by Daws, Amy
We head back inside and join everyone at the table, which is now filled with Theo, Leslie, Liam, Brody, and Finley.
“So, Lez, when are we going to have a hen night?” Finley asks as I take a seat next to my brother. “Your wedding is in five weeks and we have to get this planned.”
“Oh, God, I haven’t a clue,” Leslie groans. “I still have a million things to do.”
“Well if you guys wouldn’t have rushed the wedding—”
“Rushed?” I interrupt Finley with a laugh. “Theo’s been cross at Leslie for ages for making him wait this long. If she’d put him off even another day, he would have gone completely mental.”
Theo eyes me sternly through his glasses as everybody gawks at him. “Hayden, my dear brother,” he starts. “You watch the love of your life give birth to the second love of your life, then tell me that you could wait a second longer to make your family completely yours in every way possible.”
His devoted proclamation stuns me. It stuns the whole table as we all stare at him completely gobsmacked. A sniffle from Leslie diverts my eyes.
“Damn, Theo. You can’t say that shit in public. I’m still a postnatal emotional mess.” Leslie wipes fresh tears from her eyes and grabs his face. She plants a fierce kiss on his lips, completely oblivious to the audience around them. She breaks their kiss, and her eyes are swimming with emotion. “I love you.”
Theo rests his forehead against hers and closes his eyes and breathes a deep, contented breath. It’s as if he’s drinking in the words from her mouth, pulling them into his lungs, and pushing them out through his bloodstream straight to his heart. It’s such a tender moment, I can’t look away.
The announcer breaks the mood, informing everyone to take their seats for the auction portion of the fundraiser to begin. Leslie, Theo, and I stand to head over to my parents’ table, but my heart stutters as I catch sight of a familiar woman in a white dress.
“Vi,” I say on a quiet exhale without even thinking. I look around nervously, and I’m grateful no one seems to have heard me. I didn’t even mean to say her name out loud, but her name has been on repeat in my mind since two weeks ago. This mess of long blonde hair and long, spindly limbs literally knocked me flat on my back, and I’ve been seeing stars ever since.
What the hell is she doing here?
My eyes do a double take to confirm they aren’t tricking me. My view is distracted by some guy in a baggy tuxedo who has his hands wrapped tightly around her waist. He’s standing behind her and whispering into her ear as she giggles halfheartedly. Or at least I think it’s halfheartedly. Just then, she gives him a coy “come hither” look that immediately makes me feel annoyed.
Without permission, my gaze takes a walk down her body, absorbing how her snug dress hugs every line of her slim frame. The dim chandelier light bounces off the shimmering fabric and creates a glowing effect all around her.
Christ, she’s still gorgeous.
She appears to be guiding the man-boy in our direction.
Leslie’s voice snaps me out of my daze when she calls out, “Vi? Benji? You guys okay?”
Curiosity keeps my feet planted. Vi glances up, her brow puckering in the middle as she looks pleadingly at Leslie. When this Benji fellow sees Leslie, he releases Vi and steps around her. His droopy eyes grow wide in shock.
“My sexy lady in red,” he bellows and stumbles toward Leslie with his arms outstretched.
Before I have a chance to react, Theo moves in front of Leslie with his chest puffed out protectively. Now the two men are eye-to-eye, or chin-to-eye I guess you’d say since Benji is on the smallish side. Vi’s face turns from uncomfortable to nervous, so I take two steps closer and place a calming hand on Theo’s shoulder.
Vi’s wide blue eyes peer past the small space between Benji and Theo and land right on me. Her round cheeks flush a rosy hue. She instantly looks away, then right back at me again. I can’t help but stare back. It’s that same fucking strange pull that I felt at The White Swan Pub. Frustrated, I look away, clenching my jaw.
“I think you’ve had a bit too much to drink, mate.” Theo’s voice is low and controlled but has an obvious edge to it. He adjusts his glasses like he always does when he’s feeling cagey. I swear it’s a defence mechanism that he developed growing up. Whenever we tussled as kids, he’d get so barking mad at me if I’d gone at him when he was wearing his glasses.
“I think you might be spot-on, good sir,” Benji slurs and pokes his finger into Theo’s chest. “Good Lord, are you wearing protective armour under your dress shirt?”
“No,” Theo replies without a shred of amusement.
“Someone needs to get control of him,” I grumble.
Vi moves in and grabs Benji around the arm. “Come on, Benji Boy. Here are our seats.”
Her eyes flash coolly to me as she pulls him down onto a chair. She looks away and pours a glass of water, then shoves it against his chest. Her eyes find mine again, and I can’t help but frown at the whole situation. If he is her boyfriend, she should have better control over him. Wanker.
Leslie catches me scowling at Vi and steps in between my line of sight. “Hayden, you remember my coworker Vi, right? And Benji?”
I nod dismissively, then quietly excuse myself. I’m confused by how I feel about having the woman who sparked something I thought was dormant inside of me be here to witness the speech I just gave about my innermost secrets. Definitely not the first impression I would have wanted with her. And now she’s eyeing me like I’m the prat here.
I stroll over to my parents and take my seat. The further I stay away from Vi tonight, the better. Perhaps I don’t affect her the same way she affects me. The way she was eyeing me at The White Swan Pub led me to believe otherwise. Regardless, something about her makes me feel out of control, and I don’t like it. It doesn’t help that every time I look over at her, she looks over at me. God, it’s so maddeningly juvenile I could laugh.
“You were rather rude to my coworker,” Leslie chastises as she settles down beside me, followed closely behind by Theo.
“Why is she even here?” I whisper as the announcer begins the bidding on a custom dining room set built by Theo.
“Good question,” Theo drawls. “Fucking Benji wears on my last nerve.”
“Oh, shut up! He’s harmless. Vi and Benji took Mitch and Julie’s tickets. What’s the big deal?”
“It’s kind of inappropriate for her boyfriend to get pissed at a charity if you ask me,” I sneer.
Leslie’s green eyes widen in disbelief. “Pot! Meet kettle!”
My face goes white as I realise what I just said. “That was different,” I bite out between clenched teeth. Christ, I walked right into that one.
Leslie’s face softens. “Don’t be hard on my coworkers. They’re good people. Really, you’d get on with Vi, I’m sure.”
That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.
BURR. FEELS FUCKING GLACIAL IN here now, I think to myself after my less than warm and fuzzy greeting from Hayden. Not that I had much to expect I suppose. It’s not like we really know anything about one another. But, bloody hell, he could have at least acknowledged my presence without a moody glower.
Benji sucks down the glass of water I handed him. He begins hiccupping and giggling to himself. “I’ve never drank wine before.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head. “You’re drinking water.” The bugger can’t handle his liquor, that’s quite apparent. I just hope I’m able to pour him into a cab after this.
As the auction begins, I find myself impressed by the furniture pieces being displayed for bidding. Leslie told me about Theo’s talent, but I’ve never made it over to his shop to see for myself. Their flat rests above his business, so hopefully I can see more when I pop around tomorrow.
The announcer continues rattling off numbers as a suited man carries several small wooden boxes out and places them on every few tables. He drops one on ours and Finley reaches for it first, smoothing her finger
s over the glossy, nearly black wood. The announcer explains there’s a silent auction sheet inside each box. As soon as Finley places the box back in the centre of the table, I grab it to get a look.
It would seem we’re bidding on something inside the box, but I’m less concerned about the contents and more interested in the keepsake box. Based on the explanation sheet, the box comes with the winning bid. I instantly have to have it. I write down my name and fill in an exorbitant pound figure, hoping it’s enough to secure the beautifully intricate box.
I get a funny sensation and look up to see Hayden practically glaring at me, his brow furrowed in the most frustrated manner. What the hell is this guy’s problem? If I was trying to forget about the sexual chemistry I felt before, this is a right proper way of achieving it.
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Benji croaks, then burps and slaps his hand over his mouth.
“Oh, fuck,” I whisper as he shoots up out of his seat and makes a mad dash for the exit. “Where the hell is he going?” I say out loud to myself. Christ, I did not intend to be someone’s babysitter tonight!
I follow Benji out of the ballroom—a bit more gracefully than him—and stroll outside to find him hunched over a waste bin, retching his guts out. “Benjiiiii,” I groan, looking away so I won’t make myself sick as well. Mustn’t smell it, Vi. Mustn’t smell it!
“You guys okay?” Leslie asks, hurrying after us.
I shake my head and gesture silently to the scene because it truly does speak for itself. I think I might even hear Benji weeping. Theo comes out next and assesses the situation.
“You can’t get him in a cab like that. The driver will take one look at him and tell you to get stuffed,” he says, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Damn, he really looks like his brother without his glasses on.
“He lives in Notting Hill,” I say, placing my hands on my hips. “It’s not terribly far. Maybe I can lump him onto the Tube?”
“The hell you can!” Leslie admonishes. “Theo, go get Hayden. He’s sober. He can take them.”
“No!” I exclaim and then rein in my reaction since Theo and Leslie gawk at me in shock. “No…Thank you, but that’s completely unnecessary. Really, I’ll figure something out.”
“Stop, Vi. It’s no trouble. Theo, go.”
Theo doesn’t hesitate before he takes off back into the ballroom. Oh, God, this is going to be awkward. “I really wish you’d just let me figure this out, Leslie. I’m a big girl.”
“I know you are, but that’s what friends are for!” she says, gazing over at Benji apologetically. “Poor bastard. Your heart was in the right place.”
“Yeah, well, don’t feel too sorry for him. It was self-inflicted.”
A moment later, Hayden and Theo are outside and Hayden does not look pleased. Annoyance is written all over his features as our eyes connect.
“Thanks, Hayden. Our hero with a chariot!” Leslie sings with glee.
Hayden’s eyes narrow on me. “I hope he doesn’t vomit in the car.” He hands the keys to the valet, who hurries off to bring the car around.
“See! This is a bad idea, Leslie. We can’t have him mucking up anybody’s car. I’ll get him on the Tube. It’s only one stop. I can manage.”
“How are you going to get him on the Tube?” Hayden huffs, his eyes roving down my entire body.
Crossing my arms over my chest self-consciously, I reply, “Don’t worry about me, mate. I’m stronger than I look.”
“Wearing that? I have a hard time believing you.” He rolls his eyes and saunters away, raking his hand through his hair.
“Hayden’s right, Vi. Let him help. Here’s a bag just in case.” Leslie hands me a clear plastic baggie that I pray Benji doesn’t end up needing because he won’t be the only one needing a bag in the car if that’s the case.
“I gotta get back in, babe,” Theo says. “Mum wants me to say something when they finish auctioning my pieces.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” She looks at me. “You good?”
I glance over at Hayden who’s propped himself against the brick wall with his arms crossed in a moody stance. “I’m great,” I reply with a fake smile.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Leslie says, waving me off as she rushes to follow Theo back inside.
I turn to face away from Hayden with a bit of an attitude as we wait for his car. I don’t know what the hell his problem is with me, but I’m certain I did nothing to deserve it.
When a black BMW comes around the bend, I hear Hayden push off the wall and walk over to Benji. I breathe a sigh of relief because I want nothing to do with that bin.
“In you go,” he says, folding Benji into the backseat.
I get a cutting glare from Hayden when I walk around to the other backseat door. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to ride in the back with him.”
“What on earth for?”
“In case he gets sick! You don’t want him puking in your car. I won’t be much help to him from the front seat.”
“I’m not a fucking chauffer. Ride in the front.” Hayden stands back, holding the passenger door open for me like it’s the end of the discussion. I do my best to stomp the whole way over and then slide in. I reach down to grab the extra bit of my dress to tuck inside the car, but Hayden beats me to it.
“Bloody helpful, rude bastard,” I mumble as he walks around the car.
He slides into the driver’s seat. “Where am I going?” His voice is flat as he stares straight forward.
“Notting Hill. On Portobello Road.”
We sit in silence as he navigates the streets to the neighbourhood where Benji lives with his aunt. I hear some faint groans from Benji and look back nervously for fear of another rupture.
“Did I do something to offend you?” I ask after a bit of silent tension.
“Of course not,” he replies dismissively.
“It’s just that this is the first time you’ve spoken more than one word to me and you haven’t been super friendly.”
“You didn’t do anything,” he mumbles and offers nothing more on the subject.
When we arrive at Benji’s flat, Hayden pulls up to the curb behind a black cab.
“Benji, we’re here,” I say as I get out to open the back door nearest him.
Hayden beats me to it as he opens his side first. He grips Benji’s arm that’s now completely limp.
Benji moans out, “Can’t walk. Two whole floors. Too far. I’ll die.”
Hayden rolls his eyes and grabs Benji by the arm to throw him over his shoulder.
“You don’t honestly mean to carry him up two flights of stairs,” I scoff as Benji groans in weak protest.
“Just point the way to your boyfriend’s flat, would you?” he snaps, rolling his eyes.
His impertinence angers me like crazy, so I storm off without looking back to see if he’s struggling. I wrench open the entry door and the doorman gawks at me in confusion.
“Benji Abernathy.” I point to the doorway as Hayden emerges.
“Second level, second door on the right,” the doorman replies, looking rather taken aback. “There’s no lift.”
Ignoring his warning, I storm up the steps as quickly as possible. Aside from tonight, I’ve been to Benji’s flat one other time to pick him up for a work do, but I’ve never been inside. He lives with his Aunt Agitha, whom Benji is always telling stories about in the office. Apparently she’s a psychic, or a clairvoyant, or something. For that reason, she doesn’t get on with a lot of the family who are heavily religious. Leave it to Benji to connect with a fellow outsider.
I knock on the door. When it swings open, I am met by a heavyset woman wearing a giant floral print moo moo and hair rollers and who’s looking at me in shock.
“Aunt Agitha, I presume?”
“Yes.” She eyes my dress briefly. “Are you Benji’s mate?”
Just then, Hayden catches up. I can feel him looming over
my shoulder, his breathing a bit heavier than before. Ignoring the prickling sensation his hot breath on my neck causes, I silently point backward with my thumb.
Agitha’s eyes grow wide in acknowledgement and she tsks, “Foolish child.”
Hayden drops Benji to his feet and he wavers, holding onto Hayden’s shoulders for support. Benji then wraps both hands around Hayden’s back and gives him a mighty bear hug. “Thanks for the lift,” he mumbles against Hayden’s chest. Then he stuns us all when he steps back and drops a kiss right on Hayden’s mouth!
It wasn’t a proper snog. Just a quick peck on the lips. But Hayden’s shocked expression is priceless. I bite my lip to conceal the growing urge I have to laugh. When Benji turns around, his eyes are completely closed. His aunt steps past me and grabs him by the arm. “Come on, Benji. Off to beddy-bye you go.”
“Top night!” Benji shouts and then stumbles into me. Hayden reaches forward, grabbing me firmly around my waist to prevent me from falling.
Agitha’s eyes fly wide as if she’s been stung. Standing only a foot away from my face now as she clasps Benji’s arm, she looks back and forth between Hayden and me. I swear her pupils dilate, so I look down briefly to ensure she isn’t hurt anywhere.
“You two,” she gasps, her voice tight and high-pitched. “Are you together?”
“No,” I jeer, a bit overly defensive as she continues looking back and forth between us. Perhaps Hayden’s charms are affecting her as well.
“I just thought. No, no. Never mind.” She shakes her head as if trying to snap herself out of a daze. Then Benji moans loudly that he thinks he’s going to be sick. She scurries him into the flat and shuts the door, offering us a quick thank you.
“You sure your boyfriend is into girls?” Hayden grumbles, wiping his lips as we make our way back toward the stairs.
I snicker, “I couldn’t care less who he’s into.” Benji kissing Hayden was the perfect end to an already weird evening. Serves Hayden right for being a brooding, cranky wanker.
