Chapter 25 Ben
BEN
Sarah was coming up to my flat.
Shit.
Because it’d been so long since I’d seen her, I was looking forward to spending time with Sarah more than I should.
No. It was fine. I was overthinking. The only reason I was feeling weird was because she’d offered to help me.
I was used to my brothers lending a hand, but the women I hung out with never did anything to help me without an ulterior motive.
Maybe Sarah was doing it because I’d let her borrow my shirt, but it wasn’t even a big deal.
When I’d noticed the stain, I’d debated even telling her because then I’d be admitting to staring at her arse, which, full disclosure, I totally was. But then I’d decided that her feelings were more important.
But there could be no bottom ogling tonight. I needed to keep everything above board. I had to show her that I was taking this seriously.
Despite my reputation for being a joker, when friends and family really needed me, I always did my best to step up. Whatever it took, I gave it my all.
That was why when Sarah had said that she didn’t think that preparation and studying were my style, her comment had stung.
Being the youngest was hard. Especially because my brothers were so bloody brilliant.
Theo was always the golden child. Not just because he was the eldest and first in line to take over the reins at Father’s company, but because he was so smart.
He aced every exam, had impeccable manners and was charming. Tom was pretty much the same.
And then there was me. It didn’t matter how much I tried at school, I always flunked my tests. I even had extra tuition, but nothing seemed to stick. In the end, Father gave up. In truth, I think he believed it wasn’t worth bothering with me because he already had Theo and Tom to run the business.
Whilst Theo and Tom were always complimented by family members for their achievements and intelligence, I was just the ‘cute’, ‘handsome’ one or the family joker.
I wasn’t good at sports or anything for that matter. Well, I was good at design and technology, especially when I got to make things with my hands, but that didn’t count because it wasn’t ‘academic’. As far as Father was concerned, I was utterly useless.
That was why I’d learnt early on that humour was a good way to deflect your feelings. If you joked about things and acted like you didn’t care, it made life easier.
So I focused on my ‘strengths’ and played up to the ‘cute and funny’ labels. Women seemed to like that.
The buzzer rang and my pulse raced.
She’s here.
‘Yes?’ I said as I pressed the intercom button.
‘Delivery for Ben 10!’ Sarah said and I laughed. I liked that she’d used my nickname suggestion.
When I opened the door, the sound of Sarah’s footsteps made my heart thud against my chest. And as I caught sight of her, I swallowed hard.
Fuck, she looked good.
‘Hi,’ I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
‘Hi.’ She smiled and my pulse quickened again.
‘Welcome to my humble abode.’ I stepped aside to let her in, then reminded myself not to check out her arse in the fitted dress she was wearing.
‘Oooh,’ she said as her head swivelled from left to right. ‘It’s so cool! I love the whole exposed brick wall vibe and how open-plan it is.’
‘Glad you like it. How was the party? Hope it wasn’t too wild!’ I laughed and she rolled her eyes. That was the Sarah I’d missed. I loved how I got under her skin.
‘It was brilliant. You should come to the next one. See what it’s all about.’
‘Maybe,’ I said, holding her gaze. We just stared at each other for a few beats. God, she had beautiful eyes. I could tell she was tired because they didn’t have that same sparkle, but they still looked amazing. ‘Can I get you a drink? I have beer, beer or beer!’
‘Golly, how will I choose?’ she said, putting on a plummy accent.
‘Are you taking the piss, Jeffries?’
‘A little.’ She smirked.
‘And I don’t speak like that.’ The corner of my mouth twitched.
‘You do. It’s… different.’
‘Good different?’ I asked.
‘I don’t hate it.’ She smiled and our eyes locked again. The silence stretched for several seconds before she broke it. ‘So, we should get cracking. What do you need me to do?’
‘I don’t really have a system. I’ve just been opening the boxes and pulling everything out and putting them in different parts of the room.
Bedroom stuff over there’—I pointed to the left—‘kitchen stuff obviously by the kitchen then the rest is just getting dumped by the sofa, which will be the living room area.’
‘Great. Do you have a pair of scissors or anything to break the tape?’
‘Somewhere…’ I paused. ‘I’ve just been using my hands. Let me see if I can find them.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll use my keys.’ She reached in her bag and pulled them out. Then Sarah lined all of the boxes up against the wall and started ripping open each one. ‘If I open them all up first, I won’t have to keep stopping and starting to do it.’
‘Good idea.’
‘So…’ she said as she moved onto the next box.
‘About my family. I have a brother, called Adrian, who’s the one getting married to Debbie.
They’ve been dating for about three years.
She’s nice enough. They’re harmless. They’ll be too busy focusing on their big day to give you the Spanish Inquisition.
Then there’s my parents…’ She let out a long sigh.
‘You don’t get on?’
‘We do… but they’re a little stuck in their ways.
A bit old-fashioned. My mum still does everything for my dad like he’s incapable.
Irons, does all the housework, cooks every day, including Jamaican pepper pot soup from scratch on Saturdays and rice and peas with either curried goat or jerk chicken on Sundays, whilst he just puts his feet up and watches the football or cricket. ’
‘I see.’
‘And neither of them really like confrontation. So when the shit went down with my bitch of a sister, they just kind of retreated. They didn’t want to deal with it.’
‘But surely they must’ve been angry about how she’d betrayed you?’ My brow furrowed.
‘Not really. They thought the sun shone out of her backside. Mum always wanted lots of kids, and after me, she thought she wouldn’t be able to have any more. So when that cow came along, they were overjoyed. She was like their miracle child and could do no wrong.’
‘Even so, what she did was inexcusable.’
‘Clearly. But when I told her what they’d done, Mum just shrugged and said, “These things happen. Trent’s very handsome, so it’s normal that he’ll get a lot of attention.
And you don’t do yourself any favours staying in your room all the time reading those books.
A man needs a woman that will take care of him and keep him entertained. ”’
My jaw dropped.
‘That’s… wow.’
‘I know. The thing is, and this is going to sound weird, but I don’t think that she means any harm by it.
She doesn’t believe that there’s anything wrong in what she’s saying.
She doesn’t say it in an evil way, y’know?
She’s generally a decent mum, it’s just, that’s how she was brought up, I suppose. ’
‘Right.’ I blew out a breath, thinking that was no excuse but not wanting to slag off her mother. ‘And your father?’
‘He’s a simple man. Enjoys watching sports at the weekend. Likes a nice glass of Guinness or Jamaican rum.’
‘And if it’s not too difficult, tell me about the dirty little rats.’
Her shoulders instantly slumped.
‘Did you say you had beer? I think I’m going to need alcohol to get through talking about them.’