Chapter 18 - Sarah
SARAH
Itook a bite of the banana that Ben had got me and sat up straighter in bed. I was feeling a lot better. And it was all thanks to him.
Ben had burst in here like my knight in shining armour, then taken control of the situation like some kind of period pain slayer.
Bringing the paracetamol and glass of water was enough on its own. I was in so much pain at that point that even opening my eyes felt harder than balancing a ten-tonne weight on my little finger.
It was like my belly had been put inside a meat grinder.
The pain was excruciating at the best of times, when I had everything to hand, like my hot water bottle, ibuprofen and all of the other things I used to help.
But this was my first period since I’d moved here and I hadn’t got myself organised.
If Ben hadn’t come looking for me, I don’t know what I would’ve done.
As I glanced at the base of the bed and saw all the boxes, I smiled.
Wow.
He’d literally bought the entire period products aisle.
There were tampons and pads of every shape, size and absorbency from different brands.
This was enough to cater for a dozen periods, never mind one.
And that was saying something, because sometimes my flow was so heavy I had to change every hour.
Which reminded me…
I slowly dragged my legs from the bed onto the floor. These days I slept with period pants and had to put a blanket over the bedsheet too, just in case.
Once I’d made it to the bathroom and changed, I hobbled back to the bed, just as another cramp hit me.
Fuck.
It wasn’t as intense as before, but it still hurt. Just as I pulled the duvet back over me, there was a knock at the door. Must be Ben.
‘Come in,’ I croaked.
Ben walked in and I swallowed hard. I’d been too weak to pay attention before, but Jesus, he looked incredible.
He was wearing dark blue jeans and a crisp white shirt which clung to his firm chest and bulging biceps. And of course, his muscular forearms were on show.
Gah.
It was then that the realisation hit me—Ben was in my room and I was in bed, sick, and probably looked and smelt horrendous.
I hadn’t brushed my teeth or showered since last night and I was wearing a silk headscarf and old nightshirt that had seen better days.
Suddenly I felt so self-conscious.
‘Right,’ he said. ‘I’m taking you upstairs.’
‘Upstairs?’ I frowned.
‘I’ve set a bath for you in the honeymoon suite.’
‘The honeymoon suite? A bath?’ I repeated like a parrot. ‘But how?’
‘I arranged it with Glenda.’
‘Thanks, that’s really kind of you, but I’m not sure I can make it up there.
I’m feeling better, but I just about made it to the bathroom.
I’m not strong enough to walk up those stairs.
And if I get in, I probably won’t have the strength to get out.
Sorry.’ I winced, feeling bad that he’d wasted all that time preparing the bath.
‘Come on.’ Ben held out his arms. ‘I’ll take you up there.’ I frowned, not following. ‘I’ll carry you,’ he explained, as if reading my mind.
‘What? No. You can’t!’
‘Why not?’
‘Because I’ll break your arms!’
‘Seriously?’ He raised an unimpressed eyebrow. ‘Sarah, you told me a bath would help, so please let me take you up there so that you can feel better. Unless you object, I will wrap you up in a sheet and carry you upstairs in ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight, seven…’
Oh my God. He’s serious.
A bath actually would really help, but… could I really allow Ben to scoop me up into his beefy arms?
Surely that wasn’t a good idea.
‘Six, five, four…’
Just as he reached two in his countdown, another sharp pain shot through my belly.
‘Okay,’ I groaned. ‘Please take me to the bath.’