On The Same Bed

“Is your husband due back tonight?” he asked. Pandora frowned and shook her head slowly. But this only made him look more worried than before. “Pandora, I would like someone to be here to watch over you tonight.”

She gasped, stopping her movement, and started to agree with him instead. “I could call someone?” She tried to make herself sound sure and confident, but it still sounded like a question.

"Okay, you do that. Come by my office tomorrow so I can look you over again."

"I can't. I am working early and most likely will be there late too. My boss' mother-in-law passed away."

Benjamin scratched at his head. "Fine. I'll come to you. Where do you work?"

"There's no need," she protested.

"Yes, there is."

"No."

"Pandora! I found you in the rain. You were crying and trying to change a goddamn tire. You're doing all of this because your 'husband'—" Pandora was taken by surprise that Benjamin spat out the word husband and did the same air quotes she had done earlier, "—canceled you