Come with Me (Let It Be Me #2) (22 page)

 He just finished having dinner with Alex and Kayla and he was calling Liz to tell him he can drop by her place.

She didn’t pick up the first time. And when he tried again, it took her a while to answer -- it must have been the sixth ring. But hearing her crying, finding out her friends were with her – he knew then he did something. And her saying she was his fuck buddy was a punch in the gut. He knew she was drinking – she didn’t totally sound herself, but despite the candid way she said it, he knew she meant it. For her to think that confirmed that he’s handled it all wrong. 

He immediately went to her apartment after the phone call. He tried calling her phone a couple more times on his way, but she no longer picked up.

He buzzed the intercom of the apartment building, but it wasn’t Liz who spoke into the intercom.

“I need to speak to Liz,” he said.

“Now is not a good time.” It must be Emily.

“I just want to see that she’s okay. Please,” he cried out.

“She’s asleep,” Emily said. 

Just then the door opened and Brian came out.

“I’m sorry, I screwed up,” Ben said, telling Brian the apology he should be telling Liz in person. “It’s just not sex between us.”

Brian looked at him seriously, but with no judgment. 

“Just fix it,” Brian said.

“I swear I will,” Ben vowed.

“You can speak to her tomorrow,” Brian advised. “She’s had too much to drink and has passed out. Emily’s going to stay with her tonight.”

Ben was crestfallen that Liz had to suffer. He wished he could be the one to take care of her.

“I’m flying to Michigan early tomorrow with Alex for a movie,” Ben said. “I’ll be gone for a week. I can wait here till she wakes up so I can speak to her before I leave.”

“Maybe it’s better that you wait till you get back so the two of you would have time to think and breathe,” Brian said. 

Feeling defeated, Ben sat down on one of the steps. He knew Liz needed her space. He didn’t want to stifle her. He was just hating himself for making it reach this point. He told her at the beginning they would make it work. He didn’t hold his side of the bargain.

He let her down.

Ben took out his phone and knowing Liz wouldn’t answer his call, he typed out a message. “I wish I could say this in person right now, but I’m sorry, Liz. I hope we can talk when I get back.” A text message was probably the most futile way to apologize, but he didn’t want to leave for Michigan without giving her a hint of how sorry he was. 

He stared at his phone, hoping for a response. But of course nothing came.

“Just go home, Ben,” Brian said, kindly. 

Ben felt a pat on his shoulder then saw Brian’s feet as he retreated and walked away, leaving Ben to his misery.

 “Ben, we’re here,” he heard Kayla break into his thoughts.

Ben jolted and saw they were at the LaGuardia airport. 

He welcomed the slight distraction. 

With the pre-arranged escort for Alex, Ben followed as they went through the VIP treatment of checking in until they boarded the plane. It ran rather smoothly. Ben only spied a couple of paparazzi photographers and only a few people in the airport who requested for a photo or autograph from Alex.

It was less than an hour till they found themselves seated in the first class section of the plane. 

The flight wasn’t full so Ben sat by the window with a vacant seat next to him. Alex and Kayla sat across the aisle.

In the solitude he felt in the plane, Ben started brooding again with the thoughts that started playing in his mind. He declined the food the flight attendant was offering him, and he didn’t bother with any of the in-flight entertainment available. All he was thinking about was that each minute that passed was a minute and a distance farther away from Liz.

“Hey, I’ll sit here first, if you don’t mind,” Kayla said half an hour into the flight, taking the empty seat next to his. “Alex is getting his beauty sleep,” Kayla kidded.

Ben nodded, peering across the aisle to see Alex out like a light.

“Wanna talk about it?” Kayla asked gently.

Ben exhaled deeply.

“I messed up,” he confessed, tightening his fist.

“How so?”

He looked at Kayla, quickly deliberating how he should say it. “It’s Liz. She – we have been seeing each other for a few weeks now, and I hurt her.”

Kayla nodded. She didn’t seem surprised with his news.

“I promised her at the start that I would find a way for us to see each other and not risk her career,” he continued, shamefully. “But I got caught up and didn’t do anything about it, until she got the idea that we were just having some sort of affair.”

 Every time he replayed hearing her tell him she didn’t want to be her fuck buddy anymore was a stab to his heart, because he couldn’t forgive himself for hurting her. Again.

“She didn’t want to see me last night, and I can’t blame her. I was a prick. I should have told you and Alex about it sooner, instead of hiding her.”

“Hey, don’t be too hard on yourself.”

“But I can’t believe I hurt her.”

“You can’t do anything about what’s been done,” Kayla said. “You just have to work on making it right. I remember not too long ago you gave me the same advice when I hurt your friend.” She nudged her head to point at Alex and grinned.

“And I’m sure you can think of something to continue seeing each other and Liz staying with RHS,” Kayla continued. “I thought I was going to lose my job since I was dating one of my clients, but if you have the purest intentions, things will work out.”

Ben nodded, thinking.

“Discuss it with Alex,” Kayla instructed. “He might have an idea.”

“I will,” Ben said. 

He got his chance later that night in Michigan. After spending the afternoon with Frank Marshall and a couple others from the production crew, Ben, Alex and Kayla had dinner at the hotel. Kayla was tired from the day so she excused herself after.

“Let’s go to the bar,” Alex said after they signed off on their bill.

Ben nodded, and the two of them headed to the hotel bar.

Alex asked for two orders of scotch from the bartender before turning to Ben. He looked at Ben expectantly.

“I may have to resign from the foundation,” Ben said, resting his forearms at the edge of the bar.

Alex’s eyebrows shot up.

“You’re not happy with the projects?” Alex asked. “Is the work getting too much?”

Ben shook his head. “Of course that’s not it. I just can’t be as involved anymore.”

The bartender placed their drinks in front of them and Ben quickly drank from his. As he put down the glass, he said, “Liz and I have been seeing each other since the last fund-raising dinner.”

Ben looked at Alex and Alex was just studying Ben straight-faced.

“We kept it as a secret first because we wanted to see if there was something more between us before taking any steps regarding work,” Ben continued, rubbing his face with his palm. “But I waited too long. She now thinks I don’t see a future for us.”

Ben took another swig of scotch then laughed dryly. “I’m a first class jerk. I practically did to her what Eunice did to me. She probably thinks I was leading her on, or I wasn’t taking her seriously. I should have known better.”

Alex patted Ben on the back. 

“At least you caught it while you can still do something about it,” Alex said. “Eunice led you on, knowing you can’t ever be together. As for you, looks like you still want to see her. So you need to prove to Liz that you’re ready to plunge in with her.”

Ben nodded. If only Liz was still willing to plunge in with him. He took a drink.

“Imagine that, I find an amazing woman but she’s one of our employees. I’m such a cliché,” Ben muttered.

“Well,” Alex said slowly. “It’s not the easiest situation, but hey, I’m just glad you finally found someone. And Kayla and I agree that she is amazing and perfect for you.”

Ben examined Alex. “I wonder though why you and Kayla both didn’t seem surprised about hearing that I’ve been seeing Liz.”

Alex grinned knowingly. “Kayla has had a hunch for a while now that you were interested in her. Since the Family Day I think. Probably even before that, when you were so disapproving of her joining RHS. Kayla was the one who clued me in. When she had dinner with Liz for the New Jersey project, and when you had dinner with us the same week, Kayla noticed a similar vibe between the two of you.”

“Your fiancé is quite observant,” Ben said, suddenly finding himself smiling, remembering his and Liz’s good times.

“Funny she was observant with someone else’s love life when it took her naïve self so long to realize that I wanted her,” Alex joked, shaking his head as he took in some scotch.

“Well it worked out for the two of you,” Ben said, suddenly hoping he and Liz can have the same fate as them.

Alex nodded. 

“So here’s my suggestion,” Alex said. “Still have to discuss it with Henry but you can just be a consultant to the foundation. Pretty much like what I am. You won’t be involved in the nitty-gritty of operations anymore. Ironically, with Liz on board, she and Henry can pretty much run the office. Then everyone in the office would have to know that you and Liz are dating. I’m pretty sure they’ll be okay with it. I don’t think Liz has anything to worry about her job. We have to put up a formal office for our production company anyway so you’d be the one running that.”

Ben nodded, allowing Alex’s proposal to sink in.

“I think I’m good with that,” Ben said. The foundation was his and Alex’s dream, and it would be difficult for him to let go the control he used to have, but if it meant having Liz in his life, it would be worth it. 

“Now you just have to win the girl back, my friend,” Alex said.

“I’ll do everything that I could,” Ben said, nodding. 

* * *

“I didn’t know Michigan was this beautiful,” Kayla said over dinner Sunday night.

They had the day free to explore the state. They were guided by one of Frank’s local contacts. They took a day trip to the Mackinac Island and visited the Marquette Park, the fort, and a few museums. It was a charming island. 

They were back in the city and having dinner at the hotel to wind down.

“I’m glad you were able to come with us,” Alex said, taking her hand. “You’re the one who appreciates the city’s architecture.”

Ben watched them now with a different sentiment. He was longing for Liz.

He missed her. A lot. 

Ben has spent the past four weekends with Liz, so he was especially missing her then. He missed the text messages she would send. He was itching to send her another text message or give her a call with the hope she would answer, but he didn’t want to suffocate her.

He’s praying he could still fix things. He hoped the time he’s away is enough time for her to calm down. 

His phone started ringing then and he checked to see an unknown number.

“Hello.”

“Ben, it’s Brian,” he heard. “I got your number from Liz’s phone.”

Brian’s voice was trembling and Ben felt there was something wrong.

“Brian, how’s Liz?” he asked, hurriedly. Alex and Kayla looked at him expectantly.

“She’s in the hospital,” Brian said. “She got mugged on her way to the library.”

Ben started shaking.

“Is she okay?” Ben asked frantically.

“She’s got bruises and a bit shaken up.”

“They hit her?” Ben cried out.

“No, thank God. She fell on the sidewalk as a reaction. She’s spending the night here. The doctor said she can go home tomorrow.”

“Which hospital is she in?”

“Beth Israel.”

“I’m taking the next flight out,” Ben decided, looking at Alex. Alex nodded in support. “I’ll call you once I land.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks for calling me, Brian.”

Ben stood up as soon as he ended the call. Alex and Kayla looked as worried as Ben felt. 

“Text me what flight your taking,” Alex said. “I’ll have Roy pick you up from the airport and bring you to the hospital.”

“Thank you,” Ben said, running his hand through his hair, a million thoughts racing through his head. It was Liz’s name that was echoing around.

“Go, Ben,” Kayla said.

Ben nodded then ran.

Chapter 29

Liz

Liz felt sore, and the events from the previous day afternoon started playing back. 

She was too distracted as she walked to Stone Homes from the train station that she didn’t notice there was a teenage boy following her. She suddenly felt her laptop bag getting pulled from her shoulder. As a reaction she pulled back but ended up falling down on the sidewalk, impacting her side. She bumped her head but only to make her dizzy and unable to stand.

She managed to trap her purse underneath her so it became more difficult for the kid to get it. She heard a man yell, scaring the kid away, before the kid succeeded in getting any other of her belongings. The man immediately called 911.

“Thank you,” Liz woozily told the stranger, as the paramedics pulled her away.

Liz’s next moment of consciousness was in the hospital as she was wheeled through a hallway. The string of fluorescent lights she saw at the ceiling blurred into one ray.

As she was brought into a room, the paramedics or the nurses were talking but she was only able to pick out some words.

“…xray…”

“Her parents…”

She wondered if they were able to call her parents. In the ambulance earlier she managed to give their names as well as Emily’s and Brian’s. 

She also thought of Ben.

She dozed off in the hospital room, and woke up in what seemed like a long while later in a different room. She knew this because the lights and the ceiling were different.

“Liz?”

Liz shifted her gaze and smiled as she saw Brian.

“You’re one fine-looking angel,” she kidded.

Brian pouted, a bit teary-eyed. “Don’t make jokes like that.”

“I just fell,” Liz said.

“I know that, but something more could have happened to you if that man didn’t witness it!” Brian said, taking her hand.