“You a friend of Kyle’s or Ben’s?” he asks.
“Ben’s.” I let the word hang, carrying more weight than a simple introduction.
“Yeah, I figured. We think the other is a Nancy, to be fair.”
His bluntness makes me pause. “Excuse me?”
“I think he’s gay. A Nancy?”
“Ben?” I tilt my head, curious.
“No. Benny boy is as straight as fuck. That one—he’ll do anything with breasts.”
I chuckle, letting my amusement show. Only someone close to Ben would talk about him like this so freely.
“Charming,” I say, louder now, letting the teasing flow over me without shrinking.
“Yeah, that’s me. Prince bloody charming.” The man winks, confident in his own absurdity.
Ben reappears suddenly, practically crashing into the room. “Zach!” His voice is too loud, his face red. Dots start connecting in my brain. The infamous Zach—of course.
“What, mate?” Zach asks, completely unbothered.
“Shut the bloody hell up,” Ben growls, warning sharp.
Zach grins. “What did I say?”
“You’re offending her,” Ben’s voice softens slightly.
“She ain’t glass, mate. She won’t break,” Zach says, glancing at me. I meet his eyes and offer a small, confident smile.
“She’s bloody American, Zach. They aren’t so…” Ben searches for the word, “…crass there.”
Zach’s eyes flick between us. “You’re the American?”
“Guilty as charged,” I say, letting the words land.
For a moment, the room shifts subtly. A small acknowledgment passes between the men, one that leaves me quietly amused and fully present.
“American,” Zach mutters. “Alright, I’m gonna go have me a meal. You two behave.” And just like that, he disappears up the narrow staircase, leaving Ben and me alone again.
I take a slow breath, aware of the weight and warmth of being here—fully myself, finally, in front of him.
Chapter 60
Ben, April 18
“Sorry about him. Honestly, he’s a great guy, but he can be a bit… intense.” I feel a flush of embarrassment. Did Zach suspect this was the American we’d been talking about?
“It’s alright. He’s nothing I can’t handle.” Her eyes sparkle, and I swear it’s like she’s laughing at some private joke I haven’t been let in on.
“Liz, why are you here?”
“Let’s just say,” she begins carefully, “things haven’t quite gone the way I imagined.”
I can’t help it. My eyes drift to the belly. I quickly look back at her face to avoid being caught, but her gaze has already followed mine. She rubs her belly gently as she continues.
“When I found out I was pregnant, Matt was suddenly so supportive. He talked about marriage and a future. He even thought we should move in together.”
