As She's Walking Away

"Are you saying it's not going to work?" Ben asked Miranda.

"I'm saying that I asked for space," she responded.

He paced. "You're mad?"

"Of course I am!" She yelled. She raked her hands through her hair messing up her ponytail. She'd already passed "mad".

"Miranda, you're overreacting," he told her. Ben took a step in her direction. She stepped back and glared at him. "I didn't mean it like that."

"So you weren't flirting with another woman?"

He sighed. "Flirting is such a strong word."

"But, in this case, it seems like the right one." He screwed up his face and she resisted the urge to smile. This was serious. When she'd walked into Ben's office and saw a woman bent over his desk, laughing, her skirt pulled up higher than what was considered normal or professional, Miranda's first thought was to not panic. She just knew whatever they were talking about was business only and she moved to look at Ben's face. And she saw it. The smile that she thought was just for her. The one that made her melt, even then while he was giving it to someone else. He was enjoying the extra special attention. She'd walked out of the room feeling more than disappointed. At home, she'd started packing some of her stuff. Miranda had called Raven and asked if she could stay there for a couple of days. Ben had come home just as she was leaving and convinced her not to leave. But every time she looked at him, she became aggravated. "I need space and time," she'd told him.

"No," he'd begged. "Let me explain." And he did. But she was still pissed. "Miranda…" Ben's voice brought her back to the present. He touched her hands.

"I'm going to Raven's," she said. She picked up her bags. "I'll be back sometime this week."

"Don't do this."

"Put yourself in my shoes."

He inhaled. "I'm sorry."

"You've said that." Miranda walked out of the door.

Her second night at Raven's house, she sat in the living room eating. "Sublimating your rage with pie?" Miranda cut her eyes at her cousin. "Unh-uh, save that look for your man."

Miranda bit the inside of her lip. "My bad."

"Finally ready to talk?" Miranda nodded and told her the story. "Doesn't sound too bad."

"I thought you'd be on my side," she said.

"I am. No doubt, but he wasn't—"

"He allowed her to sit on the edge of his desk like that and…"

"And what?"

"He smiled at her."

"Miranda! I've seen you bat your lashes at waiters to get extra stuff and workers at stores and smile at guys when we go out—"

"It's not the same."

"Says who?" Raven challenged.

"You didn't see the way that woman was all over him."

"You're jealous."

"I am not," Miranda said folding her arms. Raven gave her a look. The older one knew the younger one so well, she didn't even have to respond. "Maybe I am."

"And I don't think you have a reason to be. Ben adores you. I've seen that shrine he has of you." The women laughed.

"You like him more than you like me."

"Maybe."

"I'm not apologizing to him," Miranda told her firmly.

"You don't have to, but you do have to talk to him."

"Why? He should be the one who does all of the talking."

"Mandy! If you don't stop, your jealousy is going to ruin your relationship."

"I know. I know. I just get… insecure sometimes."

Raven nudged Miranda with her shoulder. "Aren't we all?" Raven said semi-confessing. She shook her head. "But Ben has never done anything to break your complete trust. Am I right?"

"Possibly," Miranda said stretching out the word. She sighed. "When did you become so wise?"

"When you have two small children, you learn a lot." There was a knock on the door. Raven checked the time. "It's eleven o'clock, who in the world is that?" The knocking continued.

"It's probably Ben," Miranda said sarcastically.

Raven got up and answered the door. "Hey, Ben." Miranda spooned some more pie into her mouth and listened to the conversation.

"Hey, Raven. Is she here? Can I talk to her? Does she want to see me? I need to talk to her."

"Slow down there," Raven laughed. "Of course she's here.

"Does she want to see me?"

Miranda got off of the sofa and moved toward the door and saw Raven hit Ben. "How could you?" She whispered.

"I did nothing. I was sitting in my chair. The girl was… leaning on my desk. What Miranda didn't see was me getting out of my chair and ushering her out of the door once I saw what she was doing."

"But you smiled at her," Miranda commented coming into full view.

"I smile at everyone," he told her. Raven slinked out of the foyer. He smiled at Miranda. "See?"

"That's not the one you gave her." He smiled at her again. "That's the one."

"Oh, girl," he said touching her waist. "That's my fake flirting smile. That's not my Miranda smile."

"Shut up."

He leaned in to kiss her cheek. She stopped him. "Come home."

"Show me my smile." Ben licked his lips as a slow smile eased across his face; he squinted and looked down at her. Butterflies flew around in her stomach.

"Can you tell the difference?"

She twisted her lips to the side. "Shut up," she said again.

Ben put his lips on her neck. "I love you, baby." She mumbled incoherently. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

"I know," she told him.

"I wouldn't cheat on you."

She nodded slowly. "I know," she repeated.

"Good, then come home."

"Wait, I have a question."

"Anything."

"When I saw you… the look in your eyes… in your office…," she stopped talking and gathered her thoughts. "Do I not give you enough attention?" He tilted his head. "I saw how much you liked her leaning over your desk, smiling at you…" Ben licked his lips and Miranda's heart jumped. She continued: "And I have to admit that I am a little insecure when it comes to us. I don't want to be made a fool of and—"

"Okay, I'm going to stop you there." He picked up her hands. "Let me make this perfectly clear. I wouldn't make a fool of you. And smiling at other women, doesn't mean I want them. I don't." He locked their hands together. "I only want you. And I'll say it as much as you need me to and as loud or as soft as you need me to." She smiled. "Now, come home?" She poked her lips out. "What? What now, Miranda? What now?"

"I just want to know how you're going to make it up to me?"

"God, woman, you are so spoiled." She giggled softly as he put his lips to her ear. He licked her lobe. "I'll start by kissing every inch of your body until you squirm, begging me to continue."

"And then?"

"Then, hmmm, let me see," Ben kissed her chin. "And I'll lick between your legs and you'll clasp my head with your thick ass thighs and—"

Miranda pushed his chest. "Okay, okay, okay." Her body was aching for his already. Makeup sex, she'd learned, almost made the fighting worth it. She kissed him again. "Get my bags." Ben didn't move, but kept kissing her.

Eddie walked down the stairs on his way to the kitchen. "Get a room, you two," he said chuckling. Miranda wiped the corners of Ben's mouth. He shook hands with Ben.

"We're leaving," she said. "Can you tell Raven?"

"Sure thing, Randy," Eddie kissed her cheek. "Glad you guys have made up."

At home, Ben hovered over Miranda with one hand on the bed. "Ready?" He asked stroking her cheek. She nodded. Ben dipped his body into hers and she squeezed, inhaling all of him.

"Goddamn, Ben."

He smiled. "I love hearing you say that."

"You are… so weird," she said as he moved deeper into her, making her scream. He laughed, disturbing his rhythm. She laughed, too.

When they came down from their high, Ben pushed some of her hair off of her forehead: "I don't want to lose us again. Even if it's for a few days."

"Me either."

"Then don't leave next time. We can work through anything, baby."

"Anything?"

"Yes," he said fiercely.

"Okay," she said softly. "But I am territorial."

"So am I, so I will keep my distance," he promised. He leaned over and kissed her chest. She pushed his head. "What?"

"Jerk."

"You are, too." She raised her eyebrows. "You ran to Raven and didn't even let us have a conversation."

"I was upset."

"I'm your best friend, you could have talked to me."

"You're the one I was upset with."

"Point taken. But even though I still want you attempt."

"Fine," she sighed dramatically. "I'll try."

"That's all I ask," he said. "Now, get up here." She squealed as he pulled her on top of him.