82- nning and cating


    Bemy considers me for a moment then nods.


    “Fine. I might be mad, I can’t be sure until you tell me what’s wrong. But I promise I’ll get over it and I’ll


    help you fix it. Whatever it is. Now, tell me what’s wrong.” His voice is quiet, like he’s trying not to startle


    me. I relent and ept my fate.


    “Well… yesterday morning I found a letter under my door.” I start. I expect him to interrupt but he waits


    patiently for me to exin. I tell him what the letter said and about what I saw on the security camera.


    Bemy drops his hands to his sides, closes his eyes and takes three deep breaths. I can tell he’s


    trying to stay calm, but his shoulders and hands are tensed up and his jaw is so tight I’d be surprised if


    he could get words out. I wait, giving him time to process. Without opening his eyes, he speaks again,


    his voice measured and, controlled.


    “Why did you hide it? Why wait so long to tell me?” He asks.


    “I… I panicked I guess. I didn’t want you to be worried about me. Then I decided that I


    should tell you and I wanted to do it in person rather than on the phone, and I got sidetracked by


    Megan and… well, you know the rest.” I watch Bemy. His eyes are still shut as he processes what


    I’ve told him.


    “Are… are you angry with me?” I ask quietly. His eyes fly open and meet mine. Unlike the molten gold


    his eyes were this morning, now they’re burning embers.


    “I’m trying to convince myself I shouldn’t be. You were afraid and made a stupid choice, but you’re here


    and you’re okay and that’s what I really care about.” He says he isn’t angry but the words are


    practically a growl. I fight the urge to cringe. I’m quickly discovering that while I enjoy bickering with


    Bemy, I don’t like it when he’s actually upset with me.


    “You sound angry.” Iment. Bemy begins pacing his office, ncing over at me every


    time he turns.


    “I am angry. I’m angry with you for not saying anything sooner and walking around like everything is


    okay, I’m angry at myself for being so out of control that you weren’tfortable saying anything


    sooner. I’m angry with Aaron for not noticing something wast


    1/4


    wrong, I’m


    I’m angry


    with my


    sister for distracting you. But mostly I’m furious that anyone would threaten you. I’m going to fix it,


    Ryann. I’ll find out who it is, I’ll keep you safe.” he promises. I almost tear up again. I interrupt Bemy’s


    pacing with a hand on his arm.


    “I won’t lie and say a little bit of me not saying anything wasn’t because I thought you would overreact.


    But mostly I didn’t think it was a priority because I already feel safe. You’ve already taken every


    reasonable step to keep me safe. I didn’t feel like there was anything to worry about.” I exin. Bemy


    stares for a moment, frozen in ce, before grabbing me tightly and pulling me into a hard kiss. It’s


    over before I can even process that he’s moved. He continues to clutch me tightly against his chest.


    “Nothing is going to happen to you.” I’m not sure if he’s promising me or reassuring himself, but I nod


    against his chest anyway.


    “I’m pretty sure I’m not the one who needs convincing. Anyway, go on.” I wait. Bemy steps back to


    look at my face. He looks confused.


    “What am I supposed to be going on with?” he asks and I roll my eyes.


    “I don’t know. But I figured you’d have some new irritating sh sorta endearing super overprotective


    behaviour for me to deal with. Or something like that at least. So go ahead,y it on me.” Bemy


    stares for a second, then bursts outughing. Before I can even ask why, he grabs me and kisses me


    firmly before letting me go. I step back in shock.


    “Uhm… what?” I ask. Heughs again.


    “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. You did say toy it on you, and you were looking so serious.” He ces his


    hands on my shoulders.


    “You’re going to stay safe and use your security system. Hopefully this isn’t a big deal. You also need to


    give me the letter so I can look into it properly. I’ll call Alex right away and have him check the security


    footage again, in case you missed something.” He starts nning and I can’t help but smile. I thought


    telling Bemy would make life harder, I should have known that all he would do was try and make


    things better.


    “Yeah, I have the letter at home.”


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    “Let me grab my keys, I’ll drive you home and you can grab it for me. I’ll tell Aaron to meet us there. I


    assume you put it somewhere safe?” I shrug.


    “I put it… in my bottom drawer.” I admit. Bemy raises an eyebrow.Content held by N?velDrama.Org.


    “What, you’re pretty nosy, and I already told you to stay out of that drawer. It seemed like a good idea


    at the time.” I protest.


    “Objectively, it was a good way to hide it from me, although I still wish you didn’t feel like you needed


    to… I’m mostly just thinking that I’m going to have to be on the lookout in the future, you’re actually


    good at hiding things from me.” I frown.


    “Bemy, Isted less than a day before I changed my mind and wanted to tell you. I’m pretty sure I


    won’t make that mistake again. It was miserable. You really don’t need to worry about it. Next time I’ll


    definitely call you right away.” I assure him. He crosses his arms and looks away from me.


    “See that you do.”


    The next few weeks pass pleasantly. I don’t receive any more weird threatening letters or any other


    kinds of issues. Aaron and I develop a routine and I spend the majority of my free time with Megan and


    Bemy. The group chat between myself, Megan and Harry stays strong and we all chat every day. I’m


    finally starting to feelfortable in my own life again. It’s a Friday night and I’m super excited for one


    of my rare weekends off. Megan ising to hang out and we are only going to drink in moderation


    from now on. I hope… I hear her quick


    knocks at the door and let her and Darrien in.


    “Hi guys! I greet them. Darrien drops Megan’s bag on my table while Megan starts


    rummaging through my fridge. Sh


    rummaging through my fridge. She’s been visiting a lottely and has gotten very


    groceries and treats to make up for the stuff they use up so somehow despite constantly feeding


    guests, my shopping budget has gotten lower. Even Aaron has taken to bringing meals along, using my


    microwave and stove. He cleans up all the time too. I’ve told him he doesn’t need to but, in the smallest


    number of words he could manage and


    with a lot of interpretation on my part, he’s made it clear that technically he is not a guest, he’s at work


    and will clean up after himself. I argued at first, but it’s ridiculously hard trying


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    to argue with someone who basically never answers, so I gave up quickly. I’m starting to think that


    being quiet is just Aaron’s method of getting his own way.