Back There Again (Chapter V)

Half of her prayed that the rain didn't stop. Lying in bed with Ben next to her seemed boring, but their schedules at home didn't really permit them this much quiet and alone time together. They needed to cherish these lazy hours. The other half wanted to get out and experience more. They were on vacation after all and the delicious foods and drinks that she knew Janet would have on the boat were calling her name. "Alright," Ben said picking up the bag. "Ready?"

"Yes."

He held her hand as they walked toward the dock on the other side of the cove. "Damn!" Ben exclaimed. "This shit is big as hell."

"Right?" Miranda giggled because she'd been thinking the exact same thing. What was it that Milo did again?

"This gotta be 30… 30-something meters."

"40 meters to be precise," Milo said waving them on. "Welcome! Babe! They're here!"

Miranda tied her coverup before leading the way, her sandals slapping the sturdy, wooden gangway. Ben placed a lackadaisical hand on her hip so she wouldn't slip. "You guys made it!" Janet called out from the other end of the boat.

"Yep," Miranda said popping her lips at the end of the word.

Ben gave Janet a smile and headed toward her companion. Their relationship was weird to her, but Miranda would be a fool to deny their chemistry. "I know you didn't want to come," Janet said.

"No, I did. I did. But…"

"You wanted time with your husband. I get it. That's what he said, too. And my bad if it seemed like I pushed you."

Miranda scanned the large boat and found her husband, laughing with Milo. She really needed to relax. "It's fine."

"Good."

"Alright, well, show me around this thing."

Janet clapped her hands. "Girl, yes, but first! Dri-iinks."

"Yes, please!" She followed Janet ooh-ing and ahh-ing several times over. It was beautiful and spacious and Miranda found herself making plans for renting one at some point so her son could experience such luxury. On the upper deck, there was a nice hang out area and a slide that hung over the side of the boat. As they went to the lower deck, they passed Ben and Milo who were still talking, Ben dragged a finger along her waist never missing a beat in his conversation. The windows below were large and spotless and they could damn near see clear across the ocean. And the furniture was expensive and comfy; it was basically a mini on-water hotel.

Down the narrow hallway from the room she shared with Milo and next to his office space, Janet said: "This will be y'all's room." She opened a door and allowed Miranda to walk in first.

A neatly made queen-size bed with rose-colored sheets and a silky, black comforter sat against the furthest wall of the room. There were mirrors on the closet doors that reflected the bed. "Wow." Miranda took off one of her flip-flops and squished her toes into the carpet. "This is amazing." They wandered through the rest of the yacht and she went from thinking about renting one to wanting to own.

"And that's it."

"'That's it'? You said it like we didn't just walk a mile," Miranda chuckled. "Like it was just some little thing."

"Well…" Janet responded and they clinked their nearly empty glasses together.

"Where are the fellas?" Miranda asked pulling down her sunglasses to shield her eyes from the sun that'd finally come out to play.

Arms snaked around her hips and lips landed on her neck. "Right behind you."

"Did you get a tour, too?"

He nodded against her skin. "Mirrors," he whispered. She laughed and hit his arm. "So, apparently, we're just floating on the water."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Milo said kissing the top of Janet's head. "And you have free-range of everything. The fridge is stocked, coolers are full. Uh, we'll stay out of your room, of course. Give you your privacy and that… it's a pretty big boat."

"Nah, baby, this is a yacht!" Ben said, slapping hands with the man.

"Oh, and it's majestic!" Miranda exclaimed. "Thank you both for the invitation."

"Uh, no big deal." He looked at Janet. "I'm off to my study, dear. I'll see you in a few." Miranda watched her friend's face fall and she felt so bad.

Ben must have been feeling the same way because he asked for a more personal tour from Janet while Miranda cozied up in their room, folding back the comforter, putting an extra pillow on her side and laying her husband's pillows down the way he liked. "I'll see if she wants to go." She heard in the hallway.

"See if who wants to go where?" Miranda asked.

"You… snorkeling," Ben said. "And Janet's gonna break out the standup paddleboards." Miranda made a face. "Come on, baby. Please, please, please." His whining and gentle eyes made her cave.

"Maybe for a few."

He untied her coverup and reached for her waist. "But first…"

"Oh no!" She squeaked. "Absolutely not."

"Why not?" He said sliding a finger into her dark purple one-piece bathing suit, crumpling her.

"We're in someone's… home. Essentially."

He smirked and bit his bottom lip. When he released it from between his teeth, she stood on her toes and kissed it slowly. "They know it's our honeymoon."

"Second honeymoon because the first was ruined by your shenanigans."

He used two fingers to flick her, hooking one into the hood of her clit. She moaned loudly. "Our shenanigans because I wasn't the only one climaxing on the beach."

"Shhh!"

"Just a… bit."

Miranda hit his hand playfully, pushing him away. "No." Looking at the closet door, she saw him sucking on his fingers and she shook her head as he made eye contact with her. God, he turned her on like no one had ever had. "Okay, maybe a little… something, but… quietly," she said falling into him.

A while later, Ben was saying "Easy" as the three of them left Milo to his work and climbed down the ladder to the water.

"Ooooh! Cold," Miranda said, checking her life vest for the hundredth time, warming up a small area as she moved, waving her legs so no fish decided they wanted her for dinner. Ben clambered onto a board and paddled several feet away. "Be careful, hon!" She told him wanting to look away, but needing to keep an eye on him. Janet paddled next to him on her own board showing him how to steer better. Miranda enjoyed floating in the water and was even convinced by Ben to get up on a paddleboard.

"You got it, baby."

She slipped off once before even going anywhere. When she finally did get up and was able to paddle a ways, she thought she saw something, panicked and tried to sit down. She ended up falling in the water again. "That's it! I'm done," she laughed.

"I didn't marry a quitter," Ben chuckled.

She gave him the peace sign. "Yes, the hell you did."

"Well, what about the slide?"

"What about it?" She asked putting her hands on her hips even though he couldn't see her in her power pose beneath the water.

"Aren't you going to give it a shot?"

"You're asking for too much." Miranda ran a hand over her face. He swam over to her with the biggest smile on his face. "Haven't I been adventurous enough?"

"You've been amazing," he said kissing her. "And I will leave you alone after this."

"You promise?"

"My word is my bond."

A gradual smile replaced her scowl. "One. Time."

Ben came up with her and when she needed another moment or two, he slid down. "That was fun! Come on down, babe! It's not scary."

She shook her head and got off of the slide, wringing her hands. Janet slid down next and they two of them talked animatedly, their voices echoing over the water. "Miranda, we're waiting!" Janet said her accent hitting Miranda's ear.

Her husband came back up. "If you don't go," he said climbing up on the railing of the yacht. "I'll jump."

She grinned as her heart thumped. "You wouldn't."

"Slide."

"I'm not—" He leapt off of the side and she ran to the railing and stood on her toes leaning over trying to spot him.

"Benjamin Warren!" He popped up and wiped water from his face. "Don't do that!"

"Then… face your fears, woman."

Miranda wasn't really afraid of heights, but seeing that slide did make her knees shake a little. Steadying her breath, she climbed up the ladder and sat down at the top. She held onto the bar. "Go, Miranda, go!" Janet shouted from beneath her.

"Come on, baby. I'm down here. I'll catch you."

She laughed before thinking: Here goes nothing. "Shit, shit, shit, shit!" Miranda yelled going down the 12-foot slide, dropping over the edge. When there was no more plastic beneath her body, she screamed loudly before falling into the water, sinking a few feet beneath the surface before reemerging. Ben and Janet cheered like fans at a Seahawks game, their voices carrying over the water. "Now, I am finished."

On the deck, she took off the life vest and Ben scaled the ladder, hugging her. "I'm proud of you."

"It was nothing."

"Seeing the big, bad Dr. Bailey sliding 20 ft into the water. I'm impressed. And turned on." They shared another kiss that was wet, salty and perfect. "Now watch this," he said pecking her a few times before moving away. Miranda held her breath. "I'm only doing this one time." She tilted her head. "Get the camera. I want Tuck to see this."

Hearing her son's name, she went to the table and grabbed her phone, pressing "record". "Ready." He gave her a mischievous smile and climbed up on the railing. Both she and Janet stared at him with wide eyes. He turned around, balancing on the railing, his toes gripping the metal. "What are you doing?"

"Flipping."

"You're like 60! You cannot do a backflip off of a boat! Get down!"

"I used to do this all of the time, babe. On mattresses, at the pool, on the playground… I'll be fine," he explained casually, but Miranda had half a mind to push him off.

Janet put a hand to her chest. "Please, be careful."

Ben thanked her with a wave. "Make sure you get the whole thing for my boy."

Her heart was smiling, but her lips shouted: "Don't you dare, Benjamin Michael Warren!"

Taking a long breath, he exhaled. "I love you, Miranda Pearl Bailey," he said before doing a backflip off the boat, tucking his legs and twisting a few times before plunging into the water. It was so graceful that she stopped being mad for a second, appreciating the athleticism of it all—until he floated to the top, grinning. "I landed on my ass."

"That's what your ass gets," she responded as he climbed out of the water coming over to her. "Want me to rub it for you?" She asked, taken.

"Can I say yes?" She nodded, smiling. She put down the phone to accept a kiss not realizing that the camera was still recording.

Alone, Miranda got a drink and some snacks and sat on the sofa. Her husband glided on the board with Janet sitting on the back. She pushed Ben off of the board and then jumped in. The yacht and the surrounding area were so quiet that their laughter rang out and it began to tick her off. He started to get back on the board and the woman pulled him back off. Ben splashed her and she screeched playfully. Miranda didn't know what exactly she was watching, but it made her stomach and chest stir. They were probably just having fun, but knowing what she knew about Janet…

"Babe!" Ben said cutting into her thoughts. He waved. She didn't respond, in fact, she turned away, ashamed that she was so upset. This was pure jealousy and if she didn't curb it, it would cause a problem. Her husband, she knew, sometimes flirted to get what he wanted. Miranda was the same way. But this was a level she hadn't experienced since she and Ben had first started their relationship. When she'd seen Ben flirting, by his admission, with a nurse, the rage she'd felt had bubbled in her skin. Then there were tears. But he'd made it perfectly clear that he was only into her and only wanted her. And they were married now, so she didn't have anything to worry about. But it'd happened to her once, couldn't it happen again? "What's wrong?"

"Excuse me?" She asked, looking behind her to see his flawlessly dripping body.

"I'm yelling and waving to you like a crazy person and you're ignoring me."

She shrugged. "I didn't see you."

"You're not telling the truth," Ben replied. "Miranda, what is going on?"

"I said it was nothing," she spat.

"Fine." He started to storm off.

"You're just being really friendly with Janet," she said in a low tone.

He spun, his feet splattering the tiny puddles he was making. "WHAT?!"

"You heard me."

Ben put his hands on his hips. "You… are you serious?" She held her breath. Was she serious? Even though they'd just The thought wasn't completely irrational, was it? "Whatever." He walked to the ladder and she watched him climb down. Avoiding her eyes, he sank into the water. "I don't know" she heard him say as he hopped onto the board. "I'm going for a ride. Tell Miranda I'll be back, please."

She turned her back, laying on the sofa, trying to find a comfortable position. But she couldn't. She'd let her emotions get the best of her and her bones were settling all wrong. Ben was not Tucker. He would never, but Janet had a reputation. She was actually witnessing her be with another woman's husband. Who's to say… "Miranda?" Janet's voice startled her.

Miranda slapped a smile on her face and looked at Janet. "Heeey," she sang.

Janet mimicked it, just as wide, just as fake. She wrapped a towel around her body before sitting down. "When we first met, I could tell you were bothered at the fact that Milo and I are… together." Gritting, her teeth, the surgeon tried to keep the smile on her face, but it waned slowly. "And that's understandable. But he and I have known each other since we were kids. We go our separate ways, but we always end up circling each other. He just happens to be…"

"Married," the two of them said at the same time.

"Yeah. This… thing with Milo… it breaks my heart and his, but… we can't seem to move on from each other. It's terrible I know."

Not sure that she could say anything without spouting judgment, Miranda painted sympathy on her face instead. "I hear what you're saying." She paused for a moment. "But I've been on the other side and it's awful," she said transparently.

Janet nodded. "I'm sorry about that. And I'm sure that believing what I'm about to say will be a tall order, but I would never do anything to demolish a friend's marriage. I respect you and your marriage. So, if I was a little too friendly with Ben, blame me, not him." The new friends made eye contact. "Truth?"

"Yes."

"I may be slightly envious but only in the way that you two can be your true selves at all times. There is no hiding and no secrets. It's beautiful." A small smile seeped from Miranda's lips. "I'm glad that I met you." They were quiet for a long time. Calming her nerves, Miranda nodded slowly. It had been tough not having Tucker in her life. He'd been such a big part of her world. But now, aside from their child, he was just this guy she knew and lived with once upon a time. If that happened with Ben, she would shatter. "I swear to God."

"Okay," she said not totally trusting the woman yet, but absolutely trusting her man.

"And Ben is not that kind of guy. He's a good one. But you know that, of course."

Miranda saw Ben return and her heart sputtered. He waved at her, sarcasm oozing from his movements. She waved back this time and he grinned genuinely. "I do."

Back on the deck, he came over to her, practically sitting on her lap, as Janet stood up. "Alright, lovebirds," she started, "I'll be on the other side sunbathing and reading."

"Fun. I will join you after I go to the bathroom," Miranda said. She kissed Ben's cheek and began to get up, but he held her down, staring.

"I want to—" Miranda started as Ben was saying: "You know—"

"You first," they said simultaneously.

"Y-you go first," she stammered.

"You know me, Miranda Bailey-Warren. Know me better than I know myself. Know where my heart is." She put her head back a little, hoping the tears would retreat. "Know I wouldn't do anything to break your trust in me—in us."

"I know, hon," she told him, rubbing his head. "I'm learning."

"I know. And I'll say it as many times as I need to."

"You'll get tired of it. Maybe me."

"Where's all this coming from again? I thought we… aren't we good?"

Miranda licked her bottom lip. "People cheat. When it happened to me in my last marriage, it tore my life apart and left me gasping for air," she said letting his beard prickle her skin. "It happens all of the time."

He shook his head. "Not me. Not us." They stared at each other for a long time and he peered into her brown eyes with his own, his face unchanging. He knew how much Tucker had hurt her and even though it had been a long time, sometimes… the pain was so fresh.

"Okay," she said believing him with everything she had in her.

"But I know that's not who you are and that's not who I am."

She bobbed her head from side to side. "Not who you are now. You've… cheated before."

Ben growled. "On a woman who cheated on me first. I told you that," he said. "Fair exchange ain't no robbery."

Miranda couldn't hide her smile. "So, if I cheated on you—"

"I'd hunt you and him down," he said biting her chin. "I love you too much to share."

"I love you too much, too, Ben Warren."

"But the next time you even think anything like that, I want you to talk to me, not catch an attitude. Or else."

Miranda poked out her bottom lip. "I'll try," she said, kissing him softly at first before slipping her tongue into his mouth.

"No trying. Just come to me." She dropped a hand to his lap, pianoing his dick through his shorts. "And don't cheat on me either." Her husband put his lips on her neck, sucking and making her squirm. "Okay?"

"Okay," she moaned.

Ben squeezed her butt, groaning. "Are you still going to the bathroom?"

"Yes," she said not wanting to let him go.

"Bring my tablet and the deck of cards please?" His face moved down her chest, licking her skin.

"Anything else?" She asked, wondering when she'd become the woman who'd do anything for a man.

His smile was intoxicating. "A beer. Please."

"I'll be back."

Heading to the room she and Ben were to share, she overheard Milo talking. "Yes, baby. This trip is just taking longer than usual. I'll be home soon," he said, his accent making the lies sound sexy. Miranda stopped in her tracks. It was so quiet that she could practically hear the leftover water dripping from her body to the carpet. "We have new clients who need me to show them the, uh… the, uh, ropes." She balled her fists. Even though he wasn't technically talking about her, she hated being part of a lie. "Well, darling, she has to be. She's in the company. She's in a, um… a different part of the building. I don't even see her much anymore."

Miranda wondered if he was speaking about Janet or someone else. A squeaking noise told her that he was on the move and she continued to the room before they saw each other. In the bathroom, she became pissed on Janet's behalf and on behalf of the other woman who probably knew she wasn't the only one, but kept trying to convince herself that she was. "Whew," she said to herself. She and Ben had just talked about it all, but Milo's gall had her fuming! He was so bold and so smooth and completely getting away with it.

Grabbing a bag, she stuffed it with a towel, her book, her husband's tablet and the deck of cards he carried everywhere. Her mind went back to Milo and her conversation with Ben just minutes earlier. How could someone claim to love you and simultaneously be hurting you? It was despicable. "If he ever, I'd kill him dead," she grumbled.

"Kill who?" Ben asked coming into the room.

Jumping, she said: "What are you doing down here? I was on my way back up with your stuff."

"Bathroom. Kill who?"

"You," she answered giving him a little bump before leaving.

The two women lay across the front of the yacht, drying beneath the fading sun whilst reading their books. Miranda had caught up to Janet and was only a few paragraphs away. "Oh, my goodness!" Janet gasped. Miranda kept going and let out a loud sound herself.

Ben ran toward them, skating on water. "What? What?"

"Careful!" She said holding up a hand. "Relax."

"Are you two okay?"

Miranda nodded. "Yes, yes. We're fine."

"It's the book," Janet said.

He wiped his face and stared at them, unamused. "Sorry," Miranda said with a laugh that Janet copied.

She loved how attentive her husband was to her. And she hoped she treated him the same way. Miranda wanted that for Janet. Half of her wanted to tell Janet about the phone call, the other was certain that the woman knew in some ways. Maybe she should just stay out of it? It was her honeymoon after all and the only drama she wanted was in the novel she was reading, but what she did need was… "Babe, can you bring us some drinks?" Miranda asked.

"On it, my love." Dinner was prepped by Janet. Turns out that's how she knew Fabian, they'd studied together. And the four of them had a nice meal, chatting and laughing, as the sun disappeared below the horizon. Every time she remembered Milo's phone call, Miranda scowled at him. "What's the matter?" Ben asked, leaning over to her.

She whipped her head around and lowered her voice. "That man," was all she could say.

"Okay, well, stop shooting him death stares. We have to sleep on this damn boat with him," he responded. Her eyes landed on him. "Oh, no. Don't look at me like that, woman." Miranda focused on his lips as he spoke and she softened. "That's better."

With Ben's deck of cards, they played Spades. Miranda and Janet teamed up against their lovers, beating them so badly, the men attacked them with kisses until they surrendered. The two couples sat on the sofas watching the water. Miranda hugged Ben's waist, putting her cheek on his chest, smelling him, listening to his heart thump. It was so familiar. She knew his like she knew her son's, like she knew her own. Milo slipped away, claiming that he needed to go and clean something. Minutes later, Janet followed saying she was going to help. Alone, Ben dropped an arm around her, holding her as close as possible. "I like this," she said.

"Me, too." He kissed the top of her head before sipping his drink.

In the distance, they could see a few dolphins swimming, squealing, unbothered. "Tuck would love this," she said absentmindedly.

"He would." There was a stall in his voice and she didn't say anything, patient. "Speaking of Tuck… he, uh, called me 'dad' the other day..."

Miranda felt her heart tumble in her chest. "And… and what did you say?"

"I didn't know what to say, but…" he said taking another drink. "I don't know if it was a mistake, so I didn't correct him or anything. Maybe I should have. I don't know." Ben sighed. "Then he was out of the room before I could process it."

She looked up at him, her grip tightening on his shirt. "Oh."

"It happened so damn fast."

"Yeah?" He nodded. "Okay. Well, I'll, um, I'll talk to him, but… what do you think?"

"I think I probably should have told you sooner, but…"

"No, what do you think about him calling you 'dad'," she said.

He pulled in his lips for a second. "It should be up to Tuck and Tucker, right? I mean…" Ben was doing his best to be nonchalant, but she could feel his heart pounding.

"Benjamin Warren, what… do… you… think?" Miranda asked one final time, pronouncing the "k" crisply.

"I've just been basking in how good it felt, Miranda." He grinned. "I'm still on cloud nine."

That's exactly what she'd wanted to hear. "Okay, then." She pushed out her lips, wordlessly begging for his. A sweet kiss turned spicy when his hand dropped to her thigh, coursed her hip and landed on her belly, strumming it. "Uh, so, where the hell are Janet and Milo?" She inquired lazily.

"Probably somewhere doing what we should be doing."

Miranda turned to face. "And what is that, Dr. Warren?"

"Well, Dr. Bailey-Warren," he said pressing a quick kiss to her temple before standing up and leading her toward the stairs. "I can show you better than I can tell you."

"We'll see." Looking over the huge deck, she caught a reflection of Janet through one of the windows. Her naked silhouette moved slowly as she and her boyfriend made love. The sound of the water lapping at the edge of the boat covered their noises.

"You alright?" Ben followed her gaze. "See, I told you," he said kissing the back of her hand.

Her core pulsed eagerly, ready for her husband. "Let's go."