Page 117 of Storm in a Teacup
That’s what should be found in a partner, right? Someone who helps grow your community, not deplete it.
Ben comes back out, and I lean my head up for another kiss. I’ll never grow tired of casual kisses with him. I love him. “I love you,” I say aloud, like I think I need a reminder.
He simpers, hands meeting my hips. “I love you, too, sugar lips.”
“Big no to ‘sugar lips.’”
He pouts. “Fine.” He removes one hand to take a sip of his coffee. “Isla had a real go at me just now.”
“How come?”
“She’s miffed about missing my whole I-need-to-go-confess-my-love-for-Linny revelation at Hoot last night.”
I laugh lightly. “I rather enjoyed that love confession. You can repeat it if you want. For her benefit, of course.”
“Of course.” He has another drink of his coffee, then asks, “Will it drive you mad if I loiter around here all day? I’ve nothing else to do.”
“I’d like it if you loitered.”
Ben does hang out at the shop for the rest of the day. Carolyn is tickled pink by his presence—she makes him start dusting, still dissatisfied with my continual effort. At one point during the day, while I’m talking to a customer about a chest of drawers with a mixture of original brass handles and new ones I attached myself and made look original, I feel his eyes on me. As soon as the customer retreats to the counter to purchase said chest of drawers from Carolyn, I say to him, “You’re staring at me.”
He gives me a goofy smile. “You’re pretty.”
My eyes water a bit—not at that specific compliment, just because ofhim. “You’re so nice to me,” I say quietly.
His mouth twitches downward as he makes it to me in two big steps. “Of course, I am, sugar.” He grabs me by the cheeks, making me look up at him. “I will always be nice to you. If I am ever not, I will apologize and grovel as much as I need to grovel.”
I nod, tears still brimming. “I promise that, too.” I swallow and ask thickly, “Want to get dinner tonight?”
“Linny Jenkins, are you asking me out on adate?”
I press my lips together in an attempt to keep my smile at bay. “Well, you never actually said yes when I asked you last night. So, Ben Pyeon, would you like to go on a date with me?”
He kisses me and says into my lips. “Yes, please.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Ben
Linny and I are asleep in her bed—I’m asleep at least. That is, until I hear her aggressively whisper, “Ben.”
I’ve no idea of the time, but it’s the middle of the night. I feel it in my bones. Without opening my eyes, I reach out to her—finding her face, then her shoulder, then back to her face.
She swats me off. “Ben.”
“Hmm?” I mumble, my hand still searching for her arm. I find something.
“That’s my boob,” she says.
“Hmm?” I mumble again. I become somewhat more alert to the bare lump beneath my palm. Into the pillow, I say, “Nice boob. Do you want my hand off it?”
She doesn’t respond.
I’m attempting to open my eyes. I am. It’s not working. “Lin?”
“I’m trying to decide if it’s comforting or not.”
I nod into the pillow. “Mmhmm. Emotional support boob.”
