Page 98 of Storm in a Teacup
I lean back in the tub. “Then, that’s that. We get through the ceremony, which we rehearsed quite well yesterday, then we have a party. And you’ll be married. And you’ll have so much good sex tonight.”
She laughs wetly.
“And you’ll continue to be outlandishly, obnoxiously happy. Okay?”
“Okay.” She leans across the tub to pull me into a tight hug. “Thank you, Linny.”
“Of course.” I sigh, thinking about what she said about how Ben looks at me. When I pull back, I say, “Not to make this about me, but can I tell you something?”
She waves me off. “I welcome the distraction.”
“Ben and I aren’t dating.”
She cocks her head to the side, confused. “You broke up?”
“No. We were never actually dating. I lied. He’s been pretending to be my boyfriend.”
She continues to look extremely confused. “Why?”
I lose her eye. “You told me Atti would be at the hen do, and I freaked out. I needed someone by my side.” Quietly, I add, “I also wanted to show him that someone else could love me.”
“Oh, Linny. Of course someone else could love you. Things didn’t work out with Atti because he’s a wanker.” She purses her lips. “But Ben is not. Why aren’t you actually dating him?”
“I don’t want to date anyone. You know this. And he’s in love with someone else. It’s complicated.”
“Huh,” she says. “I did find it odd that you suddenly had a boyfriend after going on for months about never wanting to be in a relationship again. But I figured I wouldn’t say anything because you seemed happy with him, and I didn’t want to accidentally talk you out of the relationship.”
“Iamhappy with him,” I moan into my hands. “I absolutely adore him. I told him about the miscarriage last night. And what Atti said afterward. I haven’t told anyone but you, my parents, and my sisters about that.”
Her eyes squint. “What did Atti say afterward?”
I drop my hands, aghast that she could have forgotten the worst thing anyone has ever spoken to me. “What do you mean ‘what did Atti say afterward?’ How can you not remember?”
“You never told me what he said! You just said he said something horrible, but you were too upset to elaborate.”
My mouth drops open. “I never told you? I know I told my mom and dad. I swear to god I told you.”
“You most certainly did not.”
“I did too! I tell you everything!”
“Youdid not. I would remember. I remember every detail about his I’m-rich-so-let’s-go-to-Paris proposal, so IknowI remember every detail you told me about the breakup. I swear you did not tell me, Melinda.”
“Oh. You’re sure?”
She nods, so I tell her, and her mouth falls open.
“Shit. Maybe I’ll be the one committing a violent act at my wedding. How could you not tell me that! I would have kicked him out of the bridal party, Julien’s cousin or not, if you told me he said that.” She groans and says, “I honestly don’t think Julienwill allow Atti in the wedding party anymore once he learns what he said. Which will mess up our numbers.” She grimaces and asks quietly, “Can I tell him tomorrow? No, that’s horrible. He should know today.”
“You can tell him tomorrow. I’ve moved past it. I don’t want to mess with your numbers.”
“We could ask Ben to fill in.”
“Ben and I are not dating,” I remind her. “Even if we were, we have not known each other that long. Do you want to look back at your wedding photos many years from now and see a rando?”
“I don’t want to see Atti. I like Ben better than I like Atti.”
“Well, yeah, but Atti is going to be your family, whether you like it or not. We can always ask him to go grab something and quickly take a bunch of pictures without him.”
