I didn’t have long, so instead of toing and froing with texts, I decided to do the crazy thing that most people my age rarely did: call.
Ben answered on the first ring.
‘Jeffries,’ he said and the sound of his deep, posh voice sent a shock wave straight to my core.
‘Ben-evolent,’ I replied.
‘Awww, you going soft on me?’ he asked. ‘What happened to Benjamin Buttface?’
‘I’m sure he’s still around. But I like to mix up my nicknames, to keep you on your toes,’ I said, not wanting to admit that after he’d done all those kind things for me, I couldn’t in good conscience use such an insulting name.
‘Like it! So what’s up with the party? Why didn’t I get an invite? And when’s the DJ starting?’
‘It’s not that kind of party! It’s a silent reading party.’
‘A what?’
‘A party where readers come and sit together to read.’
‘And then they party afterwards?’ he said, confusion in his voice.
‘No. The reading bitisthe party.’
‘I think you and I have a very different understanding of the wordparty.Parties normally have a DJ and alcohol and dancing.’
‘Was there something you needed?’ I said, keen to get to the point of his texts. Ben was a party playboy, so of course he wouldn’t understand the concept of a silent reading party and there was no point in trying to explain it.
‘Er, yes,’ he said, sounding like my bluntness had caught him off guard. ‘I was messaging to see if you were free to meet after work. There’s some stuff we need to discuss.’
‘What stuff?’ I asked, my curiosity piqued.
‘Wedding stuff. We leave in four days and I don’t feel very prepared. I mean, I’m happy to wing it, but as you know, I’m the ultimate professional, so I’d prefer to bring myself up to speed and study, so to speak.’
‘I wouldn’t have thought preparation and studying were your style,’ I laughed, and the line went silent. Had I offended him? I thought he liked the whole bantering thing. ‘Sorry, yeah, you’re right. We should prepare. You’re doing me a massive favour, so the least I can do is give you a brief. Shall we meet tomorrow?’
‘Can’t,’ he said solemnly. He’d only replied with one word, but something in his tone was different. ‘I’m away with Theo most of this week, hence why I suggested tonight.’
‘Oh, right. Okay.’ It’d been a long day and there was still another hour and a half before this event finished, but like I’d just said, he was doing me a favour, so I needed to work around his diary.
‘Or if you don’t feel comfortable meeting me in the evening, we can meet in the morning around seven once I’m back from my run.’
‘Er, no, tonight’s fine. Where do you want to meet?’
‘Up to you. I’m in my flat upstairs unpacking, so I can come down to the library or meet across the road, wherever you want.’
‘Oh yeah!’ I said. ‘Jess mentioned you’d moved. How is it?’
‘A mess. My stuff’s been in storage, so I’d forgotten how much shit I had.’
‘Yeah, moving’s the worst. The unpacking takes ages. Actually, why don’t I come up and help? I can fill you in on my family and who’s who whilst we unpack.’
‘You’d do that?’ he said, his voice filled with surprise.
‘Course, why not?’ I frowned.
‘Because, it’ll be late and I just assumed you wouldn’t be comfortable. And unpacking would be helping me.’
‘Really? I hadn’t realised!’ I said sarcastically. ‘That’s the point! Why wouldn’t I want to help you? Especially after everything you’ve done for me.’
