Chapter 6 #3
Benny decided not to reward that with a response and instead turned his focus to the party already in attendance, now coming into view as he and Jack approached the open greenhouse doors.
Ruby, Carol’s best friend, sat facing them with a champagne flute in her hand and was dressed like she was about to watch the Kentucky Derby—her own big hat crowning her own big head.
Missy, the Robertson matriarch, was a little less flamboyant in comparison, a feat considering the older woman was wearing a salmon-colored pantsuit and pearls as big as grapes.
A woman he didn’t recognize was sitting down between the two and made Benny feel a bit better about his lack of flair with his button-up and khaki dress pants.
She was in a polka dot dress that Benny knew came from Target.
Because he’d passed it on his way into the men’s section to buy the shirt he was currently wearing.
“I guess I should have grabbed my white linen suit, huh?” Jack whispered. It startled a gasp from Benny considering he’d bent down to do so against his ear.
A gasp loud enough that it stopped all three women on the spot.
Suddenly, all eyes were on them.
And then it was Benny-hunting season.
“Well, it's been a long time since we had anyone famous here!” Mrs. Robertson danced out of her chair, arms spread wide. A polite attack, coming in hot. “How lovely for you to have come on such short notice.”
The attack became airborne as a cloud of perfume enveloped Benny before the older woman followed.
“Bless your heart, how are you even coping with it all?” Mrs. Robertson cooed. She broke the quick embrace but managed to grab Benny’s hands. Worry of the highest regard covered her expression. “Because there certainly isn't an off switch for all of this attention, is there?”
Benny, also skilled in polite affectations, nodded a confirmation.
“There certainly is not,” he replied.
Mrs. Robertson was the picture of southern sympathy. She shook her head and tsked.
“Oh, bless you,” she continued. Mrs. Robertson dropped one hand but had the other fastened to Benny's, as if they were velcroed together. “Well, why don't we get you settled in with a nice peach bellini or just a mimosa? Maybe a sweet tea if that's more suited to your tastes?”
A bellini sounded as nice as Jack’s smooth chest.
Alcohol, of any kind, reminded Benny that that was why he was currently holding Marcus’s mother’s hand.
“Sweet tea would actually be great.”
The table sat eight people. Jack took one of the two heads of the table with a quick, sly smile to Benny, before Mrs. Robertson set him down to his right. But only after the introductions were made.
The woman in polka dots was Arnesha King, a town council member, and seemingly a very quiet individual.
She didn't say a word as Mrs. Robertson introduced her and stayed utterly silent as Ruby and the hostess started to ping pong opinions back and forth about what they would do if they had been the ones to go viral.
Benny smiled and nodded and hit all the social cues he felt he was supposed to hit.
Jack drank a peach bellini.
Maybe this won't be that bad, Benny dared to think after a few minutes. Maybe they'll just talk at me instead of with me.
It seemed a reasonable hope and one Benny held onto as he took a sip of his own drink, lightly delighted by how sinfully sweet it tasted.
He wondered where Marcus and his bride-to-be were as his responses became less and less needed.
The Robertsons, with the exception of their father, who never seemed to attend garden events, were a social package deal.
Which meant if Marcus was coming to his mother’s event, then his fiancée would surely be in tow.
How would he feel when he saw them together?
Had he really gotten over his feelings for Marcus?
Wasn’t seeing him after all this time strange?
Would it feel even stranger to see him with the woman he planned on marrying?
The near-perfect Felicity Fairchild in all her glory?
Would he feel jealous?
Would he be self-conscious?
Would his old feelings of first love try to sway him back to thinking about Marcus nonstop?
Benny looked over at Jack. His glass was almost empty and his eyes, Benny decided, were more green than hazel. Trees trying to bloom to their fullest in spring.
Jack could destroy Benny, if he wanted. Right then and there. Give them Marcus’s name and that would be that. Carol, the town, and the internet would gobble him up, one piece of gossip and one comment at a time.
The One Who Said Nothing would become the pathetic creeper who had said the wrong thing.
Yet, there Jack sat with a bellini in hand and nothing but a small smile across his lips.
Benny wondered if the real reason Jack had agreed to help him out was because, despite his rough and tumbled facade, Jack Knox was genuinely just being nice.
Or maybe he just really needs money for his failing bar, Benny. Play the part and get the publicity since none of us here will actually get a bank loan.
As if Jack heard the quick internal exchange, his gaze slid over to Benny’s.
Heat ran up his neck in an instant.
It was only good fate that the next conversational thread was given to Jack instead.
“You know, Jack, I was surprised to hear that you two are together,” Ruby said, cutting off whatever Arnesha had opened her mouth to finally say. She had lipstick on her teeth. It reminded Benny of a shark mid-feed. “I mean, you know, considering.”
Jack’s eyebrow arched. His smile stayed smooth.
“Considering what?”
Ruby, a woman Benny's mom would have called bitter as a cup of tea without a drop of sugar in it, seemed eager to answer. She even leaned in a bit for the effort.
“Oh, considering the whole Felicity thing.” She shrugged.
“You know, I heard you were absolutely devoted to her and, now, I see that maybe that’s just who you are when you’re dating someone, Jack.
You and Felicity were together—what?—three years?
And now you’re giving Benny just as much attention. It’s honestly so admirable.”
Like the hand that slapped Jack’s ass, Benny couldn’t control his sitcom-style spit-take.
Jack and Felicity?
No.
Hell, no.
Ruby had to be mistaken because there was no way that Jack and the Felicity had even talked, let alone been together for years.
Plus, surely if Jack was in love with Felicity, the last place he'd want to be was sitting across from her and her new fiancé.
And, if so, surely, he would have brought it up.
Surely, he would have—
Benny looked at Jack, waiting for him to be just as smooth with a shut down as he had been with his smiles all morning.
Instead, Benny’s thoughts stuttered to a stop.
Jack had gone tight-lipped with an obvious side of grumpy.
That’s why he’s doing this.
They weren’t fake dating to help Benny or the bar. It was because of Felicity.
Nice, my ass.
Benny could hear Ruby take in a breath, no doubt gearing up to press on the crack in their armor she'd just found, when movement made them all look outside the greenhouse.
Carol and her sun hat were walking around the fountain. In tow?
The newly engaged couple that had just overtaken their conversation.
They were smiling and happy and perfect.
Benny eyed the nearest exit, just over their shoulder.
Antarctica was looking really good right about now.