Read Online Three Wishes (Dreams Come True #3) by Emma Nichols - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Emma Nichols
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knew my mistake. Somehow, despite years of experience with these feet, I landed badly, rolling my ankle. A loud ‘pop’ sounded in the room and my angry eyes faded, replaced with fear, then a sharp, pulsing pain. My ankle no longer supported me and I nearly collapsed onto the floor until Ben swooped in and scooped me up in his arms. I buried my face in his chest to hide the pain.
“What was that noise?” Ollie wondered as she looked at us.
“That’s the sound of us taking your mom to the doctor,” Ben replied calmly. Then he set me back on the couch. “So do we need to call for an appointment?”
I bit my lip. “I may not have a doctor per se.”
“Per se?” He smirked. “You’re one of those moms who doesn’t take care of herself, aren’t you?” For some reason, he looked saddened by this.
“I mean, I go to the walk-in clinic.” I shrugged, then grimaced. Already my ankle was swelling to twice the normal size. “So, if you can just help me to my vehicle with Ollie, I’ll go get this looked at. Then we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ben threw his hands in the air. “What are you talking about?” His frustration was evident as he ran a hand through his hair. After exhaling, he turned to Olivia. “Can you go get your shoes and your coat, please? And I’m going to need some help finding something for your mom.” She scampered off happily. Once we were alone, Ben knelt beside me. “I know this isn’t what you’re used to, but I’m not leaving.” He chuckled. “How many times do I have to tell you? Or maybe I need to show you?” He stood and shook his head at me. “Ollie, how are we doing?” Ben reached down and squeezed my hand. If he meant to comfort me, it worked.
I started to relax, confident I would get the medical treatment I needed and reassured Ollie would have someone to look after her if I needed x-rays. His grip started to relax and I knew he was about to search her out, but I suddenly had a death grip on his hand, like he was some kind of life preserver. “Thank you,” I mumbled. “It’s really hard for me to admit I need help sometimes.”
Looking at me with a half smile, he nodded. “It’s not just that though, is it? I think you’re used to people letting you down, so you’ve built this world with only room for you and Ollie because it’s safer that way, less disappointment and hurt.”
My eyes prickled and my cheeks warmed. This guy was a bit too astute. “Maybe.” I shrugged.
“Here’s the problem with that kind of life,” he murmured as he gazed into my eyes with his deep chocolate brown ones. “You not only prevent hurt and disappointment, you wall out the potential for true happiness, pure joy, and the kind of excitement that comes from being surrounded by people who care about you.” Ben bit his lower lip. “This is just my opinion, of course. Don’t take my word for it.”
Slowly, he moved toward the hall, our fingers gradually losing touch. When he exited the room, it felt colder somehow and the pain seemed more acute. I frowned as I considered everything he’d said. It didn’t matter if he was right. Ollie was sick. She needed my undivided attention right now. This was no time for change and upheaval.
Minutes later, they emerged a picture of togetherness that didn’t seem possible given the limited time they’d spent together. Still, Ollie walked out smiling, holding my flip-flops. Without thinking my eyebrow rose. “Really? It’s what…fifty degrees out?”
Ben licked his teeth before speaking. “Listen, I’d love to know what you think is going to fit around that ankle. Do you want a sock on that foot and a sock and shoe on the other?” He threw his hands up in the air and bolted from the room. Seconds later, he returned with a pair of socks and one left shoe.
I felt ridiculous as he helped me with the sock on the injured foot. When he started to repeat the process with my good foot, I stopped him. “I think I can take it from here.”
“What was that noise?” Ollie wondered as she looked at us.
“That’s the sound of us taking your mom to the doctor,” Ben replied calmly. Then he set me back on the couch. “So do we need to call for an appointment?”
I bit my lip. “I may not have a doctor per se.”
“Per se?” He smirked. “You’re one of those moms who doesn’t take care of herself, aren’t you?” For some reason, he looked saddened by this.
“I mean, I go to the walk-in clinic.” I shrugged, then grimaced. Already my ankle was swelling to twice the normal size. “So, if you can just help me to my vehicle with Ollie, I’ll go get this looked at. Then we’ll see you tomorrow.”
Ben threw his hands in the air. “What are you talking about?” His frustration was evident as he ran a hand through his hair. After exhaling, he turned to Olivia. “Can you go get your shoes and your coat, please? And I’m going to need some help finding something for your mom.” She scampered off happily. Once we were alone, Ben knelt beside me. “I know this isn’t what you’re used to, but I’m not leaving.” He chuckled. “How many times do I have to tell you? Or maybe I need to show you?” He stood and shook his head at me. “Ollie, how are we doing?” Ben reached down and squeezed my hand. If he meant to comfort me, it worked.
I started to relax, confident I would get the medical treatment I needed and reassured Ollie would have someone to look after her if I needed x-rays. His grip started to relax and I knew he was about to search her out, but I suddenly had a death grip on his hand, like he was some kind of life preserver. “Thank you,” I mumbled. “It’s really hard for me to admit I need help sometimes.”
Looking at me with a half smile, he nodded. “It’s not just that though, is it? I think you’re used to people letting you down, so you’ve built this world with only room for you and Ollie because it’s safer that way, less disappointment and hurt.”
My eyes prickled and my cheeks warmed. This guy was a bit too astute. “Maybe.” I shrugged.
“Here’s the problem with that kind of life,” he murmured as he gazed into my eyes with his deep chocolate brown ones. “You not only prevent hurt and disappointment, you wall out the potential for true happiness, pure joy, and the kind of excitement that comes from being surrounded by people who care about you.” Ben bit his lower lip. “This is just my opinion, of course. Don’t take my word for it.”
Slowly, he moved toward the hall, our fingers gradually losing touch. When he exited the room, it felt colder somehow and the pain seemed more acute. I frowned as I considered everything he’d said. It didn’t matter if he was right. Ollie was sick. She needed my undivided attention right now. This was no time for change and upheaval.
Minutes later, they emerged a picture of togetherness that didn’t seem possible given the limited time they’d spent together. Still, Ollie walked out smiling, holding my flip-flops. Without thinking my eyebrow rose. “Really? It’s what…fifty degrees out?”
Ben licked his teeth before speaking. “Listen, I’d love to know what you think is going to fit around that ankle. Do you want a sock on that foot and a sock and shoe on the other?” He threw his hands up in the air and bolted from the room. Seconds later, he returned with a pair of socks and one left shoe.
I felt ridiculous as he helped me with the sock on the injured foot. When he started to repeat the process with my good foot, I stopped him. “I think I can take it from here.”
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