Page 24 of Storm in a Teacup
“Yeah, yeah. Not so bad yourself.”
“I clean up good.” He tries and fails to fix a rogue lock of hair falling over his forehead before he hits the button for the elevator. “You have a nasty bruise on your leg.” He’s referring to the quarter-sized yellow and purple discoloration on my lower left thigh.
“Thank you for noticing. I have a tendency to bump into shit.”
We make our way back down to the lobby, then take a right once we exit the hotel.
“Oh,” I say on our walk. “Touching rules. Hand-holding is somewhat necessary. I’m okay if you touch me anywhere that’s appropriate to touch in public. This isn’t a romcom, so there will not be a moment where we are forced to kiss on the mouth to prove our relationship is real, but a kiss on the cheek is fine.”
“Works for me,” Ben agrees.
By the end of the ten-minute walk, I am regretting my choice of footwear. I wasn’t planning on drinking much tonight, but I’ll have to at least drink enough to numb the pain in my feet.
Ben grasps my hand as we arrive at the pub, already doing his part. I appreciate it as this pub is seemingly trying to cut costs on their electricity bill, but it’s well enough lit that I spot Mel and Julien sitting at a large table consisting of three tables pushed together in the back. They’re joined by most of the wedding party and a couple of their partners. My ex is not yet present. Naturally. He was always late.
Mel waves widely, as though I may not see her. I smile back, tugging Ben along behind me.
“Hi. Happy hen do,” I say, giving Mel a tight hug. Mel is wearing a white mini-dress, her blonde hair wavy. Julien wears a maroon shirt that nearly matches the smudge of Mel’s maroon lipstick on his neck.
“Happy hen do to you too.” She eyes Ben. “This is the boyfriend?”
“This is Ben,” I say, avoiding the termboyfriend.
Ben goes to shake her hand, but she pulls him into a hug instead. As she does, I say a quick hello to Julien, whose brown cheeks heat when I tip him off about the lipstick, and Kensie, who jokingly chides me for telling him, then smile around the table. As we take our seats, Mel does a quick round of introductions.
“Everyone, this is my cousin Linny and her boyfriend, Ben.Linny, you know all my bridesmaids, Kensie, Amber, and Imani. And this is Kensie’s girlfriend, Jen. Then on Julien’s side, we have Darren, Gregory and his wife Claire, and Paul, the best man.” She looks up at someone behind me, and I can only guess who is approaching based on the darkening of her eyes. Her joyful expression drops as she says, “Ah, and here is Atti and his girlfriend, Bridget.”
Ben’s hand lands on the small of my back as Atti takes the seat across from me. He’s donned on a casual gray suit that probably cost more than I earn in a month. When he’s settled in his seat, he pretends to notice me for the first time, having the nerve to act shocked. “Linny? Hey. How are you?”
“Fine.”
“Good. You look great.”
“Okay.”
His eyes shift around the table like he’s looking for backup, but he receives none. He adds, “I’m a bit surprised to see you.”
My eyes lift to the ceiling. “I’m a bridesmaid. Mel is my cousin, remember?”
“You hate to leave Carolyn alone with the shop, is all I mean. How is she, by the way?”
“Alive.”
“Good. Great.”
His focus flickers to the man beside me—Ben, whose hand stays on my back, touch radiating comfort through me.
“This is Ben,” I offer, knowing the correct thing to do would be to look lovingly into his eyes, but my attention stays on Atti. He stiffens at the introduction, sparking a feeling of triumph.
He recovers quickly and reaches a hand across the table for Ben to shake. “You look familiar,” he says. “Have we met before?”
“Likely not,” Ben replies, voice cool and casual as he shakes Atti’s hand. “Andy, Mel said your name was?”
Atti’s jaw tightens at Ben’s obvious snub. “Atti,” he corrects. “Short for Atticus.”
I introduce myself to Atti’s girlfriend, Bridget. She’s tall and brunette, with long hair falling in gentle curls down her back. Atti did always say he wished I were taller. Craning down to kiss me hurt his neck.
Bridget offers a civil smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. All great things.”
