Chap 33

Chap 33
LOUISA’S POV

My knees hurt a little from crouching on the floor, but I kept peeking under the bed anyway thinking to myself that maybe the puppy was shy and hiding. I even called softly, “Here puppy, come out, I won’t bite.” But nothing happened except dust making me sneeze again. 
I sat back on the carpet, pouting so hard my lips almost trembled off my face. I looked around the room again. No cake, no ribbons, no box with a bow, not even chocolates that smelled sweet. My heart began to sink, like when a balloon slips out of your hand and flies away forever.
Maybe Benedict had only said those words to get me out of the office so I wouldn’t ruin things again. My eyes burned as that thought dug into me. He hadn’t prepared a surprise. He just wanted to get rid of me before I embarrassed him in front of his mother and father and his laughing brother. My chest squeezed and my sobs burst out of me before I could stop them. 
I rocked myself on the floor, whispering between sobs, “He doesn’t want me, he doesn’t want me. I’m just too silly and everyone laughs at me. He gave me no surprise because I’m no good.”
The door clicked and opened and my whole body stiffened so I sniffled quickly and wiped my face. Benedict stepped in and his eyes landed right on me. I tried to look brave, but the tears betrayed me and fell again.
“Louisa,” his voice was calm, “what’s the matter?”
I jerked away when he tried to come closer, pressing myself into the wall like a sad little doll. I crossed my arms tight across my chest and stuck my lower lip out in the biggest pout I could manage. My eyes stung, but I didn’t want to look at him.
“Nothing,” I mumbled, turning my face away.
He crouched down in front of me anyway, his hand brushing against mine, but I pulled it back dramatically, shaking my head. “No, you don’t care,” I said with a sniff, “you don’t care at all.”
Benedict sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. “Louisa, talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong.”
I glanced at him with watery eyes and whispered, “There is no surprise.” My pout trembled harder as I spoke. “You lied. You just said it so I would not embarrass you in front of your parents and your brother and Sabrina.”
For a second he went quiet, then his lips twitched like he was trying not to laugh. My heart thumped angrily.
“See, you’re mocking me just like them,” I said in a high-pitched voice, wiping my cheeks roughly. “You think it’s funny to trick me and make me cry.”
“No,” Benedict said softly, catching my hand before I could tug it away again. His grip was warm. “No Louisa, I could care less about my parents, about Justin, about Sabrina. None of them matter when it comes to you.” His eyes grew softer as he leaned closer. “I never meant to make you feel this way, and I’m sorry.”
I blinked rapidly, my chest loosening a little though my lip was still pouted. “You mean… you really did have a surprise?”
He smiled gently, then tugged me up from the floor and led me to the wardrobe. I blinked at the tall doors and tilted my head, utterly confused. He opened them wide and pointed.
I stared blankly at the rows of fabric hanging neatly. Shirts, jackets, trousers, and then dresses too, but I couldn’t figure it out. My head tilted farther like a confused puppy.
“Why are you showing me your clothes?” I asked softly. “Do you want me to iron them? Because I’m not very good with irons. Once I burned a hole in my —”
Benedict’s laughter cut me off. A deep, genuine laugh that made his shoulders shake. I blinked at him in surprise, my confusion growing.
“No Louisa,” he said finally, catching his breath. “Not my clothes. These are for you. Our shopping trip got ruined earlier, so I made some calls and had my assistant pick out clothes for you.”
My mouth fell open in a big round O. “For me? All of these? Really truly?”
He nodded, smiling at my wide eyes.
I gasped so loudly I thought my chest would burst. I threw my arms around his shoulders, clinging to him with pure excitement. “Oh Benedict! You did this while we were in the car? That’s why you kept calling and talking all that confusing business talk? It wasn’t about work at all, it was about me!”
“Yes,” he murmured, his lips brushing my hair.
I pulled back slightly, pouting again. “But you were frowning so hard. And you wouldn’t even let me hold your hand. I thought it was because you were mad at me for getting into trouble and touching—”
My words froze in my throat as Henry’s warning echoed in my head. Don’t mention the Caldwells. Never mention the Caldwells. I swallowed quickly, my eyes darting away.
Benedict’s hand gently cupped my cheek, turning my face back toward him. “Louisa, I wasn’t mad at you. I was frustrated at what happened in the boutique and I hated leaving you alone. I’m sorry. I should never have made you feel like I was angry with you.”
My tears welled again, but this time they weren’t so heavy. I sniffled and nodded, clutching the sleeve of his shirt. “You mean it? You weren’t mad at me?”
“Never,” he said firmly. He stepped back and gestured to the wardrobe again. “And your clothes are here because I want you to start sleeping in my room.”
I gasped so loudly my hands flew to my cheeks. “In here? With you? Like a real couple?”
His lips curved into a smile. “Yes Louisa. Like a real couple who love each other.”
My eyes grew round, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might jump right out of my chest. I blinked and blinked, then whispered timidly, “Do you… do you really love me?”
My voice cracked, as though I was almost too afraid of the answer. My hands trembled where they clutched my skirt, my mind already spinning in a hundred silly directions. 
Maybe he only said it to be kind. Maybe he meant like a friend. Or maybe he truly meant it, like the couples in fairy tales.
I stared at him, waiting, hoping, not even daring to breathe.

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