Free The One That Got Away by S J Crabb

will
always remember it. Something will trigger it again one day but if
it is important to you it will always remain.”
    Somehow his words take on a broader meaning
and I look at his intense expression realising that he is right. As
soon as I saw him that day my memories came flooding back as if
they were yesterday. I wonder if he had the same ones but feel
afraid to ask and stir up the past.
    Still we don’t move, despite the fact that
there is nothing keeping us outside. I feel the warmth from his
body as he holds me and feel him tense against me. Once again I
feel totally out of control of myself and just yearn for him to
hold me against him and feel his lips on mine again. Looking up
into his eyes I see a flicker of emotion pass across his face and
then it is gone, almost making me feel as though I have imagined
it.
    All of a sudden his face tightens and he
lowers his eyes. “Come on lets get you inside before you catch your
death.” Fighting back a feeling of disappointment I follow him
inside and notice that the log fire is still crackling away.
    The warmth from the room is extremely
welcoming and as we get inside he says, “Come on. I’ll make you a
hot chocolate to warm you up.” He pushes a seat up to the fire and
gestures for me to sit down. He then grabs a nearby blanket and
wraps it around me. I watch him making the drinks and feel as
though we are in our own little world.
    Looking around I can see that he has been
working as there are papers everywhere and his laptop is on. He
brings the drinks over and pulls another seat up to the fire.
Taking the hot steaming mug from his hands gratefully I gesture
towards it all. “Couldn’t you sleep Ben? It looks as if you have
been working.” He smiles at me ruefully. “I can never sleep in a
strange place. I find that I can get a lot done at night.” I smile.
“But the badgers distracted you.” He looks at me with an earnest
expression and says, “Yes they did, but then again they weren’t the
only ones.” I feel myself flushing again and can’t look away.
    We sit there staring at each other, the
crackling glow of the fire adding drama to the already tense
atmosphere. I feel that I could sit here all night but the warmth
finally gets to me and I can feel my eyes closing. Ben takes the
empty mug from my hand and pulls me up once again. “Go and get some
sleep Bella. You look tired and I don’t want to spoil your day
tomorrow.” Looking at him I feel disappointed to break the cosy
bubble that we have created. I say quietly, “You too Ben, you also
need some sleep. The work will still be there tomorrow.”
    He pushes his fingers through his hair and
nods. I watch as he makes his way back to his room and suddenly
feel intensely jealous of Melissa waiting for him. I think of
Nathan and once again feel as though I have betrayed him, but for
some reason it is Ben not Nathan who I wish that I was waking up
with in the morning.

Chapter 10

    I wake up and the room is filled with light.
The events of the night before come flooding back and guiltily I
look over at Nathan. However the bed is empty and he is gone. I sit
up quickly panicking that somehow he knows what I was feeling.
    Jumping out of bed I head out of the room. It
is empty and the fire has grown cold. Looking at the clock on the
wall I notice that it is 10am. Goodness, I have slept in really
late. I wonder where everyone is.
    I look outside the window but there is still
nobody around. Then I hear the door open and see Ben coming in from
outside, already dressed and ready and carrying a bag of what
appears to be groceries.
    He sees my confusion and laughs. “Morning
sleepyhead. Are you ready for breakfast? I have bought some bacon
and eggs and fresh bread from the site shop.”
    I look around me by now completely confused
as to what is going on. Seeing this he decides to put me out of my
misery. “The others have gone for a jog. I said that I would make
breakfast and that if you showed yourself you