Unexpected Inheritance

12

A few days later, Miranda found herself walking outside, feeling the cool air brush past her skin as she spotted Ben standing in front of his cabin.

"Can we talk?"

Ben didn't turn at first, but then he glanced over his shoulder, meeting her eyes. His face was hard to read, but there was a certain determination in the way he stood.

"I'm moving,".

"Moving?"

"Yeah. I need to leave this cabin. I can keep working here, be your groundskeeper, but... I can't do this anymore."

Miranda's heart skipped a beat, the weight of his words settling deep in her chest. She felt the breath leave her lungs as she processed what he had just said. "What do you mean?"

Ben turned to face her fully now "Being so close to you, yet so far," he said, his voice low, almost pained. "I can't keep living like that. I'm not just your groundskeeper, Miranda. I'm still the guy who loves you."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. She stood there, frozen for a moment, trying to find her voice. But Ben didn't wait for her to speak.

"Hoping to move as soon as possible"

Miranda's heart twisted. She opened her mouth, but the apology caught in her throat. "Ben... I—"

He cut her off, shaking his head. "It's fine. I just... I need to move, Miranda."

For a long moment, they stood in silence, the air between them thick with unspoken words. Miranda swallowed hard, her chest tight with everything she had been holding back.

Finally, she took a deep breath and looked at him, the weight of everything settling over her. "I broke up with Eli," she said quietly, her voice soft but firm.

Ben's eyes flickered with something that might have been relief, but he said nothing.

She stepped forward, her feet moving without thinking, until she was close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, "I'm sorry. For everything. For the way I pushed you away... and for everything I've done to make things harder between us."

Ben didn't say anything, but she could feel his eyes on her as she turned and walked back toward the house.

That evening, There was a knock at the door. Her brows furrowed. She made her way to the door, hesitating for a brief moment before opening it.

Ben stood there, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

She blinked, caught off guard. "Ben?"

He didn't waste any time. "I wish I never gave you space, Miranda," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "I should've told you I didn't care about your damn tape and glue. I should've stayed in your face even when you didn't want me there. I should've never let you push me away."

"Ben, it wasn't your fault. I pushed you away—"

"That shouldn't have meant anything," he cut in. "I beat a man senseless for you, Miranda. You think a little push should've kept me away?"

"I don't know what to say," she whispered, her voice shaking.

"You don't have to say anything," Ben replied, taking a step closer. "I just... I needed you to know that I never stopped caring. I never stopped wanting to be with you, even when you made it clear you didn't want me. I just want you to know that."

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She swallowed hard, the weight of her regrets settling heavy on her chest. "I'm sorry. I know I messed up. I pushed you away, and now I... I don't know how to fix it."