‘Speaking of weddings, can you help me plan some stuff for Jess and Theo’s wedding after lunch? Jess already did the notice of marriage application and gave me the green light weeks ago to start planning it at the library, but I’ve been so busy with work and writing that I haven’t had a chance. She’s hoping to get hitched next month, once the bar is finished, so I need all the help I can get!’
Ben’s face fell.
‘Um, no,’ he snapped.
‘What?’ I frowned, then smiled, expecting him to laugh and say ‘only joking,’ but he didn’t. Wait. He was serious. ‘Why not?’
‘Because I said no!’ He ground his jaw. ‘Weddings aren’t my thing.’
‘But Theo’s your brother!’
‘Which is exactly why he’ll know not to expect me to do that.’
‘Butwhy?’ I repeated, my face creasing with complete confusion.
‘Drop it, will you?’ Ben shouted, then jumped off the bed, stormed over to his wardrobe, pulled out some clothes, then started getting dressed. ‘I’m going for a walk.’
After scooping his keys off the coffee table, he strode towards the door, then left.
What the hell was that about?
59
BEN
Four years.
It’d been four fucking years since she jilted me and it still hurt.
What the hell was wrong with me?
As I stormed along the beach, I kicked the sand in frustration.
I should be over the pain by now.
It wasn’t like I still thought about my ex. Not in a romantic way, at least.
When Ididthink about her, other emotions like hatred and embarrassment flooded my veins.
Even now, I still struggled to understand how she could do that to me.
I shook my head. I couldn’t think about this now. It’d just make me angry.
I hated how that experience had such a profound effect on me.
Sarah was right. Ishouldbe able to help plan Theo’s wedding. He was my brother and my best friend. He’d alwayshad my back and rarely asked for anything in return. Yet here I was, trying to avoid helping with his wedding.
He’d been asking me for weeks to go shopping for a new suit and each time I’d made up an excuse. It was pathetic.
And now I’d just shouted at Sarah.
She didn’t deserve that.
The past few weeks with her had been the happiest of my life.
Everything had felt so right. So calm.
I loved that she came to my place every evening.
