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Phone buzzing, Riley slowed her walk through the frozen slush. Finally! She pulled off her mitten and read Ben’s text.
I miss your lips!! I need a snog at midnight!!! xoxoxoxoxoxox
A chilly breath caught in her throat. Who WILL Ben kiss at midnight? That question had been burning a hole through her heart the past several days, ever since Ben had reunited with his phone charger post-Christmas and told her about Mark and Alex’s New Year’s party. The news had tripped a switch inside her, allowing depression to push its way in, wrapping itself around her palpable loneliness, and no amount of cute dog GIFs from Casey or ugly Christmas sweater photos from Piper could pull her free. Riley hadn’t felt this low since saying goodbye to Ben at the airport. Someone will kiss Ben during Auld Lang Syne—and it won’t be me. She texted back.
I love you, Ben. x
Ben’s FaceTime invite invaded her screen. She accepted it without pause.
“Riley!” In a crush of people, Ben was wearing sparkly ‘Happy New Year’ head-boppers and the purple dress shirt she had bought him for Christmas. “Where are you? It’s dark. You outside?”
He looks so good. Watching him so far away, surrounded by friends felt like a bittersweet punch to the stomach. Riley’s nose began to prickle. Don’t cry in the street. “I’m walking to Mom’s.”
Mark leaned over Ben’s shoulder. “Riley! Happy New Year, darlin’! This one’s really missing you.”
Hearing that made Riley stand a little taller. “Hi Mark. I’m missing him, too.”
Mark slapped Ben on the back and left him to it.
“Ahh, I feel better for seeing you!” Ben only had eyes for Riley. “Things all right, gorgeous?”
They are now. “Yeah. Gonna have a quiet night, watch Times Square on TV.”
“Good! I don’t want you off kissing blokes at midnight in Times Square!” He laughed. “Riles, I’ve got news! They’ve offered me a permanent spot at the market.”
“That’s fantastic!”
“I get a proper sign and everything.” He beamed. “And that’s not all—I’m definitely coming to New York in March for our airport anniversary!”
YES! YES, YES! Oh my God…I’m gonna cry. “Ben!” she squealed. “I really needed to hear that today!”
“Aw, love!” He laid his hand over his heart. “You can meet me at terminal D and we can have a do-over with kisses and Funyuns and street pretzels instead of stolen luggage! Whatcha say, gorgeous—”
“BEN!” A brunette with mischievous brown eyes and a swingy bob lurched into frame, cuddling into him. She was wearing a stunning blue dress; Riley was pretty sure she had coveted the same one in the window of Ted Baker in Soho. A colorful tattoo on her shoulder—a Rubik’s Cube—stole Riley’s attention.
“I need you—now!” The woman demanded. “Love pest by the sausage rolls. Idiot won’t take a bloody hint. Save me!”
Ben looked off screen and turned back to the interloper. “What? Again? Jeez. This is the last time I pretend for you.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder possessively. “Happy now?”
Riley frowned. Who’s she? Is that Lucy, the girl Alex mentioned at Wagamama?
Ben tipped his head toward the woman. “Riley, meet Spencer. She’s a right pain in the arse.”
That’s Spencer? Spencer’s…pretty…and there—with Ben’s arm around her.
“RILEY?!” Spencer waved. “Ben doesn’t shut up about you!”
Good. Back off. Riley mustered a smile. “Hi.”
Ben held the phone closer, cutting Spencer from view. “Riles, I have to play Good Samaritan otherwise I won’t hear the end of it when we get home…”
‘When WE get home…’ Riley’s jaw clenched. Ben’s roommate is pretty. She’s probably seen him in his FCUK pants. Maybe she’s seen him WITHOUT his FCUK pants… “Okay, I’ll…let you go?”
His eyes pleaded. “But I’ll call tomorrow, okay, first thing? I want to start the new year off with you, not a hangover.”
Big Ben’s iconic four-note chimes rang through her phone. Someone must’ve cranked up the London festivities on TV.
“Okay. Love you!” Riley’s words were lost in the tune.
