Page 36 of Storm in a Teacup (Love in Edinburgh #3)

Linny

“Hello?” Ben answers, tone confused because I have never called him before. “You okay, my crumpet?”

“Hey,” I say, readjusting the headphone in my right ear. It always slips. “Yeah. Sorry. I can’t text and walk, and I don’t have time to pause. So, about the rehearsal dinner tonight…” I trail off, unable to both continue talking and open the door to the bakery I’m entering.

“What about it? Aye, I know. You do want me to break out the tartan. I warned you, the kilt may be a little short. Though, since this will be the welcome dinner and not the wedding, that may be warranted.”

The image of him in a kilt flashes across my mind. Me kneeling before him, dipping my head under to—

“Huh? No, no kilt. Uh, I just wanted to say that you don’t have to come. I just need you at the wedding, really.”

He sighs into the phone. I know why. We’ve had this conversation before.

And every time he tells me no, he’s happy to come as long as I want him there.

Of course, I want him there. It’s just, his end of the deal carries so much more weight than mine.

All he needs me for is a meal with his friends every now and then.

To show up at a pub or get a coffee from his café.

I’m requiring him to attend all these huge wedding events that scream commitment.

“I’d like to go. Oh, may I please, please go to your cousin’s rehearsal dinner?”

“That makes it sound like you don’t want to go,” I grumble into the phone. I greet the woman behind the counter. “Hi, I have a pickup for Jenkins?”

The woman pivots around to retrieve my order.

“What are you picking up?” Ben asks in my ear.

“Some dessert for tonight. Mel is obsessed with this bakery right off of Princes Street. They don’t do wedding cakes, so her compromise was to have them make something for the rehearsal dinner.

The restaurant let the dessert be outsourced, and they agreed to keep it in their kitchen for tonight, so I’m getting it now, taking it over to the restaurant, then heading to the church for the rehearsal part of the rehearsal. ”

“Do you want me to meet you at the church or at the restaurant?” Ben asks, but I don’t respond because the bakery worker comes back out, carrying two large boxes of mini carrot cakes.

I carefully take the boxes from her and say, “The bill has been settled already?”

“Huh?” Ben asks.

I ignore him as the woman says, “Yes. You’re all sorted.”

“Thanks!” I call as I push my way out the door using my back, tripping only a little on the slight drop down.

“You’re welcome,” Ben says. “Church or restaurant?”

“What?” I adjust the boxes so I am better balancing them.

He chuckles in my ear. “My god, woman, you are unable to multitask. Shall I meet you at the church after the rehearsal so we can head to the restaurant together, or just at the restaurant?”

“Oh.” If I’m being honest, the church, but if I’m being realistic: “The restaurant is fine.”

“Okay. What color are you wearing?”

I pause at a crosswalk, glancing both ways multiple times before I cross, my dad in my head telling me, Always look twice .

“Purple.”

“Dark or light?”

“Dark. Plum.” I turn the corner, arms already tired. Jeez, I need to work out more, don’t I?

“Ah, yes. I have the perfect tie. See you tonight?”

“Yeah. Later, Benny.”

Ben hangs up, so the music I had playing before resumes in my ears.

It’s too loud, distracting me, but I don’t have a hand to grab my phone to turn the volume down.

At the next crosswalk, I stop, balancing the desserts in a precarious way that Mel would murder me for, to remove one of the headphones and slip it into my purse.

Now, with only one playing music, I feel like I can see again.

I get to the restaurant and ring the bell because the door is locked in anticipation of the private event tonight. A man in a black and white uniform opens the door and says, “You must be the lass with the pudding.”

“I am indeed,” I say, stepping into the restaurant through the door he holds open for me.

I take small, cautious steps, blinking a few times as my eyes take their time adjusting to the change in light level.

“I’ll take these,” the man says, lifting the desserts from my arms. “We’re to keep them in the fridge?”

“Yes, please,” I say, arms relieved by the sudden lack of weight. “ Thanks so much.”

I bid him goodbye, then walk to my bus stop, adjusting my dress as I do.

I’m wearing a thin-strapped, midi-length dress with embroidered tulle over the solid plum underlayer.

My exposed legs are cold and my coat is too warm.

As I wait for my bus, I unbutton the coat, then stand with my arms loose in an attempt to prevent sweating.

My feet are already threatening mutiny because I’m wearing heels.

The bus comes and I take it five stops. I walk a small ways before I turn the corner and arrive at the church. I see Mel standing outside when I do. She waves with both hands before nearly tackling me in a hug as I get closer.

“Wedding rehearsal!” she yells in my ear.

“Yay!” I pull away. “Desserts have been secured and taken to the restaurant, by the way.”

Her shoulders sag in relief. “Ugh, thank you, Linny. You’re the best.”

“It’s what I’m here for.”

She takes me by the hand and leads me into the church.

It’s old, which means lights are not the church’s friend, and the bright sun outside is making it appear darker in here for now, but I’ll be alright.

My eyes will adjust. I spot Atti standing at the end of the aisle with his arms crossed, talking to Julien.

Mel keeps hold of my hand as she calls everyone to gather in a group.

The entire wedding party is here, all the groomsmen and bridesmaids, Mel’s parents, Julien’s parents, Gregory and Claire’s daughter Emery, who will be the flower girl, and Mel’s and my little cousin Michael, who will be the ring bearer.

Mel finally releases my hand as she begins to explain the order we’ll be walking down the aisle in, and starts to pair us up.

For a brief moment, I fear she’s going to stick me with Atticus despite her assurances that that would not happen.

However, that was only my panic speaking, because she pairs me with Darren.

Obviously. Mel would not put me with Atti.

Atti will be walking with Amber. Poor Amber.

We easily proceed through the rehearsal, then Mel tells us we are free to head to the restaurant.

As we’re walking out the door, Paul asks, “Need a ride?” His car keys jingle in his hand.

“Sure, thanks,” I say, following him to his car. I was going to ask my aunt and uncle or Kensie for a ride, but I’m happy to go with Paul. “Is this your car?”

“No, I rented it. I’m heading up to the Highlands to do some hiking after the wedding. Ben gave me some recs.”

I can’t hide my surprise. I wasn’t aware that Ben and Paul were in communication. Not that it matters. Ben can talk to whomever he wants. Paul unlocks the car, and we both get in.

“That’ll be nice,” I say, recovering slightly as I buckle my seatbelt.

“I’m sure Ben gave you some great recs. He really likes hiking.

Or just the outdoors in general. He’s really into mountain biking and things as well.

He took a gap year before uni and went to the States and visited all these national parks.

He’s shown me pictures and they’re amazing.

He has a list that he wants to check off, but I don’t think he’s gone back since then. ”

Paul turns the car on and backs out of the lot. “Maybe you two can go together. Unless you’re not outdoorsy?”

I weigh my head. “I’m not, not outdoorsy. Hiking is fun. Though I think he’s a bit more intense than I am.”

“I like intense.”

I almost say something then. Something to push him to pursue Ben because they seem to have a lot in common—a much better match than he and I.

A more realistic one, as well. But I stop myself because Paul thinks Ben and I are dating, and he cannot know that we’re not.

No one here can. At this point, if anyone finds out that we’re not really seeing one another, it will be extremely embarrassing.

I also stop myself because I don’t want Ben to date Paul. Okay? I can admit it. I do think they would be good together, but I want to keep Ben for myself, even if just for a little longer. I don’t care how selfish that is. I have agreed to let him go after tomorrow. He’s mine until then.

Paul pulls up to the restaurant, pausing on the street to let me out. “I’ll go around the corner to find somewhere to park,” he says.

“I can come with, if you want.”

He waves me off. “No biggie. I’ll see you in there.”

I close the car door behind me, already hearing music and chatter from inside the restaurant.

The temperature has dropped since this afternoon, making me glad for the coat I chose.

I push my way in. It’s darker than it was when I was here earlier, but it’s fine.

I pause in the doorway to give myself a little extra time to adjust. A man comes from nowhere and asks to take my coat.

I give it to him to take to the cloakroom, accepting the tab with my number on it and sticking it in my pocket, because yes, this dress does have pockets.

I don’t see Ben (not that that’s saying much), so I focus on finding someone I know. I locate Kensie standing near the bar with her girlfriend, Jen, so I head toward them. I give Jen a quick hug hello, then ask the bartender for a glass of water.

The three of us move away from the bar once beverages are in all of our hands. There are more people here than were at the church as partners and additional family members were invited. I search around for Ben, still not seeing him.

My mom and my sister Chelsea were supposed to be here, but their flight got delayed. They’re in the air now, so they’ll make it for the wedding. My dad and my other sister, Sarah (who came a week early to stay with him), are heading here on a train tonight.