Page 111 of Storm in a Teacup
“Yes,” they both confirm, seeming satisfied that I finally managed to get there.
They’re right, though. I need to go talk to her. I need to talk to her immediately.
When I right my head, David is looking at me seriously. “She loves you, man. I have no doubt.”
“Seconded,” Rachel agrees.
“If you two are wrong, you owe me something big. I don’t know what yet, but I meanbig.”
“Justgo,” Rachel says.
I laugh stupidly, slapping David’s bicep forcefully over the bar, squeezing, then hold my hands as close to Rachel’s face as I can get without touching her. “You little love goddess. Do I have permission to kiss you aggressively on the top of your head?”
“Go for it.”
I do so, practically slapping my mouth against her hair. I wave a big goodbye to both of them and then sprint up the stairs. I sprint all the way to the antique shop.
The door up to Linny’s flat is unlocked, her having not closed it correctly, the wind doing its job to open it. I run up the stairs, and once I get to the top, I am breathing so heavily I have to lean against the wall while I catch my breath. Okay, this is my sign to start focusing more heavily on cardio.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s Linny.
“Hello?” I answer in a whisper.
“Benny?” she whispers back. “Sorry, I’m not sure why I called you. I just…I think there’s someone outside my door. I hear very heavy breathing. It’s too loud to be the ghost. I shouldn’t have called you. I need to call the police.”
I chuckle. “Linny, wait. It’s me.” I say louder and knock on her door, “It’s me, Lin. Let me in.” The call ends.
A moment later, the door unlatches and she opens it up. She’s in her glasses, sweats, and a fitted tank.
“You look beautiful.”
I mean it genuinely, but she squints at me like I’m joking. “Why do you look like you’re dying?”
“I ran here. Can I come in?”
She steps to the side to let me enter the flat. Out of habit, I search around for Oscar Wilde and finally spot him curled up on the top of his cat tree, sound asleep.
“Here to see the cat?”
I twist back to her. “Always, but I wanted to see you more.”
“He’ll be disappointed to hear that.”
I step forward and grab her lightly by the shoulders. “Linny.”
She glances at my hand on her shoulder, then angles her chin up toward me. “Yes?”
“I love you.”
Her mouth opens, then closes. She shakes her head like she didn’t hear me. “What?”
“I love you,” I say again. Then expand. “I’m in love with you.” She shakes her head again, so I keep going. “I want to spend every day with you. Laughing with you, crying with you, holding you, living the rest of my life by your side and with you by mine. I love you, Linny.”
“Ben. I…” She sighs, looking away.
Not again,my heart pleads.Not again. This cannot happen to me again. I was so sure, this time. I was so sure.
No, not was.Am. I am so sure she loves me back, that I hold on. I don’t crumple yet. I let her take hertime.
