Page 75 of Something Borrowed

“So, did you congratulate the happy couple?”

I swallow, feeling my stomach turn over. “Yes.”

I still can’t believe this is happening. Bennett proposed, and Stan—myStan—accepted. I’d watched it happen thinking that Stan would just smile and refuse him kindly. When he said yes, I’d felt like the ground had opened up beneath my feet. My vaguefears about him leaving were confirmed, and I’m still reeling. I won’t see him every day. I won’t hear his laugh or carry his records for him, which, to be honest, Bennett would have a problem carting about without getting a hernia.

I won’t get to be the one Stan turns to.

I won’t get to love him.

I realise they’re both watching me, their eyes full of sympathy.

“Twat,” Joe offers.

I blink. “Bit harsh. I thought you were my friend.”

He rolls his eyes. “I meant Bennett. I can’t believe Stan said yes to him.”

“Me neither,” I say hollowly.

“Actually, I don’t think he did.”

We all turn to Artie, who’s just gotten off the phone.

“What?” I ask.

He offers me his sweet smile. “Stan didn’t actually say yes.”

“He did. We all heard him,” Ingrid says.

Artie shakes his head. “He said yay.”

Silence falls for a few seconds. “And your point is?” Joe says slowly. “Doesn’t yay mean yes or at least a hearty appreciation for a point of view, or have I been using it wrong?”

Artie shrugs. “We say yay to lots of things like hot chocolate on a cold day or the decision to go to the fair.”

“You’re so wholesome, you should be in a BBC sitcom,” Ingrid offers.

He gives her a crooked grin. “It’s just different than yes. Yay is an exclamation. Not a lifetime commitment.”

I stare at him, feeling hope kindle in my chest. Then I slump. “Stan still went off with him.”

“Did he come back to the flat after the party?” Joe asks.

I shake my head. “He stopped off for Hump, and then I didn’t see him for the rest of the night.” I’d lain awake for hourslistening out for his key in the door, but nothing. I’d finally fallen asleep to utter silence, and he wasn’t there this morning.

“I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about, Raff,” Artie says kindly.

“You don’t?” I stare at him like he’s the owner of the last lifejacket on the Titanic.

He smiles. “No.”

We all jump as Jed clears his throat behind us. “Rafferty, you have someone here to see you.”

I turn around and my jaw drops when I see Bennett coming through the door behind Jed. He’s dressed in a navy pinstriped suit and looks tanned and handsome. And smug.Sosmug.

The silence has gone on a bit too long, so I clear my throat. “Bennett,” I say.

“Rafferty,” he says, shooting me a smile that’s a little too wide. “I apologise for popping in unannounced, but I needed to see you.”

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