Chapter 5 #3
“Hey, let's just keep it simple,” he tried. “Carol will only ask so many questions, and half of those I can joke my way out of answering directly. It's a skill we bartenders hone—getting people to talk to themselves while we stand there looking pretty. Plus, didn’t you already post about the first time you met Guy? Just tell me that story and we’ll be fine.”
Benny, flustered, still managed to go quiet at that.
“I…didn’t write about that. The first time I mentioned Guy at all on the blog, I didn't say anything about how we met. I just kind of talked about how I felt. That and that Guy was a friend.”
Jack made a mental note to read that post when he got another break.
In fact, he realized he probably needed to sit down and at least go through one of the listicles citing the most popular posts from The One Who Said Nothing. He had no doubt Carol had at least done that much, especially given all the attention Benny was getting.
Attention was a zero-sum game for the Robertson woman, after all. Any attention on someone else was attention not on her.
Jack buttoned up, suddenly re-energized at the prospect of humbling the queen bee.
“Okay, so let's just say we met outside of school at the café,” he dove in.
“We started talking, became friends, and you caught some intense feelings but kept it to yourself.
Then last year, when you showed up at Cassidy's, we reconnected, but it wasn't until after the blog went viral that you told me how you felt. I said, ‘hell yeah, let’s do this’ and we've been doing romantic-style things in secret for a week.”
Jack could almost feel the stress radiating from the seat next to him.
But Benny didn't try to change what he’d said. He actually backed it up.
“And since this is so new, this romantic-style relationship, we don't know everything about each other and—” Benny gasped so loud that Jack almost slammed on brakes.
“What?” he yelled.
Benny matched his volume.
“What if they ask or talk about something I wrote on DearMe about you and you have no idea what they’re talking about. Surely if we were together you would have read them.”
Jack put his foot back onto the gas pedal and rolled his eyes.
“Tell them the truth. I didn't have time to read it and, even if I did, why would I read what you wrote in your blog when I can spend time with the actual you instead?”
Benny quieted at that.
Jack couldn’t help but glance over after a bit.
In profile, Benny’s lips were a target that Jack’s eyes instantly hit. There was a slight sheen to them, like he’d put on lip balm or something else that made them look nice.
Jack wondered if they tasted differently today.
Benny tucked his bottom lip into his mouth in thought.
Jack softened, if only out of pity.
“Listen, don't over think it,” he said. “In fact, if I squeeze your hand twice? That means you’re doing too much and calm the fuck down, okay? If things get too intense with questions and I can't shake the convo, we’ll just redirect their attention to something happening now.”
“Like a distraction.”
Jack nodded.
“Exactly. Something that will get them off of our backs for a bit.
The Sailors and Mermaids Festival would probably be our best bet.
Carol and her mom are a part of that beautification committee that's heading more than half of the events. When in doubt, ask their thoughts about the parade or the auction or anything that will give their socialite muscles a good flex.”
Benny's dark hair, slightly longer on top in a messy kind of way, caught the light as he nodded.
Jack wondered if he’d need to run his fingers through it as per their arrangement.
Then, just as quickly, he realized that was ridiculous.
Not as ridiculous as Benny’s next suggestion though.
“Or we could talk about Marcus's engagement to Felicity,” he said. “I'm sure Carol would love to deep dive into talking about throwing the first Robertson wedding in years. The white lace and dove-filled horror.”
It was good advice, but he knew the execution would be horrible.
Jack didn’t want Felicity back and she obviously didn’t want that either, but pretending that everything was hunky-dory wasn’t the play he wanted to make.
But did Benny De Carlo still want Marcus Robertson?
He said he didn’t…
But.
What if he was doing exactly what they were doing now?
What if he lied?
Jack could have asked again—maybe more doggedly— but he decided the answer wouldn’t matter.
Their fake dating arrangement was one of necessity. Benny needed a cover, Jack needed press.
That's all it was.
Jack shook out the tension that had crept into his shoulders.
“How about, worst case, I'll just flip a table,” he said. “Give everyone something to talk about. No need to look for a distraction when I can become one.”
Benny, to his surprise, gave a genuine laugh.
“Truth be told, I'd rather you just kiss me again before you flip any tables. More enjoyable, way less messy.”
Jack knew he hadn’t meant to say that last part the moment Benny went cherry red.
It made the pity in him turn, momentarily, into something else.
He caught his fake boyfriend’s eye and sent a wink his way.
“Squeeze twice and I can make that happen.”