Page 20 of Cups of You

“Sure,” Amber replied finally. “We don’t have any plans tonight so come on by. You’re more than welcome too, Willie.”

Wilhelmina waved off her suggestion. “I would but hubs and I were planning a romantic date night, it being Valentine’s Day and all that.”

“Oh damn, is that today?” Amber pulled out her phone to check the date. “Well hell, it is Valentine’s. I completely forgot.”

“I can come back another night if you’re busy,” Benjamin added quickly. “I forgot it was too.”

Amber shrugged. “Up to you. Aunt Jackie and I don’t have anything going on tonight besides maybe watching a couple episodes of Real Housewives and destroying a pint or two of ice cream.”

“I can’t believe she’s still watching that show.”

“It’s her biggest addiction besides the slots.”

“She roped me into watching an entire season with her last time I came by.” Benjamin shook his head, but his lips were curled up in a smile. “I tried to tell her most of that stuff is probably scripted, but she gave me another cookie and told me to hush.”

Amber snorted not surprised in the slightest. That fight was a futile one. “You’re lucky she didn’t slap you on the head and tell you to stop ruining her fun.”

“If not for my height and the strain of trying to reach my head, she probably would have.”

“Well, looks like all of us have some fun Valentine’s Day plans, so I better head out to start dinner before the hubs gets home.” Wilhelmina leaned in giving Amber another quick squeeze. “Come by the bookstore whenever. We’re open ten to seven every day except Sunday.”

Amber nodded. “I definitely will. I’ll probably be by tomorrow or sometime next week just to change things up a bit.”

Wilhelmina glanced over at Benjamin before giving Amber another smirk. “I’d say changing things up is a good plan.” Amber frowned not catching on, but Wilhelmina stepped away before she could ask. “See you later Benjamin. If there are any leftovers, I’m calling dibs.”

“You got it.” He waved at Wilhelmina before turning his attention back to Amber.

They were alone in the aisle and Amber was hyper aware of that.

“So, you really don’t have any plans for the holiday?”

Benjamin shook his head. “I really don’t. Sometimes I plan things in the café to stay on theme, but this year I kind of forgot.”

“And there’s no one you want to spend Valentine’s Day with? I mean, you don’t have a partner or something?”

“No, though my daughter has tried.” He shook his head. “She’s got this idea in her head that I’m lonely and need to find someone to date before I get too old and go completely gray.”

“Some women like gray.”

“Do you?”

The question was unexpected. From the look on Benjamin’s face, it seemed to surprise him just as much.

“Wow, I am so sorry. Sometimes my mouth goes before…I didn’t mean to make it awkward.”

“It’s fine.”

“No. It’s not,” he countered firmly. Amber was again surprised by how damn earnest Benjamin sounded. He seemed genuinely distressed. “You have a boyfriend so I shouldn’t be asking you questions like that. It was inappropriate of me, and I’m sorry.”

Amber stared. He was right in that he probably shouldn’t have asked, but damn. She didn’t know how to handle someone calling themselves on their own shit. Usually, she had to check someone and even then, they would normally push back and refuse to concede that they messed up. It was an issue she was having more and more lately with Josiah and his need to never be wrong. Benjamin was refreshingly weird.

“I accept your apology.”

“Thank you,” Benjamin replied. He glanced down at his basket. “I should probably finish up here so I can head home to bake these before coming over.”

“You could just bake them when you come over.”

His smiled but shook his head.

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