Page 107 of Storm in a Teacup
“Pounding.”
“Did you drink water?”
“Yes. Thank you for filling up my water bottle. And for taking care of me.”
“It’s my favorite thing to do.” There’s a heavy pause before he says, “So, what’s up? Just wanted to see me?”
My dad’s loud laugh echoes from the front in answer.
“Ah, they nagging you about coming here?”
“Nonstop. You do not have to come out and greet them. They wanted to see the place, and we were stopping by mine to say hello to Oscar anyway. I can tell them you’re busy.” I poke him on the arm in an attempt at nonchalance. “This is over between us anyway.”
His eyes darken. “Yeah. I suppose it is.”
I squint back at him. “Everyone on my side knows we were lying. The wedding is over. Unless you need me for something with David?”
“I don’t need you for David anymore.”
“Are you…I mean, are you still…?”
“Erm, well.” He looks at me seriously. “Lin, I really like you. I want to—” He sighs, rubbing his forehead. “I shouldn’t say that. It’s not fair.”
I purse my lips, desperate to ask for the end of that sentence, but knowing it’s best if I don’t hear more.
“Our hearts aren’t ready,” I offer softly. His is stuck on someone else, and mine? Mine has too many holes to holdanyone inside.
Ben shakes his head, but I can’t tell whether or not he’s agreeing with me. “Can we still be friends?” he asks quietly.
I chew my lip to keep it from wobbling. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Maybe…maybe this should be our goodbye.”
His throat bobbles, and he gives one stiff nod. “I can never say goodbye to you, Linny.”
“Ben…”
“No, I mean, you work and live right next door. We’ll see each other all the time.”
I heave out a laugh. “God, okay. Way to take the dramatics out of it.”
He wrinkles his nose. “Yeah, sorry. I usually live for the dramatics.”
He holds out a hand for me to shake, and I nearly cry at the sight. The hand that has held mine now a countless number of times, the hand that has brushed my hair behind my ears, wiped away my tears, been inside of me. After all that, I only get a handshake.
I take that hand in mine anyway. “See you soon, then.”
“See you on the streets, Melinda.” He winks.
“On thestreets?”
“Yeah, like outside the café and your shop.”
I frown. “Please, never stop being you.” I finally drop his hand, feeling a bit of my soul drop with it. Before I can say anything else, I rejoin my family, spitting out some lie about how he literally cannot walk away from whatever he is baking right now.
I may attempt to keep it so our streets don’t cross again. It will be easier that way.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ben
