Chapter 6 Ben
BEN
‘So how was your first day of working with Sarah?’ Theo asked as we walked along the beach towards his house.
This wasn’t LA, but I had to admit that Sunshine Bay was still pretty special. I hadn’t even known beaches like this existed in this part of England until I’d first come to visit Theo.
‘It was… interesting,’ I replied.
‘Care to elaborate?’ Theo pressed.
‘You know I love a challenge, bro, but even I have to admit that working with her is difficult. We have different views. I’m never going to change the way I feel about certain things and so putting me with someone who is borderline evangelical about it just isn’t going to work.’
‘You’re talking about love, right?’
‘No! I’m talking about romance books.’ My chest tightened.
‘Romance books are about love.’
‘Whatever. It’s not about that,’ I insisted.
‘I just… I just think we’d be better off staying in our lanes, that’s all.
Let Sarah do her romance brainstorming, tell me what she thinks we need in a report, I’ll read it and give my thoughts.
It’ll be much simpler that way. We spent most of the meeting bickering about bloody tropes.
That’s not a productive use of time. For either of us. ’
‘Jess and I want you to work together, so just suck it up and get on with it. Okay?’
‘Fine,’ I huffed.
‘On an unrelated note, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.’
‘Please tell me it doesn’t involve anything to do with Sarah.’
‘No. It’s about my wedding…’ His voice trailed off and my stomach twisted.
‘What do you need?’
‘I was going to ask if you’d…’ Theo shook his head. ‘Forget it.’
‘No, tell me.’
He paused again, then stopped walking and stood in front of me.
‘It’s just, I wondered if you’d consider being my best man.’
My eyes popped and I swallowed the lump in my throat.
‘Wow. Whoa. Um…’ My gaze dropped to the sand. ‘I mean, weddings aren’t really my thing, but yeah, sure, course.’
‘Really?’ Theo asked. ‘I know it’ll be—’
‘What?’ I jumped in. ‘No, I didn’t even think about that,’ I lied. ‘I just thought you’d ask Tom, because he’s the middle brother and more responsible, that’s all. I’d be honoured. Truly. Thanks for asking me.’
Theo beamed, and seeing how happy he was told me I’d said the right thing.
‘Thanks, bro!’ He threw his arms round me and patted me on the back.
‘You know I’d do anything for you, Big T. Listen, about… y’know, what happened before, you haven’t told Jess, have you? I know you two are close, but—’
‘No,’ Theo said firmly. ‘You asked me to keep it between us, so I haven’t told a soul. Your secret’s safe with me.’
‘Thanks,’ I said as a wave of relief washed over me.
Only a handful of the people closest to me knew about my past and I needed to make sure it stayed that way.