back together, he told her he would try, but he wasn’t making any guarantees. He tried, and it didn’t work.
That didn’t give her the right to burn down his establishment. She overflowed his plate with situation after situation, and it didn’t stop with the press and police. Insurance, employees without jobs, loyal customers without their fix, and of course, the process of rebuilding. It was all too much.
Two solid knocks were the only warning he received before the door to his office was opened. In walked his father.
“Hey, Son.”
“Hey, Dad. What are you doing here?”
“I-I… You know what? I’m not going to sugarcoat this. It’s never been me. I’m here to tell you to pull your head out of your ass.”
He snorted. “Dad—”
“Nah, you’re listening now. Sit down.” His dad nodded to the chair behind his desk while he took a seat in one of the two chairs in front of the desk.
Benny claimed his seat, but he leaned his head back against the chair.
He couldn’t look at his father. Cup of Jo, that specific location, was the shop that his father helped build with his own two hands.
He lost it because of some relationship drama.
Years of family history and memories, right down the drain.
“Benny, I know you don’t want to hear this, but shit happens. We have to roll with the punches. You can’t shut down and shut everyone out, especially your wife. I heard she moved out.”
“I’ll fix things with Elle.”
“You better hope she’s open to it. Listen, Son. We took a big loss, but it’s nothing we can’t get back. Now the loss of a good woman is something you’ll feel for the rest of your life. Can you imagine your life without Elle?”
No, he couldn’t. His stomach tightened at the thought. “No.”
“Then go make it right, and while I’m here I’ll tell you how to make it last. Delegate.
You pay these people good ass money to do the job, then you run around doing everything.
That’s not what being a business owner looks like.
You have a family that’s only going to grow.
You need to be able to make time for them.
That’s a part of being married that no one tells you about.
You have to spread the responsibility out. ”
“I hear you. Do you have any advice on how to get my lady back?”
“I shouldn’t tell you, but I’ll give you a little tip. It has to be something money can’t buy. I mean you can buy it, but it needs to be meaningful. Something from the heart.”
Again, there was a knock on his door. “Come in.”
It was the receptionist. “Mr. Collins, a contractor is here to see you.”
“Contractor?” Benny looked at his father.
He was just as clueless as Benny was.
“Did he say who sent him?”
“Your wife, sir. He told me to tell you she said it was time to rebuild.”
“I knew I loved that girl!” His dad punched his fist in his hand. “That’s the type of woman you want to walk out of your life?”
Lorielle was a hidden gem. His secret weapon. When everyone wanted to know how he would continue to win in life, he would give her the credit.
No matter what he had to do… He was going to get Lorielle back.
“Thanks, Dad.” He hugged him. When Benny pulled away, he asked, “Can you handle the contractor? Remember, you said delegate.”
“I meant to your employees!” His dad yelled to his back because Benny rushed off. He had somewhere to be.
Benny raced to Lorielle’s house only to find she wasn’t there. He rode by her job, but she wasn’t there either. He tried to call but his calls went unanswered.
“Baby, I know you’re mad at me, but you’re right.
It’s time to rebuild and I’m not talking about Cup of Jo.
I’m in this marriage, and I’m sorry it’s been a rocky last few weeks but look at us getting the ugly part out of the way first.” He chuckled.
“I love you, baby. Call me back. No, come see me.”
After leaving a desperate voicemail, he drove home. He showered, ate, and to pass the time he watched TV and did work from his laptop.
Time ticked by and before he knew it, nightfall was there, but Lorielle wasn’t, and he had yet to receive a call from her. He tried to call her again and still no answer.
He sighed, flicking off the TV, and headed to his room to go to bed.
Benny banged on the door. He had had enough.
“I know you’re in there, Jo!”
The door was pulled open by Trey. “Hey, man.” They slapped palms before Trey stepped aside to let him in.
“Aye, my bad,” Benny apologized for his intrusion. He didn’t know what they had going on, but if he could get the information he needed, he would be on his way. “I’m just trying to find my wife.”
“You good, bruh.” Trey patted his shoulder. “We got to stick together when those two are out to get us.”
“Who told you to open that door?” Jo asked, stepping into view.
“This is my house, too, woman.”
“So is the shed outside. You want to sleep there?” She folded her arms over her chest.
“Just hear him out, babe. Damn, you’re madder than she is.”
Jo was pissed at him. She cussed him out so badly the other day.
“I already know what he’s about to ask and I’m not telling him. As far as for me being madder than Elle, I have the right to be. You really hurt her, Benny.”
He moved to his sister. “I’m trying to make it right, but I need you to tell me where she is.”
“No.” She turned and headed for the kitchen.
Trey shook his head. “That’s your sister.”
“I know, man.” Trey went into the living room while Benny followed Jo.
“Where is she, Jo?”
“I’m not telling you shit, Benny. How could you do that to Elle?
Shut her out! You better be glad she just left the house and not the marriage.
I talked her off that ledge and that’s all the help you’re getting from me.
You know how critical it is for her to believe you’re really in this. Why would you close her out like that?”
“I don’t know! It was so much shit going on then I kept thinking about Tara leaving and cheating on me because of work, then how Elle just wanted me to get over it—”
“Don’t you think that was coming from a caring place?”
“Maybe, but it didn’t feel like that in the moment. All I could think about was how much time I gave her to come to terms with her feelings for me and that she wouldn’t allow me the same courtesy of time.”
“Why didn’t you explain that to her instead of lashing out and saying that bullshit about her last marriage? You knew that shit was a low blow.” Jo shook her head.
“I fucked up, Jo, but I’m trying to make it right. Tell me where she is.”
It felt like forever before Jo spoke. “She’s on vacation. You can make it right when she gets back.”
Benny frowned. “You’re really going to be like this, Jo? I’m your brother!”
“Yes! I was on Elle’s ass about her not hurting you and it was you who hurt her. Wrong is wrong. Sit in your bullshit so you won’t do it again.”
“Well, can you at least tell me when she’s coming back?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“What you have planned for her return. It has to be big, brother.”
Thankfully, Benny had a plan in mind. Hell, he was married to a spitfire. He had to stay on his toes.
He could admit he had been knocked off his square, but he was slowly coming back to himself. His first mission was getting back in Lorielle’s good graces and everything else would fall into place.
“How was your trip?” Benny smirked.
Lorielle jumped when she saw him on her bed. “Fuck, Benny.” Her hand rested over her heart. “What are you doing here?”
She was fresh out of the shower. He could tell by the towel that was securely wrapped around her body. Her freshly blow dried hair fell around her shoulders and down her back. Her skin glistened to the point he wanted to lick her entire body.
“You look refreshed. It looks like your vacation did you some good.”
She rolled her eyes, moving to her closet.
He followed, stopping right behind her. She became rigid, picking up on the fact he was close.
She was trying to fight the feelings that consumed her, but he could tell it was no use.
He was embedded in her. Anytime he was close, her body would want to connect with his.
“What are you doing here, Benny?”
“You weren’t answering my calls.”
She flipped around. “You weren’t answering my calls either.”
He frowned. “You haven’t called me, Lorielle.” He practically lived by his phone, waiting for her to call him back.
“Not on the phone, but my heart was calling out to you, and you didn’t care.
I was trying to be there for you, and you turned your back on me.
That’s not the type of marriage I want with you, Benny.
If this is what it’s like being married to the ‘right man’, I don’t want marriage at all.
” She pulled a t-shirt and shorts from the top shelf of the closet.
She pushed past him to head to the bed, where she tossed her clothes.
“You can leave now.” She turned to him, folding her arms. “I don’t want to see you. ”