Page 49 of Five Stolen Rings
“Of course!” she chirps. “See you in a bit!”
We hang up, and fifteen minutes later, I’m on the road.
I’m normally a big brunch person—or rather, I’m a big snacker. I snack throughout the day rather than eating three large meals. But my rubbery scrambled eggs churn in my stomach as I drive, and I’m positive I’m too nervous to actually eat anything and enjoy it.
I’m just going for the clutch. I don’t need to have any conversations or offer any explanations, about last night or about my current trajectory.
And the twins probably won’t ask. Right? Who else is there?
I should have asked that.
After I pull into the little café and park, I wait in the car for a full three minutes before getting out. I’m actually tempted to drive right back home, but I do need to get my bag, so I finally make myself go in.
My breath swirls away in the brisk morning breeze, and for all the December cold, there’s at least some sunlight today. It’s watery, weak, pale, but I’d rather have faint lightthan none at all. I hurry into the café, crossing my arms for warmth.
I see Lucretia and Sophronia in a large booth, around which several more people are gathered. I don’t recognize any of them, but then again, all I can see are the backs of their heads. I nod to the hostess and gesture to the booth and then weave my way back, passing tables full of fresh bread, butter, fruit tarts, and quiche.
Every single one of those dishes would probably taste delicious if I could manage not to throw up from my nervous stomach.
The twins see me first, both of them waving in tandem. At that, the rest of the table’s occupants turn to look too. There are two girls I recognize vaguely as cousins of the twins, several years younger; Bridget, looking unconvincingly pleased to see me; and one last, unexpected guest.
“Benny?” I say, blinking with surprise. He’s got an enormous slice of quiche in front of him with what looks like a mimosa, and he’s eating like a man starved. He greets me with a wave and a smile, scooting further in to let me sit next to him. This suits me fine. The twins and the rest of the women return to a lively debate they seem to be having about real leather versus vegan leather, a topic I have no desire to discuss.
How weird is it that I’m relieved to see Benny? I don’t even know this guy. But he feels inexplicably safe, and I have a sneaking suspicion it’s because of his friendship with Jack.
Also…I don’t know. He reminds me vaguely of Joey Tribbiani fromFriends.Not necessarily the kind of guy I want to date, but good-natured and harmless.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him when I’m seated, nodding my greetings at the rest of the table and trying toswallow my nerves. Lucretia passes me my red clutch across the table.
“Here you go!” she says with a smile.
“Oh, thank you,” I say. I take it and tuck it in the seat next to me, turning back to Benny when he leans sideways and speaks in a low voice.
“I like the companionship,” he says with a glance at the women. “Me and my muscles get lonely, you know?”
“Ah,” I say. A waiter approaches from out of nowhere and asks what I’d like to order, but I tell him I’ll just have water. He pulls that out of nowhere too, and I take a few gulps gratefully.
“Yeah,” Benny says, continuing to shovel food in his mouth. Somehow his voice is still clear when he talks again. “And I may look like a handsome, confident guy”—I hold back my smile—“but the truth is, I could use a little lovin’ every now and then too.” He shoots me a covert look. “Don’t tell Jacky I’m fishing from the Windsor pool. He would never let me hear the end of it.”
“My lips are sealed,” I say quietly, my little smile finally breaking free. “But you know, you’re not even talking to them. You’re just eating.”
“It’s good food,” he says defensively. “I need my strength to do things like flirt and be charming.”
“Of course.” I look discreetly around the table. “And how are you sure any of these women are single?” Though I guess the twins might be, now that I think about it.
But Benny just snorts and shoots me a side-eyed look, like I’ve insulted his intelligence. “Please,” he says out of the corner of his mouth. “Do you really think I would drive halfway to Boulder without knowing if there were some single ladies here?”
“…No?” I say.
“No way,” he says with a nod. He lowers his voice even further. “Bridget is married, but everyone else here is single.” Then, his tone musing, he goes on, “Wonder if Lu and Soph would both want to date me at once. Some twins are into that kind of thing, you know?—”
He breaks off when I choke on my water, spluttering it down my front. I dab my mouth with a napkin.
“Want some eggnog?” Sophronia says, her eyes sparkling. “We brought our own. Festivities abound!” She holds up a canteen, and I shrug. I don’t think this fancy French café would approve if they knew we had our own beverages, but I wouldn’t mind a glass of eggnog.
“Sure,” I say, and Sophronia passes me a glass.
“Drink it slowly,” she advises.
