Page 64 of Storm in a Teacup
In response, she sends backa photo of Oscar Wilde on his back, clutching a toy mouse with his front paws.
OSCAR WILDE’S MOTHER: You better mean this cat. You’re sure you’re ok?
ME: I may have had a bit of a sob fest today. Isla knows about us now, btw
She sends back a new photo of Oscar, now curled in a ball on his cat tree.
OSCAR WILDE’S MOTHER: Do you want to talk about it?
ME: Yes, but I’m at Hoot. Isla is making me do ‘exposure therapy.’ Do you want to come by?
OSCAR WILDE’S MOTHER: Probably best to not bring your emotional support fake girlfriend to exposure therapy
OSCAR WILDE’S MOTHER: But text me later?
I frown at my phone, wishing she said yes, but understanding why she said no. I respond:Will do. Thank you, Lin
“Rachel, I’ve something to tell you,” I declare as I place my mobile face down on the bar. She swivels toward me, curious. “I’m bi.”
She grins like a maniac. “Are you? Welcome to the club!” She holds up her hand for a high-five, which I slapenthusiastically.
“What are we high-fiving about?” A deep voice asks. David walks behind the bar, setting a black serving tray down as he does. He’s in a fitted, deep green T-shirt with black trousers. The new stubble on his face is shaped to perfection, as is the fade on the sides of his head, like he recently went to the barber. The other bartender changes places with him, heading into the back.
I twist toward David and give him a small smile. I can be normal. Lifting my chin, I say, “I’m doing the coming out rounds. I’m bi.”
David looks thrilled, reaching across the bar to squeeze me on the shoulder. “Congrats, man. Thanks for telling me. Officially.”
I nod, throat tight.
Isla must sense my oncoming emotional detriment, because she cuts in and says, “Well, our little group is slowly filling out the alphabet. Not that Ben is adding to it.”
“Maybe I should start identifying as pan to add another letter?”
Rachel pokes my arm. “Only if that feels more right.”
“Naw. I think the B is right.”
“Bitch,” Isla says as though in confirmation.
I snort. “Exactly.”
David shakes his head at us, sticking a hand in his pocket to root around. He gestures for me to hold out my own hand, so I do, palm up. David drops two one-pound coins into my palm. “Go pick a flavor or two from the claw machine. Drinks on me.”
Hoot has a claw machine in the back of the bar with various mystery flavors for a pound each. It’s a fun thing to get if you want a random, cool drink.
“Thanks, sugar daddy,” I say, pushing myself up from my stool. I pause at that, eyes widening as I acknowledge the words that fell from my mouth. That was a very old-Ben thing tosay.The words didn’t feel wrong coming out, but they do feel out of place. Forced, even though it was a slip.
However, David must not see it that way because he throws his head back in a laugh. “Wow, I missed you. Just go get your flavors.”
And with that, I think I can manage this.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Linny
It’s been nearly a week since I’ve seen Ben. We’ve texted a bit, but I haven’tseenhim. I consider going over to the café just to visit him a humiliating number of times.Humiliating.But I hold back. I don’t need to go see him. It would be for no reason other thanjustto see him. Though I suppose if we’re “dating,” I would be going over to visit him, right? So maybe I should?
No. No, I don’t need to. Isla knows we’re not really together, so there’s no point. We should be avoiding the one-on-one thing, anyway.
