Page 52 of Just a Little Crush
“Shouldn’t you ask my dad for permission or something?” I say, and Rennie bursts out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
He pulls me into his arms, looking down into my eyes. I fall a little bit more in love every time he looks at me this way. “First of all, it’s not the 1800s. Second of all, I already have his permission.”
“What?”
“Yeah, he told me years ago he wished we were together.”
“He did not,” I say, shocked. “When?”
“After you and Jamie broke up. I saw him in the pub one night and he told me how heartbroken you were.”
“Oh god,Daaad,“ I bury my face in against his chest. “That is so embarrassing. I wasbarelyheartbroken.”
“Well, he knew you were sad. And he told me that you deserved better than him, which was always true. Then he said he’d always hoped we’d end up together.”
“Was he drunk?”
“No, that’s the best bit. He’d just arrived. And then my dad said he hoped for the same, and a couple of their friends said they’d bet money on us ending up together.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. I went home and cried into my pillow,” he lets out a little chuckle. “Or had a wank thinking about you. One of those.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“I’m not. They were right all along.”
My phone buzzes in my back pocket and I already know who is calling. I answer and hold it up for us both to see. There’s no hiding the smile plastered to my face as Dad comes into focus.
“About bloody time, it’s about bloody time,” he says.
“You finally did it son, congratulations!” says Andrew, Rennie’s dad, squeezing into frame, his big hand slapping my dad on the back. In the background, our mums are screaming, clinging to each other while they jump up and down.
“Mike, get the champagne open!” my mum shouts across the room. “Jan! We’re gonna be sisters!”
Rennie and I screw our faces up at each other. “I don’t think that’s how it works,” he says.
“We’ll we’re bloody thrilled for you kids. We’re gonna celebrate all night.” There is more screaming from the background. A lot more.
“That’s great Mike, thanks Dad,” Rennie says, taking the phone from my hand and regaining control of the situation. “We’re just heading out for lunch. Can we give you a call later?”
He doesn’t wait for a reply before hanging up and tucking my phone back into my pocket.
“See. Everybody’s happy. Come on, I’m hungry and I want to take my woman out for lunch before I come home and eat her for dessert.”
We take a window seat in Books and Beans, our brilliant bookshop slash coffee shop, and I watch the world go by while Rennie orders at the counter. I have to stare out of the window because I’m too nervous to look around. If someone in here sees us, the rumour mill will be in overdrive. I don’t know how he’s so comfortable with this.
When he returns with coffees, he takes his seat and reaches across the table to link his fingers with mine. Plopping a sugar lump into my mug, he stirs it for me without letting go of my hand. It’s actually disgusting how hot he is. Sitting across from me in a cafe surrounded by books, his hair pushed back, black hoodie fitting him like he belongs on some Beautiful Men Pinterest board. His smug grin says he knows what I look like naked. Which, of course, he does know, very well.
Two palms smack against the window outside, shocking us out of our lusty stares, and I see Mrs Marshall, the head of Thatch Cross town council rushing for the door. Once inside, she pushes past a queue of customers to reach us.
“Rebecca Charlton, my dear, how wonderful to see you back on your feet. We have missed you so much around town. How are you feeling?”
“Much better, thank you,” I say, blotting latte foam from the corners of my mouth with my napkin. “And thank you so much for the gift basket.”
“Of course, my dear, anything for you.” She pats my arm gently while she speaks. “Now listen, there’ll be an official invitation coming to you in the mail, but now that I have you, I want to let you know that the town council voted unanimously for you to switch on the Christmas lights this year. Would you do us the honours, dear?”
