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BENNIE

Exactly one week ago, I had decided that I was the unluckiest woman on this planet.

Tonight, I was ready for that title to officially be mine.

Many things had happened in my past that would end up earning me that award, and now I was finally ready to officially hand it to myself.

I wanted it to be a gold, Oscar-looking award with the words “UNLUCKIEST WOMAN EVER AND ALWAYS” written on it, which I could bring with me wherever I went, showing it off to everyone.

Yes, that was exactly what I wanted.

I stared at the present I had brought for Luca as my frown deepened, annoyed with myself and whoever thought of getting the birthday girl a balance bike.

Great minds think alike , I thought. Although, it didn’t make this situation better.

Sinclair’s soft laugh pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked at her, still frowning. She was amused after I told her what I had gotten for Luca, and she tried her best to break the bad news while being as nicely as possible.

“She can’t have two balance bikes. No two-year-old needs two balance bikes,” I argued, sighing heavily.

“Hey, it’s totally fine. We can leave one here and take the other to Archer’s. That way she can ride around there as well.”

“Are you sure the guys won’t hate this?”

“Of course not, Bennie. It was a very thoughtful gift, and I know Luca will love both bikes. She goes crazy for things with wheels.”

I laughed and scrunched up my nose. “Fine. I guess if she’s happy with it, I’m happy for her.”

Sinclair took the present from me and put it on the table they had set up for all the gifts, and after turning back around, she took my hand and held it in hers, smiling gently. “Now, tell me. How have you been? Did you enjoy your time off?”

I relaxed. Even if the topic of this conversation was going to be one I didn’t want to recall, I knew talking about it with Sin helped.

“I did. I wasn’t sure what to do the first two days because I hate sitting around and do nothing, but then I started to go on long walks, which ended up tiring me out. So I spent every night watching movies, so that was fun. I’m glad I’m going back to work tomorrow though.”

Sinclair smiled and squeezed my hand. “And did you get a chance to get your things from his place?”

“I had him drop them off. I couldn’t face him, and I was sure he didn’t want to see me either. Which was probably for the best,” I told her with a tight smile. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

“I’m glad you’re starting to feel better. And you know that if you ever need to talk, I’m right here.”

I nodded and pulled her into a hug. When I first met Sinclair, I had been intimidated by her. She had the most perfect face, blonde hair, and added to her beauty, she had the kindest soul. I couldn’t believe someone like her existed, let alone wanted to be my friend, but the more we got to know each other, the more I realized that she was the friend I had needed all these years.

It couldn’t have been a coincidence that my dad opened his shop right next to Sinclair’s boutique, and as we both worked next to each other and were the same age, we quickly started talking.

I loved the Adorn Boutique, and whenever I was on my break, I went over to hang out with Sin and look at the new collections she put out. Our love for fashion wasn’t the only thing we had in common, as both of us liked to design clothes.

The first ever gift I received from my parents was this sewing machine for kids, and ever since, it was my dream to become a fashion designer.

That dream went down the drain when I had to spend half of my childhood in the hospital, but once I got better and graduated high school, Dad allowed me to work for him at his own boutique where he sold and tailored men’s fashion.

I had been a tailor for a while now, and this job never got boring. Maybe it was because of Dad always being around and lighting up my days with his silly jokes, and with Sinclair working right next door, I had everything I needed in my reach.

“By the way, I have this new collection in mind that I want you to be part of, but it’s just a rough idea, so I’ll tell you more tomorrow. Now, come have cake with me.”

I let her pull me to the kitchen where I saw Link standing there with Luca in his arm. He smiled when he saw me, and I went up to him to give him a quick hug before turning my attention to Luca.

“Hi, sweetheart! Gosh, you’re starting to look more and more like your momma,” I said to her while gently caressing her chubby cheek with the back of my finger. “Aren’t you just the cutest?”

“She’s definitely not making it easy for us to guess who her real daddy is,” Link joked, winking at Sin.

“Oh, that doesn’t matter anyway. You’re all her daddies,” I said, smiling up at Link. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You too, Bennie. Did you have cake yet?”

I shook my head just as Sin handed me a paper plate with a delicious looking piece of cake on it. “But I will have one right now. It looks good. Did you make it?” I asked, looking at Sin.

“Oh, no. I didn’t have time to bake with all the other things I had to do for this party. I ordered it from that cute bakery two blocks from our shops. It tastes amazing.”

I started to eat and had to agree that it was delicious.

Just three years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to eat and hold this cake down. I had been too sick, and anything that entered my stomach came right back out. I managed to re-establish a healthy relationship with food again, though it had been difficult to do that a second time.

Ford joined us in the kitchen, and while they struck up a conversation, I stood there listening without adding much to it. I observed the guests, most of them holding babies around Luca’s age. I didn’t really know those people, but they all looked like happy little families. Every man had a woman standing next to him, making the picture perfect with a baby in their arms.

But there was one man who didn’t quite fit in. Just like me.

He stood there with a beer in his hand, talking to Tabor and Archer. There was no ring on his finger, and neither did a woman ever get close to him. He wasn’t looking at anyone other than the guys he was talking to, and it seemed that he was entertaining them quite a bit because they kept of laughing.

“I see you’ve caught a glimpse of Joska already,” Sin said, nudging my side. “He’s handsome, right?”

“I uh…” I had just gotten out of an abusive relationship with a man who was so self-centered that he made me think differently about men. Well, not about Sin’s men, or Dad, because those were perfect men. But men I didn’t know. They didn’t appeal to me anymore. Not like they once did.

“Don’t worry, I don’t mean to set you up with him. He’s a priest, and I was hoping he could help you out.”

“He’s a priest?” I asked, raising a brow. “He’s way too hot to be a priest.”

Sinclair laughed. “That’s what I said the first time I met him. But he really is. He’s also Tabor’s brother, so I know he’s a good one.”

Okay, things were starting to become a bit weird. “His brother? Tabor has a brother who is a priest and looks like that ?”

“Couldn’t believe it either. I want to introduce you to him. Would you be okay with that?”

The reason why Sinclair was trying to get me to talk to a priest was because I had lost my faith the second time I became sick, and while Sin wasn’t religious at all, she was supportive. She had listened to my worries, and she was determined to help me.

“Yes, that’s okay.”

I put the plate down before letting her take my hand. She pulled me toward the living room where two of her men were talking to the priest whose name I had already forgotten.

We stopped in front of them, and I waited for Sin to speak.

“Guys, would you mind if I steal Joska from you for a moment?”

Yaws-kah.

Interesting name.

“You go ahead,” Tabor said in his usual dark voice. He left with Archer, and Joska turned his attention to us.

“Joska, this is Bennie. Bennie, this is Joska.”

With his brown eyes, he studied my face closely before holding out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Bennie.”

I shook his hand while holding his gaze. “Nice to meet you too.”

“Lovely name you got there,” he said, his eyes soft, and his smile kind. Just like a priest’s expression had to be.

“Thanks, it’s actually Benedetta, but Bennie’s just fine.”

“Benedetta. Are you Italian?”

“Half. My Mom’s Italian, so she insisted on giving me an Italian name. It means blessed .”

“It’s pretty,” he told me, never losing that smile.

“I like yours too. Sounds European as well.”

“It is. Hungarian, actually.”

“Oh, so are you from there?” I asked. He did look European. And, again, he looked way too handsome to be a priest.

Ignore his looks. That’s not why you’re talking to him.

“My parents are from there. I was born and raised here. But I did visit my country a couple times. It’s lovely.”

Sin cleared her throat, and the smirk on her face told me that she had accomplished her goal. “I’ll let you two talk.” She left, and while I wasn’t into the idea of talking to a guy I just met, I decided not to panic and let this happen.

In the end, Sin’s goal wasn’t to be our matchmaker. Her intention was to get me to talk to a priest about my faith. So, that’s where I was going to steer this conversation toward.

“So uh…Sin told me you’re a priest.”

“I am. Do you need to confess?” Although he sounded serious, there was an amused gleam in his eyes.

I couldn’t hold back a laugh. “No, not really. But I’m having a bit of a faith crisis and I guess Sin saw an opportunity here. I’m not so sure you want to talk about religion at a birthday party though.”

Joska’s smiled softened again. “I wouldn’t mind, but a quieter place might be more suitable for a conversation like that.”

I agreed. This wasn’t the right place. Still, I was suddenly feeling a strong urge to tell him all about my issues. “How about we go sit outside?”

He thought about it, but only for a moment. “Sure. You go ahead, and I’ll get us another drink. What would you like?”

“Oh, a Coke would be great. Thank you.”

He gave me a nod, and while he went to get us drinks, I headed outside the back where there was a small terrace with a couple of chairs and lounges. I decided to sit down on the bigger lounge, so we wouldn’t have to sit too far apart, and while I waited for him to join me, I talked myself into not sharing too much with him.

Even if he was a priest, I hadn’t really thought this through yet.

Maybe he could just push me in the right direction and help me figure out what I truly wanted and needed to talk about.

Yes, that sounded good.

Just a little push.

And after that, I would find a priest who didn’t distract me with his handsome looks.