Check Yes or No
"Yes," Miranda said firmly.
"So, you admit to making way more money than you told me when we talked?" Ben asked putting his hands on his hips. He paced around their small living room, disappointed.
"Not way more, but y-yeah—I was going to tell you."
"Eventually?" Ben scoffed.
"Yeah. Something like that," she admitted. "But you wouldn't even know that there was something to tell if you weren't being weird and snooping around my stuff!" She argued, pointing at him.
"Snooping!? You left your damn papers all over the table," he countered.
"Not for you to look at, Ben." She moved in his direction. The anger in his eyes matched hers. "My papers were personal. You knew they weren't yours." She knew she was wrong, but she also hoped that she could put the blame on him.
"Don't try to turn this around, you lied to me!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Miranda!" He yelled throwing up his hands. She flinched. It was a reflex. She didn't honestly think that he'd hit her and she suddenly felt awful. She hoped he hadn't noticed. His voice softened. "Miranda…"
"I…," she started. "I'm… sorry, okay? I know how hard you work and you're still in the same position you were a year ago. And, promotions keep getting thrown at me. I didn't want to make you insecure."
He shook his head. "Damn that. Did you just jump when I raised my hands?" He asked. He stuffed his hands in his pocket. His face looked so sad, she wanted to cry. Miranda sighed. "Babe?" She turned her back and walked into the kitchen. She could hear his bare feet on the hardwood floor and then on the linoleum. Ben touched her shoulders. "I would never put my hands on you maliciously. I mean, y-you know that, right? I wouldn't hit you. I just wouldn't…"
"I know."
"But you—"
She faced him. "It was just a reaction." She chuckled nervously. His face was still and his eyes were lowered. "I know you. I know you wouldn't. That's not something that I'm worried about."
"You promise?" He said raising an eyebrow.
"I promise," she echoed. He sat down in the chair and Miranda sat next to him. "I know you must be pissed because I'm pissed at myself." She sat down next to him.
"Just tell me the truth from now on. I deserve that."
"You do." Ben sighed and gestured for her to come over to him. He pulled her into his lap; his body adjusted to hers. Ben put his face into the nape of her neck. She sighed and whispered, "Forgive me." There was no question, no asking. She demanded. She needed him to forgive her. "Forgive me because you know me. And I made a mistake. I should have told you."
"Of course, I forgive you, baby," he confirmed kissing her softly. "Do you forgive me?"
"For what?"
"Yelling. For—"
Miranda put a finger to his lips: "Shhh. Just kiss me."