Page 80 of Storm in a Teacup
My smile is uncontrollable. I gesture to him. “I assume you’ve been wearing that since you got into the café this morning?”
“Aye. When Isla asked and I said it was for you, she told me not to involve her in our sex games.” He lets Oscar escape his arms, and then takes a seat at the table.
“Did you tell her we’ve had sex?”
“No, but I can’t lie about blatant sexual tension.” He gives an overexaggerated lift of his shoulders.
“You being a morning person is your worst personality trait.”
He snickers as he reaches across the table to steal a sip of my coffee, afterward making an “eh” face.
I steal my coffee mug back and hold it with both hands. “Is this the only reason you’re here? To show off your ass in those insanely tight shorts?”
“I also wanted to see if you’re okay after last night.”
My body stiffens. “I’m fine.”
“You sure? I know you don’t want to talk about what exactly went down with you and Atti, but I’m here for you if you’d like to talk.”
“I don’t.”
His shoulders slump. “Lin, please. I want to know before I have to see him again. He’s an arsehole to you, which is reason enough to hate him, I get it, but there’s something else. I can tell there’s something else.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Itdoesmatter.”
I don’t say anything in response.
He taps his fingers on the table twice, seemingly trying so hard not to be irritated. I’m irritated with myself.
“I have told youeverything,” he says carefully. “I don’t think there is an emotional trauma stone I have left unturned. I would love if you could do the same for me.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because I care aboutyou. That’s why.”
I scoff. “We’re confusing things again.”
“I’m not allowed to care about you?”
My eyes shoot back to his. “No, we’re getting confused—pretending that this thing between us is anything more than an agreement. We keep crossing lines.”
His jaw tightens. “Maybe there’s a reason for that.”
“What reason, Ben? Tell me what you think the reason is.”
He doesn’t respond, just looks at me, shaking his head.
My chin lifts. “This is over after the wedding—like we agreed. Wedding, then we never see one another again.”
“Never see each other again? You can’t be serious.”
I’m thinking the same thing.Am I serious?Ben is my friend. I don’t want to lose him. But I don’t let on.
I end this discussion with, “Don’t you have to open the café?”
He exhales sharply. “Aye. And change into something normal. See you later, Lin.”
