Shortcake by Watson Lucy

Author:Watson, Lucy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-14T16:00:00+00:00

16

Bathroom of Doom

Things I’d rather do than go out to lunch with Ben and the Wedding Brigade:

Vacuum a room full of hidden pennies.

Stub my toe on a freezing morning.

Eat a handful of peanuts while chewing gum.

But here I am, squished next to Ben in a booth meant for four because Mrs. Baker insisted on sitting away from the non-existent draft and next to a window with a view of Main Street.

I set down my menu without really looking at it, and take a sip of my Sprite, distracted by the whirlwind of the last few hours.

Hours spent nodding and smiling like one of the Walking Dead as Betsy decided Ben and I are tying the knot in the backyard—if you can call ten acres a yard—of the farmhouse at dusk. Because, according to Betsy, outdoor weddings are more romantic at sunset.

I zombie-smiled while we strolled through Perfect Petals flower shop where Josie decided on white gardenias (pure love), white and green hydrangeas (enduring beauty), and calla lilies (faithfulness). Apparently, it’s a winning flower combination for a long-lasting happy marriage. Guaranteed.

I even kept my zombie-smile intact while Ben spent the entire time leaning against the back wall with his eyes glued to his phone like he was waiting for the train downtown, and not shopping for a fake wedding.

The only time he wasn’t looking at his phone was when he was paying. Which he did without batting an eye. Which made everything worse.

I’ve never felt like more of a fraud in my life.

The only silver lining, if you could call it that, was the fact nobody asked about my family. Nobody asked who would walk me down the aisle. Who would give me away. Where the Mother of the Bride would sit.

I guess I can thank Mrs. Baker for that one. She grilled me about my life the first time we met. I thought it was because she was protective of Rose. Nope. She’s just nosy.

I told her that my mother had passed and that my dad…Well, I didn’t tell her the truth about that one. She thinks he passed too. Rose believed the same. I hated lying, but this is one truth that I hated more. One truth I never share.

Under the table, Ben’s thigh bumps against mine. It’s not on purpose. He hasn’t touched me since the hanky-panky-coffee kitchen incident. Not that I’m complaining.

He also hasn’t so much as looked my way. Not that I’m complaining about that either.

If he keeps icing me out, I won’t have to confess a damn thing to the Wedding Brigade. They’ll figure out on their own that Ben and I are full of shit, and this wedding is a complete sham.

I return Josie’s smile from across the table and turn my gaze out the window, ignoring the warmth radiating from Ben’s body, as I listen to Betsy and Ada try to figure out what to split for lunch. It’s between a club sandwich or a patty melt.

My votes on the patty melt.

Releasing a heavy sigh, I watch people strolling down the sidewalk in their sensible shoes.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.