The Friends We Keep(23)

“Poor Evil Ben,” said Evvie, laughing. “Leave him alone.”

Evil Ben raised an eyebrow.

“Evil Ben?” His friend Rich sputtered with laughter as he took a sip of beer.

“That’s what we call you because you never smile,” said Topher, who was doing the talking for all of them. “We’d all smile at you when we used to see you, but it seemed like you just scowled at us.”

“And you were a complete dick when I worked here,” said Evvie.

“You are a scowler,” laughed his friend Rich. “And, mate, you can be a bit of a dick.”

Ben looked at Evvie then. “Yeah. Sorry about that. I was pissed off that we’d taken on another bartender in the main bar. That was supposed to be my job and they relegated me to the side bar for a pretty face.”

“So you were an asshole to me? Nice.”

“I’m sorry. It wasn’t about you.”

“He wasn’t all bad.” Maggie made eyes at Evvie. “He did rescue us that night.”

“I did,” he said. “And yet you still gave me the moniker Evil Ben?”

“It had a nice ring to it.” Topher shrugged. “What can we say?”

“Evil Ben. I think I quite like it. Maybe I should add that to my CV.” He took a sip of his beer before grinning at Rich. “They’re right, it does have a nice ring to it.”

“So, Evil Ben. If you’re in Hertfordshire at a research lab, what are you doing back here?” Maggie leaned forward, emboldened by the drink, by the fact that she still felt the same way about him, and that this might be her last chance to do anything about it. She rested her elbows on the table, knowing that if his eyes dropped, he might get a look at her cleavage. Normally this was the last thing Maggie would do. Evvie was the one who tended to dress in the sexy stuff. Maggie was most comfortable in her jeans and T-shirt, not a hint of cleavage in sight.

He looked at Maggie with an amused smile on his face. “Yes, I am at a research lab in Hertfordshire, but I’m back to see some friends. I’ve still got mates here, and I needed a break. This is my pre-summer holiday.”

“Might be your summer holiday given what they’re paying you.” Rich nudged him as Ben rolled his eyes.

“I was going to say, it’s not very glamorous,” said Topher. “You could have chosen Ios or Majorca, and you came to Somerset? Is there something wrong with you?”

“First job out of uni. Just you wait,” he said. “Welcome to the real world.”

“Where are you staying?” Maggie finished her drink and placed the empty glass back on the table.

“With Rich on Queen Street.”

“Otherwise known as the drinking den,” laughed Rich.

“What does that mean?” Evvie frowned.

“Just that we’ve been doing some serious damage this weekend,” said Rich.

“Are you drunk already?” Evvie peered at them both.

“We handle our liquor brilliantly,” he said, turning to Ben as they toasted each other.

“I need Rich to keep me on my best behavior. As you once pointed out, I’m not always my best self when I’ve been drinking.” He stared at Maggie as the room seemed to drop away before her.

She was swept back to that night in the garden, to Ben asking who took care of her. She remembered the kiss that took her breath away, his disappearance, and her attempts to confront him afterward. Had he remembered more than he let on? If she didn’t pursue it now, she would never know. She took a deep breath. “We’re having a dinner later tonight at our place. You two should come by, have some drinks later on. If you feel like it . . .”

Evvie looked at Maggie in horror. “Maggie!”

“What? You love people dropping in!”

“Do you not want me to come?” said Ben, looking directly at Evvie, who looked away. He may have been nicer today than he ever was when she worked with him, but she still didn’t like him, and she definitely didn’t want him at their farewell dinner.

“No. I mean, it’s not that. This is our farewell dinner, the three of us. I don’t think anyone else should be there.”

“I didn’t say come to our farewell dinner. I said come by. For drinks. Maybe after,” Maggie said, remembering how her stomach had lurched with both the memory and the anticipation of something happening later that one evening she had spent with Evil Ben.

“We can’t. Unfortunately,” interjected Rich. “We have a party later on. The head of our department. Well, Ben’s old department, but still.”

“That sounds like fun,” Topher said sarcastically.

Ben frowned. “I’m sorry we can’t come. That’s a really generous invitation. Couldn’t we pop in?” He turned to Rich. “Just for a quick drink?”

“I don’t think we’re going to have time.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again. “It sounds like it would have been lovely. How are your parents?” he asked Maggie, who hadn’t thought he remembered meeting them.

“They’re good. Great. A bit sad I’m now moving to London, but my mum’s planning lots of trips up to see me.”

“London? So we’ll be near each other? I should give you my number. There are West Country get-togethers every now and then at a pub in Elephant and Castle.”