Page 44 of Storm in a Teacup
Ben’s palms splay flat on the counter. “Well, you lot are free to make a party out of it. I’ll be hiding away with Oscar Wilde, patiently awaiting thousands of pounds in bank transfers.”
Callum questions, “Oscar Wilde?”
“My cat,” I clarify.
Ben shakes his head. “Nope. I meant the real deal. I’ll be in Ireland drinking a Guinness by his grave and readingThePicture of Dorian Gray.My flight’s tonight. Or maybe I’ll take a boat, spice it up a bit.”
“Hate to break it to you,” Isla says, “but Oscar Wilde is buried in France.”
He squints at her. “Then what am I thinking of?”
“That memorial statue of him in Dublin?”
Ben just frowns in response.
I make my way behind the counter with him, setting a tentativehand on his arm. “Thirty is a big one, Ben. You should celebrate.”
He looks at me, aghast. “You’re supposed to be on my side, butterscotch.”
“Iamon your side. You should spend your thirtieth birthday with the people you love.”
His eyes quickly flash to David, making me feel an unwelcome pinch in my gut.
Isla calls out, “Listen to your girlfriend, Ben.”
“Fine,” he laments. Everyone cheers, but he focuses his attention on me. “You’ll come?”
“If you want me there.”
“I do, but…”
“But what?”
“It’s bowling.”
“That’s extremely lame. I see why you’d want to spare me.”
His mouth quirks. “That’s a good point, and a good pun, but that wasn’t the but. It’s dark in the bowling alley. Maybe we could do something else?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure? If I’m saying it’s dark, it’s dark.”
I squeeze him on the arm. “You don’t get to decide my limitations.” Understanding crosses his eyes. Louder I say, “So, bowling tomorrow night. Do we have a cake?”
Rachel raises her hand. “I’m making one. Unless you want to, Linny? I don’t want to take that from you if that’s something you’d like to do.”
“No, no. Please. Bake away. I commend your bravery to bake for a baker.”
Ben laughs. “She’s going to steal my recipe, so it’ll be good.”
“Damn right,” Rachelagrees.
…
The next evening, Ben picks me up at my door so we can walk to the bowling alley together. He’s wearing a green and blue bowling shirt with his initials “BP” stitched into the spot on his right chest.
I eye the shirt. “So, like, youlikebowling. You are into bowling.”
