Page 13 of How We Loved

“Who are they for?” Ben demanded, clearly not impressed by the vehicle blocking him in. Or the fact someone was having that many flowers delivered. Which reminds me, when did he last buy me flowers, or even pick them? Clearly we are over that point in our relationship.

The delivery guy checked his clipboard. “Benjamin Chambers.”

Ben’s frown deepened. “These are for me?” The delivery guy glanced at me. “Not her, is it?” Ben didn’t answer; he just took the massive bouquets and lugged them back upstairs to our flat. It seemed like he might be doing a rain dance to fill vases with water, for all I knew. Who in the world had sent him this many flowers, and more importantly why weren’t they for me?

Unfortunately for Ben, he left me stewing for far too long, and by the time he came back down to the car, I was green and ready to explode.

“Who the heck sent you flowers?”

A slight blush coloured his cheeks. “Lilah.” Just the way he said my name, told me all I needed to know.

“Oh my god. It was her, wasn’t it.” I realized I’d been naive to think that Ben leaving Sound Box would be the end of Miranda, his ex-skinny American PR woman, being in our lives. Now she was back, interfering with my plans to buy furniture for my baby, or more accurately, my plans to enjoy some meatballs without experiencing intense indigestion.

Ben tried to calm the situation. “Lilah, maybe we shouldn’t go to Ikea today.”

I huffed and puffed, my ankles throbbing with anger. “So she gets to ruin Ikea as well. Just great.”

“She’s not ruining anything,” Ben protested.

Unbuckling my seatbelt, I stumbled out of the car, nearly tripping over my own feet and the seatbelt that seemed determined to strangle me. “Darn car. How am I supposed to put a baby in it?”

“Lilah...” Ben dashed out of his side, catching up to me and running his fingers through his hair as if he was on the brink of pulling it out. “You’re going to trip and fall. Come back inside.”

Part of me wanted to march off down the street to the petrol station and grab a Snickers, but the thought of more exercise and sweat wasn’t appealing. “I know you think the worst, always think I’m overreacting, but...” God, awful tears were looming.

Ben took my hands and drew me closer to him. “Come inside, let me show you.”

Reluctantly, and mainly because I didn’t want to cry in the street again, he managed to coax me back upstairs. Our apartment was filled with the scent of roses, and I wished I could say it made me gag, but it didn’t.

Darn those voluminous petals.

Ben handed me a card. “Look.”

Lilah and Ben, it read. I’ve heard your exceptional news!Wow, so thrilled for you guys. Ben, the label still wants to work with you, in whatever form you are willing to give them – I know I’m epic. Of course, I fully accept you naming the baby after me...

I stared at the card, then at Ben. “So basically, she is trying to get you to stay with the label. Funny that, what with it being the label she works for.”

Ben rolled his eyes and groaned, but then he pulled me in. “You’re crazy. You’re the only person I’ve got even the slightest interest in.”

“Really? Even though I’m so vile and disgusting and we can’t have sex face to face anymore?”

Ben laughed, and the tension between us eased a bit. “Believe me, I can never get enough of looking at that arse of yours. It’s a win-win for me.”

“So, meatballs?” I quickly corrected myself. “I mean, baby cot.”

“Meatballs, then baby cot, baby everything, and then home for a nice relaxing bath for you...”

“Guitar?”

“I’m a bit rusty...”

“Ben.”

“Fine. Guitar.”

“You know, you’ve got to keep practicing, especially if the label might be calling.” Okay, so I know this was a dramatic turn around even for me, but this was the first hint of him even thinking about his career, and whether I hated her or not, wanted to snap two dozen roses or not, I had to see the bigger picture for his sake.

“I’d rather keep practicing you.”