Chapter Nine
Ben stood at the restaurant’s front door, keys in hand, staring at the CLOSED sign he’d just flipped over, and the white sheet of paper he’d stuck to the glass, announcing the closure for the day.
It was too early for the shops and businesses surrounding Sage Lexie was texting furiously on her phone, likely planning her escape; and Willow was talking animatedly to Ollie and Raj, her hand on her hip.
Franco, ever the social butterfly, had found his niche too, immediately striking up a conversation with Coral, his hands fluttering as he spoke.
Any second now, and Coral’s gonna be wearing Franco’s coffee. How that man managed to avoid spilling every single drink was a secret known only to the universe.
Ben stood with his back to the coffee station, sipping the aromatic liquid. Franco chose that moment to rejoin him, still grinning.
“You really think they’re going to make us sit around and ‘share’ our feelings?” Ben asked quietly.
“I think that’s the plan. Get ready for the kumbaya circle.” Franco leaned closer, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “If you’re not careful, they might ask you to sing a song. I hear ‘Wonderwall’ is the group favourite.”
Ben snorted into his coffee, half choking on the liquid. “Oh God, don’t even joke about that.”
Franco beamed. “I’m serious, man. It’s the ultimate test of vulnerability.” His eyes gleamed. “You’re gonna sing ‘Wonderwall.’ You know it.”
“And what will you be doing?” Ben demanded.
Franco batted his eyelashes. “I’ll just be here for moral support.” His lips twitched. “And recording it on my phone, because… evidence.”
Ben eyed the tables and chairs, scattered about for what was surely going to be some form of group activity. The vibe was casual.
If you consider mandatory bonding activities casual. Not that it really was mandatory .
Coral gave a shrill blast on a whistle, then clapped her hands, gaining the room’s attention.
“We’re going to start with some trust exercises.”
Ben gaped. “A whistle? Seriously? She’s not herding sheep—there are only eight of us, for crying out loud,” he muttered. Raj let out a snort, and Willow rolled her eyes.
The first activity comprised guiding each other blindfolded through a maze of overturned chairs. Ben nearly tripped over Ollie twice and accidentally grabbed Franco’s waist when he panicked and lost balance.
“Hands higher next time, darling,” Franco whispered with a scandalised giggle, his fingers closing over Ben’s to steady him.
Ben’s face went so hot he thought he might combust. The warmth of Franco’s hand seemed to seep up his entire arm, a pulse he couldn’t ignore. Even when Franco let go, Ben’s skin buzzed as if touched by static.
“I think I’ll just stick with guiding you myself.” Warmth tickled his ear, Franco’s hands hovering near Ben’s waist, his breath feather-light. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall—unless it’s into my arms.”
Ben barked out a nervous laugh and stepped forward blindly, only to feel Franco’s chest press against his back to steady him. Their bodies aligned in a way that felt both accidental and maddeningly intimate. He could feel the heat radiating off Franco, the slight hitch in his breathing.
“Careful,” Franco murmured, his lips so close to Ben’s neck that Ben shivered despite the warm air pushed into the room by the lit fire.
After they finished, Franco didn’t step away immediately. His fingers lingered at Ben’s side, trailing lightly as if memorising the shape of him before slipping away.
“All right, team,” Coral called out. “Grab a spot on a rug. Next is a “shared values” session. Each of you has a small piece of paper and a marker. The aim is to write one word you associate with the restaurant. ”
Ben hesitated, staring at his marker. What the hell do I put? He gazed at the seated group around him. Lottie chose family , Mina picked joy , Raj wrote heart , and Ollie, after a dramatic pause, scrawled hangover .
Ben glanced in Franco’s direction, on tenterhooks to see his chosen word. Relief unexpectedly flooded through him when Franco wrote magic in bold, swooping letters, adding three stars for emphasis.
Then Ben realised all eyes were on him.
He thought about it for a second, then wrote alive . When he held it up, Franco’s gaze met his, and he gave Ben a small nod of approval.
It was ridiculous, it was forced, and it was like every other team-building activity Ben had ever been dragged into. But something about the absurdity of it all, combined with Franco’s infectious energy, made him feel—for a moment—that maybe this retreat wasn’t such a terrible idea.
“I’m telling you, Ben.” Franco’s voice dropped a little as he got closer, his perpetual grin easing into something more genuine. “This is what we need. Not just the restaurant, the job. This... this is the stuff that makes life worth it.”
Ben’s gaze shifted to the others. The staff had begun to chat amongst themselves, laughing like a group of five-year-olds.
For a fleeting moment, Ben knew Franco was right.
Maybe it wasn’t the crazy, impromptu “activities” or the forced bonding moments that mattered.
Maybe it was the small, unexpected moments that actually made a difference.
Moments like this. Because as Ben watched the absurdity unfolding in front of him, he found he was actually kind of enjoying it.
He wasn’t sure whether to thank Franco for it or hit him with a pillow.