Page 116 of Storm in a Teacup
“Hmm?” he asks through heavy lids.
I swallow. “What I’ll miss most when I can’t seeanythinganymore. When I’m like seventy or whatever. It’ll be your face.”
He smiles giddily. “Well, then you better spend somuch time looking at it that you won’t forget.”
“Okay.” I stare at him, taking in his dark eyes, his graying hair, and the smile lines I know will eventually form. He leans forward and kisses me, mouth opening on mine. I sink into him, but I pull away as soon as I can. “I can’t see you if you’re kissing me.”
He inches away, resigned, as we just stare at each other, both trying to memorize every little detail. The natural quirk in his eyebrow, the slight stubble growing on his face, the singular small pockmarked scar on his cheek. I love his face.
I scoot my feet around the cat so that they are touching Ben’s. “I think I finally have to admit that I’m a cuddler.”
He laughs. “Like I didn’t already know that.” His foot nudges mine. “You’ve said that to me before,” he says quietly. “About my face. But I didn’t know what you meant.”
“When?”
“After the wedding. You said you’d miss me the most. I figured you were talking about our arrangement ending, but that’s not what you were talking about, was it?”
I shake my head. “By that night, I knew I never wanted this to end, even if I wasn’t ready to admit it.”
“Now it won’t.”
…
In the morning, I drag myself out of my flat and down to the shop, forgoing coffee in favor of forgoing a scolding from Carolyn for being late. However, I end up getting scolded for another reason. “Och, you’re letting out Fergus! Close the door, child.”
I swing the front door closed tightly. “Did we lose him?”
“No, no. He’s still here. A lot grumpier, mind you.” She looks me up and down as I approach the front counter, commenting, “Someone didn’t sleep well. You alright, Melinda?”
I yawn as if to prove her point. “I slept well once I finally got to sleep,” I say. And I did, solidly and in Ben’s arms until my phone started buzzing in an effort to wake me up.
There’s a mischievous glint in her eye. “Up doing other things?”
My cheeks redden involuntarily. “Other things that do not concern you,” I admonish. “Ben is still upstairs. He’s off on Saturdays, so I figured I’d let him sleep. He always has to get up so early.” I add, “We’re officially dating.”
“Good, good. Wondering when the two of you would figure it out was wearying.”
About half an hour later, I hear footsteps descending the stairs on the other side of the wall. I expect him to walk into the shop after I hear the door close, but he does not. I can’t help the visible disappointment on my face.
Carolyn tuts. “That’ll be the ghost who lives in the hallway, lass. Ben’ll pop in later, surely.”
“That ghost doesn’t normally walk down the entire staircase. He stays at the top,” I argue weakly. “I’m sure he wanted to go home and shower or something.”
Even though the body wash he loves is in my shower. I shake my head. I’m being ridiculous. Just because we’re dating does not mean we’re not allowed to live our own lives. I was just expecting him to come say good morning to me, that’s all.
I usher Carolyn out from behind the counter so I can take my place and start going through new inventory while she gets to work on the orders that came in overnight.
The bell over our door jingles. I peer up to find Ben walking in, three cups of coffee in his hands. I laugh to myself because of how insecure I was being. He went, from the looks of the cups, into his café to get coffee. He sets down all three cups before heleans across the counter to kiss me. I have to stand on my tiptoes to meet him.
“Morning, my love. I come bearing the source of all power: caffeine.”
I giggle, so overcome by this goddamn man to act like a normal person. “My hero,” I swoon like Olive Oyl. I choose my cup and then take a grateful sip. “Ugh,thisis why you sleep with a man who owns a café.”
His head is thrown back in a laugh. “Where’s Carolyn? In the office? I’ll bring this to her.”
He takes the cup meant for Carolyn into the back. I hold my cup to my chest, a near-permanent smile etched on my face. I am so happy. Unbelievably. I mean, this came out of nowhere. I was not expecting him, but that’s what they always say, right? That love will find you when you least expect it. I think I just didn’t expect to find love and new friends.
Emma being back in my life is great—and I’m going to put in the work to keep it that way. And Rachel asked me to come with her to help look for a car. Super random, but I love doing random errands with friends. Two months ago, I felt like I had nothing and no one except for Mel and Carolyn, but I now have friends.
