Chapter 558 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“Young man, try not to hit on my girlfriend while I’m away, else our deal is off,” Benne warned and ruffled Jamal’s hair before hurrying after Harry.

“When is he going to wake up?” Jamal asked as Celsie lifted him from the floor so that he was sitting beside Aaron on the bed.

“He needs to sleep. But don’t worry, he will wake up soon,” Celsie said as they both watched Aaron.

“He is sad. He is crying,” Jamal said as he reached a hand to Aaron’s face and wiped the tears that rolled down the side of his face.

“He will be fine. We will all be fine,” Celsie murmured as she took Aaron’s second hand, while Jamal held the other.

“So? What’s the plan? What are we doing?” Benne asked as he and Harry walked out of the hospital.

Harry didn’t miss how he had said ‘We’ instead of ‘You’. That was one of the things he admired the most about his friendship with Benne. It wasn’t one-sided and it was never just about one person. He was always confident that Benne would go the extra mile for him the same way he would for him.

“My sweet cousin said you sent for Candace already,” Harry said with a mischievous smile, and Benne groaned dramatically.

“Really, man? Did you have to say it that way or bring it up right now?” Benne asked, and Harry chuckled.

Benne smiled when he heard Harry’s laughter. He was relieved to know that despite how upset he was at the moment, he could still find it in him to laugh.

“Couldn’t help myself. Celsie is a treasure, you know?” Harry asked as he looked at Benne.

“Yeah. One I’m grateful I discovered,” Benne said, and Harry nodded.

“Uncle Harry?” Benne called, and Harry turned to see Benne’s teasing grin.

“Jade was right to call you that. You are really Uncle Harry now, aren’t you?” He asked, and Harry’s lips twitched in amusement.

“I guess she was. He seems like a pretty decent kid,” Harry said as he thought of Jamal, and a smile lit up Benne’s face.

“I know, right? More like a decent young man. And he has such an adult sense of humor. Can you believe the little brat said the only thing he doesn’t like about Celsie is that she has a boyfriend?” Benne said, and Harry chuckled as Benne told him more about Jamal.

“Between you and Celsie, I’m not sure who the kid has got more wrapped around his fingers,” Harry said when he noticed the twinkle in Benne’s eyes as he talked about Jamal.

“Even though it is Celsie he adores, I’m the one eating out of his hand. This morning he made me promise to give his mom a job. And then we tried bargaining if he wanted me to get him a car or he wanted Celsie,” Benne said, and Harry chuckled.

“Which did he choose?” Harry asked in amusement.

“Celsie, of course. He figured since Celsie has a car already, they could both use hers,” Benne said, and Harry roared with laughter, ignoring the looks that attracted him.

“Why was he at the office though? What about the no kids at work policy?” Harry asked, and Benne sighed.

“I just couldn’t say bring myself to say no to him. He wanted to see my office so I figured there was no harm in letting him stay in the office cubicle,” Benne said with a wince.

“He has got you where he wants you.”

“Trust me, he’s going to have you and your dad wrapped around those tiny fingers of his too,” Benne said with a chuckle, and Harry smiled.

“She did a really great job raising him,” Benne said, and Harry silently agreed.

“I guess my dad won’t be bothering me about getting into a relationship or getting married anymore now that he has a grandson to dote on,” Harry said, and Benne remembered something that Celsie had said.

“He wasn’t doing that because he wanted a grandchild. He was scared you wouldn’t want to be in a relationship if you found out the truth,” Benne said, and Harry’s brows pulled together.

“Did you think so too? Do you think one insensitive woman is enough to change how I already see life? I’m not that shallow, you know? I’ve got my own convictions. I may have been given birth to by the worst of scums, but I know not everyone is like her. I’ve seen your parents together, Benne. I’ve heard their story. The love tale my dad spun isn’t the only reason I believe in love,” Harry said, and Benne grinned, feeling even more relieved now.

“What about my love story with your cousin?” Benne asked as he placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder, unable to resist teasing him.

“Fuck off,” Harry said as he pushed Benne away from him making Benne chuckle.

They walked together in mutual silence until they got to the spot where he had parked the car and he got into the driver’s seat while Harry got into the car out of habit.

“She is on her way, right?” Harry asked, wanting to know what Benne’s plan was.

“Yeah,” Benne said as he wondered if there was any need to tell Harry that Jade was on her way back as well. He had received a call from Jade on their way to the airport, informing him that she had quit her job and was getting on the plane with Candace. He was just going to it to Jade to tell Harry about it herself when she arrived.

“I know I should have discussed it with you first, but when Jade informed me that Sara is trying to find her right now, I figured we keep her away from Sara’s reach,” Benne explained as he buckled his seatbelt.

“It’s cool.”

“Where are we going?” Benne asked, and Harry scowled.

“I want to be alone, Benne,” Harry said, and Benne resisted the urge to point out the fact that he was already sitting in the passenger seat while saying that.

“Sure. That doesn’t mean I’m going to let you drive around on your own when you are upset. I will drop you off wherever you want, and I will let you be alone,” Benne assured him.

“I don’t have to drive. I could easily get a cab,” Harry pointed out.

“Sure. But your cab driver isn’t your best friend, and he won’t be as much fun as I am either. Besides, I’m sure he wouldn’t have half of the information I’m going to be sharing with you during the drive,” Benne said, and Harry raised a brow.

“What other information do you have?” Harry asked, and Benne grinned.

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