LOGINShare
Just Not Enough
Last Updated:
2024-02-04 03:02:59Related chapters
Billion Dollar Man Checking In
BenHad it really only been a week since I left Portland? I had such a busy week, trying to keep the company going and working with David to figure out what was going on with the possible murders, it felt like a lifetime had passed.When I landed in Portland, the sweet relief that came with coming home washed over me, and I knew it had been a good idea to come back. Even though I had said my goodbyes to everyone as if I was never coming home. I desperately needed a break away from all the drama that was happening in New York. I needed to clear my head and see the people that meant the most to me. Now that Uncle Dean was dead, even though Penny was still there, I didn’t have anyone to lean on in New York anymore.Now that I was in Portland again, I wanted to talk to Mila. I had shattered her by shutting her down before I left. I had thought it was the right thing to do, then. When I had tried to call her from New York, she had been switched off, and I knew it was all my fault. I had re
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man She's the Only One
BenI was getting too close to the investigations.“I don’t want everything they worked for to be for nothing.”My mom nodded. “I can understand that. I know why you chose to take over the company again. Just remember to put your happiness first. Always. Your dad and Dean were both serious about what they wanted, but they were happy where they were, too. I’m sure that neither of them would have wanted you to give up your happiness.”“Yeah,” I said. “Thanks, Mom.”She hugged me, wrapping her arms around me, but I couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t really as easy as she was making it sound.“Now, let me fix up a room,” my mom said.I shook my head. “You don’t have to go out of your way, mom. I’ll stay at a hotel.”“Nonsense. You’re home for a while, I want to spend time with you while I have you.”“Okay,” I said, knowing I couldn’t argue with her. I hadn’t lived at home in ten years, but it would be good to stay with my mom and Paul for a couple of days.When my mom had fussed abou
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man I Don't Care
MilaSkylar and I were at The Cottage again on Saturday night. This time, I felt better. I had slept most of the day and having a break from the ICU and all the patients that were fighting for their lives had done me good. I was laughing again, and I didn’t feel like I was being dragged down by life itself anymore.I had on a mint-green summer dress and ballerina flats. Skylar wore blue that made her eyes look like ice, and we sat at the bar, laughing and talking and drinking. Jerrod was with us, and even though I hadn’t been on the best terms with him, we were getting along tonight. I couldn’t always treat him like shit because my life hadn’t worked out the way I had wanted it to.We were having a good time. Skylar was telling us about something that had happened at the offices where she worked, and Jerrod and I were in stitches. Skylar was hilarious when she was tipsy, and it was only getting worse.“Can I join you?” a familiar voice said behind me. When I turned, Ben stood there in
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man Roller Coaster
MilaI knew that Skylar wanted to gossip about Ben; this was nothing about safety-in-numbers the way we always did it when we went out to clubs. But I wanted to be alone. My head was spinning, both with alcohol and the confusion about Ben being here, and I needed a moment to breathe.When I pushed through the door that led to the restrooms, Ben was suddenly right behind me. We were caught between the doors that led to the ladies’ and men’s restrooms respectively, and the door that led back to the dining room.“Ben,” I said. He was catching me off guard a lot tonight. “What are you doing?”“I wanted to talk to you. Alone. It’s the reason I’m here.”I started shaking my head.“Why didn’t you call me back?” Ben asked.I narrowed my eyes at him. I was still pissed off. Why was he making this harder for me than it needed to be? We could just go our separate ways. I thought we had.“You can’t tell me you don’t know the answer to that,” I said.“Yeah. Look, I’m sorry. Okay? I was a jerk. Eve
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man Something About Mila
BenI lay in the bed my mom had set up for me in the office and looked up at the ceiling I had grown up under. I had always had pictures of models and sports teams on the walls. Now, the walls were bare, save for a water painting that one Miranda Castle had given my mom.Miranda, Mila and Jerrod’s mom, was my mom’s best friend. Their friendship was one of the reasons Jerrod and I had known each other for so long. Our friendship had started with play-dates in kindergarten so that our moms could get together and talk shit. Or share parenting tips. Or whatever it was that women talked about when they got together.Who would have thought that so many years down the line, I would have fallen for my best friend’s little sister? I had practically grown up with her. I had been in the Castle’s house or restaurant so many times, Mila had felt like my own sister.But that had changed. I didn’t see her as a sister at all, now.She had been distant when I had first arrived, last night. She had bee
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man Best Friend
Ben“I don’t know yet. I think I’ll head out and see a few people while I’m here.”My mom nodded. “Just let me know if you’re eating here tonight, or not.”I agreed, and my mom left me to my cereal. I was glad. My thoughts were on Mila, and I wanted to sit alone, rather than force myself not to be distracted.After breakfast, I phoned Mila. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, and I needed to see her.“Can we meet up later today?” I asked, relieved that she’d answered. I’d had more of a chance this time, though.“I have plans with my parents,” she said. “We’ve been planning this for a while.”“How about dinner tomorrow night, then?” I asked. I had to talk to her. I had to be in her presence, even if just for a little while.“I’m working a double shift tomorrow. It’s rough at the hospital, at the moment.”Was she trying to avoid me?“How about Wednesday?” she asked. “I have the evening off and no double.”I smiled. She wasn’t avoiding me. “That works for
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man A Coma
MilaOn Monday, back at work, I was as busy as I had been the previous week. A lot of the patients were no better despite the time that had passed. I had relaxed over the weekend, able to get my mind off everything that had been happening at the hospital, and I was ready to jump in again and do what needed to be done.Some of the patients had been put into medically induced comas so that they didn’t have to deal with the pain. There was a time when that hadn’t been possible, and every day I saw how the patients were suffering. I was thankful for modern medicine. The medication helped so much when a patient couldn’t tolerate the pain.Before I started with my duties, I was informed that some of the patients would be brought out of their comas. Two of them could be moved to a recovery room, about which I was relieved. Even though they would move to someone else’s care, it meant that they were healing well enough that they could walk out of here again.That was all that mattered.“Nurse,
Last Updated : 2024-02-14Billion Dollar Man All That's Good
Mila“She’s perfectly fine,” I said. “She’s stable and out of danger.”“This is ridiculous,” Mrs. Wright said, shaking her head. She was even more worked up than before. Mr. Wright looked like he had withdrawn into himself. I understood it; he couldn’t run on the adrenaline or fear for very long. Everyone had a different way to cope with stress. I understood what Mr. Wright was doing, but it left Mrs. Wright untethered, and she needed that anchor. If not to reality, then to hope.“It will take time, ma’am,” I said. “I consulted one of my colleagues, and she assured me that this isn’t unheard of.”“Is your colleague another nurse?” Mrs. Wright asked.I nodded. “She has more experience with trauma patients than I do.”“But you’re still just a nurse!” Mrs. Wright shouted. “What do you know? Maybe, if you want to stand there and offer medical advice to patients, you should go back to medical school and get the degree to back up your information.”I took a deep breath and let it out slowly
Last Updated : 2024-02-14
Latest chapter
Billion Dollar Man Epilogue Part 2
BenI had sold the company as Jerrod had suggested. I had thought about it long and hard and decided it was what I wanted. I hadn’t wanted to be the CEO of the company in the first place. Not when my father had left it to me and not when Uncle Dean had, either. I had put in the work and found someone worthy of the company. I heard it was thriving, now.The money received for the company sale had been enough to pay Brantley, and I still had enough left to give Penny an amount. I felt Uncle Dean’s widow had deserved a bit of an allowance after everything she had been through because of my father.After Brantley and Penny, I had bought a large house in Portland for me, Mila and Landon, and I had put the rest away as an investment for the future. We had so much money we would never struggle, even if we both stopped working.Mila and I were both working because we loved what we did. Mila didn’t want to stop nursing after she had Landon, and I understood. She asked for fewer shifts so that
Billion Dollar Man Epilogue Part 1
BenSeven Months LaterWhen I unlocked the door to the house I had bought six months ago, I was stepping over the threshold as a father. It was the first time, and I was very aware of it. A lump rose in my throat, but I swallowed it down.“Ready?” I asked Mila. She nodded and climbed out of the car. She moved comfortably. It was amazing how women bounced back from giving birth in no more than a day or two. It would have been different if she had had a C-section or something, but Mila had given birth naturally.She opened the car door and lifted the carrier out of its brace.“I’m coming,” I said, running to her. I took the carrier from her so she didn’t have to strain herself and put my arm around her as I carried little Landon in the other hand.Mila had given birth to a beautiful baby boy twenty-four hours ago. It had been a beautiful surprise. I would have been just as proud if it was a girl, but I was so happy it was a boy. Landon Atwood had a great ring to it.We walked together t
Billion Dollar Man Aching For Him
MilaAgain, he didn’t touch my pussy even though he came so close. Instead, he moved up my hip bones and kissed my stomach, my ribs, moving past my breasts to my shoulders and working his way down one arm. When he reached my fingers, he sucked them into his mouth and played with his tongue around them. It was a strange feeling, ticklish and such a turn on.Ben let go of my hand and moved across my chest, avoiding my breasts, moving over my shoulder and down my other arm. When he reached my fingers, I was just about losing my mind with lust. I wanted him inside me so badly, and he’d been teasing me by not touching any of the areas I so desperately wanted him to touch.When Ben pressed his fingers against my pussy, I jumped. I had wanted it so badly, now that I had it, it was like a jolt of electricity shooting into my body. Ben pressed his thumb against my clit and pushed two fingers into me. He moved his thumb while curling his fingers over my G-spot, and it didn’t take long at all be
Billion Dollar Man All Figured Out
MilaLate on Friday night, my phone rang. I was already sleeping, and it took me a while to find my phone on my nightstand.“Are you awake?” Ben asked.I smiled. “I am, now.”“Can I come over? I have great news.”I looked at the alarm clock next to my lamp. The red numbers said it was well after midnight.“Of course,” I said.Half an hour later, a cab pulled up and dropped Ben off in front of my apartment building. I had been looking out for him. I buzzed him up before he rang my apartment, and I smiled when he stumbled up the step to the front door. He had been drinking.When I opened the front door to him, he stepped forward and folded me against his body.“I missed you,” he said.I laughed. “It’s been two days.”“Two days too many,” Ben said. He smelled like beer and cigarette smoke.“Where were you?” I asked.“I was at the bar, having drinks with Jerrod.”I raised my eyebrows. It was good news. Unexpected, and good. I led Ben into my apartment and closed the door.“Get back in bed
Billion Dollar Man Lessons Learned
BenI shook my head. “I won’t. I know I haven’t treated her right, but I thought I was doing the right thing. I’m sticking around, now. I’m not going anywhere. I’m madly in love with her. Mila is one of a kind.”Jerrod nodded. “She is. And I can see how you feel about her. I have no doubt that you care for her. It just pissed me off so much that I was the last to know.”“I get that,” I said. I really did feel bad for what we’d done. But there was only so many times I could say I was sorry. I knew that this time, Jerrod had accepted my apology.Jerrod nodded again. We both drank our beers, listening to the music and watching the crowds shuffle in. As the night dragged on, the bar filled up with patrons who were done with their work week and looking for a way to unwind.“It’s just all so unexpected,” Jerrod said after a while. “Your relationship with her when I still see her as a kid is one thing. But now she’s pregnant. Man.” He scrubbed his face with his hands. “I don’t know what to m
Billion Dollar Man Have to Fix It
BenOn Friday I walked into the bar where Mila and I had gone with Jerrod and Skylar. We hadn’t been careful enough that night, and Jerrod had seen us together. That was when the trouble had all started between me and Jerrod, and I was hoping this was where it would all end.I had texted him, telling him I was going to be at the bar tonight. I wanted to talk to him, but I was tired of running after him when he wasn’t interested. I had asked him to come to meet me. He hadn’t replied. I had told him what time I was going to be there, and now that I was here, time would tell if Jerrod was going to show up to talk to me.My wristwatch told me it was eight o’clock. I would give him half an hour before I left again.Until now, everything had been about Jerrod. He had been the one who had been wronged. Mila and I had kept our relationship secret from him when it was already a no-no that his best friend and younger sister were dating. It had been wrong not to tell him and even worse that he h
Billion Dollar Man There For You
Mila“I love you, too.”There was nothing else to say. Words couldn’t describe how we both felt at that moment.After I changed back into my clothes, we met Dr. Holt in her office again. She gave me a prescription for prenatal supplements and an eating plan with do’s and don’ts for the next seven months.“I’ll see you back here in about eight weeks,” Dr. Holt said. “Then we’ll find out what you’re having.”When Ben and I walked back to the car, I felt like I was walking on air. Everything felt different, now. I felt more ready to be a mother, to have this baby and to raise it, than I had before. Now that I had seen the baby, I knew that I wanted all of this.Did Ben feel the same?“You know, you still have time to back out of this,” I said to Ben. He stopped dead in his tracks and looked at me.“What makes you think I would want that?” he asked.I pulled up my shoulder. I couldn’t guarantee that this feeling of amazement was mutual. Ben took a step closer to me and kissed me long and
Billion Dollar Man Seeing The Baby
MilaOn Wednesday I had the day off again and had scheduled an ultrasound. Now that everyone knew about me being pregnant, it was time to meet the baby.Ben was with me. It made me less nervous, but only a little. It was crazy how tense I was about the appointment, even though everything was out in the open now. The idea that I was pregnant, that we were having a baby, was terrifying.It had all happened so fast. It had been mere weeks since Ben had come back to Portland for the first time and now we were starting a family together. There were nights when I was sleepless and in a fit of panic, wondering how the hell we were going to get through this. We had been a part of each other’s lives for years, but when it came down to knowing each other, we were practically strangers.When I was with Ben, like now, all my worries melted away. We were great together. He was so attentive now that I was pregnant, and since he had told me he was going to stay, our relationship was stronger than ev
Billion Dollar Man Spreading The Word
BenI let go of Jerrod’s shirt. He stumbled back, his expression surprised. Maybe he had expected me to throw the first punch. He had been ready to fight me. But I wasn’t here for that. I hadn’t come to beat up my best friend. I had only come to set the record straight.“She’s a great person, Jerrod. You know that. She doesn’t deserve this shit.”I turned around and left the office. Jerrod stayed behind, gaping. I had never been one to back down from a fight. There had been enough fights in high school that had shown Jerrod that. But this wasn’t high school, and Jerrod was like a brother to me. If I ended up with Mila, he would be a brother-in-law, in fact.So, I wasn’t going to go there.Instead, I headed back home like a good boy to seethe in private.After I had taken the time to calm down, I phoned Mila.“How are you doing?” I asked.“Better,” she said, and I was relieved. “I came off my shift just now. I’m going to crawl into bed for a few hours.“Have you told your parents yet?”
