Oreos for Breakfast: Chapter 28

Oreos For Breakfast: Chapter 35
By the Paperbag Princess and Pumpkin Coach

Ben continued telling me who was going to be at the party, but I just looked around the lobby. "Little family party," my ass. Ben grew up here, in this building on the side of Central Park that was really, really old money? I was amazed that we had anything in common.

I was glad I'd bought the expensive dress.

He pushed the button for the penthouse when we got on the elevator, and I giggled. "I know. I'm sorry. I didn't really tell you about the money, did I?"

"No. And that's fine, sweetie. I understand why you wouldn't. Although I live in a penthouse myself. On the other side of the park, where all the new money lives. But I'm laughing for other reasons."

"What?" he asked, holding the door as we arrived at the penthouse. The elevator opened directly into the apartment, and I smiled at him, stepping into the unbelievably amazing apartment.

"I've been here before."

He stepped out of the elevator, letting the doors close behind us. "You have?"

A young woman in a cute vest and dark pants approached us. "Can I take your coat, ma'am?"

I smiled at her as Ben helped me out of my coat. "I know that vest. You work for Hansen's, don't you?"

"Yes, I do," she said, taking my coat, and then turning for Ben's.

"Tell Carrie that Rachel Connor says hello."

She smiled and disappeared with our coats. Carrie made sure all of her employees had impeccable manners, even if nearly all of us were in bands.

I was pretty sure the nice coat check girl was going to go back to wherever the coats lived and scream. But she didn't do it in front of me.

Ben blinked at me. "You're joking. You've worked this party? You were here and I never knew?"

"Oh, those were the Jeremy days. I was moody and sullen. You wouldn't have liked me."

"Jeremy?"

I heard a shriek from across the room. "I'm sure Jessa can tell you all about the Jeremy days."

A girl appeared in front of us, dark hair and glasses, in a cute blue dress that didn't fit her quite yet. Ben gave her a great smile, full of adoration, but she just stared at me.

"Hey," he complained. "Doesn't your favorite uncle get a kiss?"

But she just blinked at me. Rolling his eyes, he put a hand on her shoulder. "Rachel, this is my niece, Jessa. Jessa, this is Rachel Connor."

She shook my hand, but didn't say anything.

"I thought you said she never shut up, Benjy."

"Uncle Ben!" Jessa protested, looking back at him. Then she did a double take. "Benjy?"

I smiled at Ben over her head. "Sorry I let the nickname out of the bag."

He shrugged, and somehow that loosened her tongue. "What does he call you? I can't believe you're here. He didn't tell me you were coming, that's why I screamed. If I'd known you were coming, I would invited all my friends, but this is usually a totally boring party, so I don't invite them."

"It's not boring!" Ben said.

"It would probably be more fun if you invited some friends. I doubt your grandparents would mind." As I recalled there were always lots of people at this party. No one would even notice.

"They always tell me to invite friends, but it's not a kid's party. Sometimes I end up hanging out in the kitchen. Last year, the girls in the kitchen were in a band."

I grinned. "About five years ago, the girl in the kitchen was me."

She screamed again. "It was not."

I laughed. "My whole band was here."

"They. Were. Not," she said, accenting every word.

"Totally were. James and I were servers, and Darien was the bartender, and Jeremy was in the kitchen cooking," I said, pointing back to the kitchen.

"My mom cooks," Ben said, and I lifted an eyebrow at him.

"She does. But she's not frying all those latkes during the party, baby. That's what the help is for."

"Don't give away my secrets, dear. You must be Rachel."

Ben kissed the older woman who had just joined us, and I felt myself growing nervous. A woman that impeccably put together could not be hoping that her youngest son would be dating a rock star.

"Mom, Rachel Connor. Rachel, my mother, Tina Lawson."

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Lawson."

"Tina, please. And what were you telling my son about the kitchen staff?"

"That we always loved working this party, ma'am." I explained, seeing her confused expression. "I used to work for Hansen Catering and Staff. My entire band did. We worked this party for two or three years. Do you still serve the Hanukah-tini?"

Ben and Tina laughed, exchanging a look. "We do," Ben admitted, and I grinned.

"Darien invented that. Blue Curacao, blueberries instead of olives. He wanted to dip the glasses in silver glitter, but I told him we didn't want to kill the guests."

Tina smiled, taking my arm. "You need to see the new glasses I got this year."

They had glitter in them somehow. Darien was going to love that. Somehow, I spent half an hour talking to Tina about party food, and then to Mark, Ben's dad, about copyright protection.

Ben finally saved me an hour later, handing me a Hanukah-tini and pulling me away from his father. "Dad, stop with the copyright talk. How do you think I got her to date me? You're stealing all of my best lines."

He led me outside to the balcony, and I leaned against the railing, slipping my feet out of my shoes. "You are a hit," he told me, and I smiled, taking a drink.

"Your mother terrifies me."

"Why?" He was truly perplexed.

"She's perfect! Perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect diamonds, perfect shoes. I can't stand the thought of putting my heels back on."

He took the drink out of my hand, setting it on a table nearby. "Then let's stay out here for another minute."

He kissed me, and after a second, I forgot to worry that someone might catch us. "You're perfect, Rachel."

"Please," I said sarcastically, snuggling up against him. It was cold out here in my little sleeveless dress, but Ben's arms around me made me feel warmer.

"You are. Everyone loves you. Jessa is going to find us any minute and demand all of your attention."

"She's lovely."

"While you were talking to my parents, she was asking me all about you."

"You didn't tell her anything good, did you?"

"I figured the sex stuff was kinda off limits for a fourteen-year-old."

"Thank god."

Tipping my head up with a finger on my chin, he kissed me again. "I'm really glad you came tonight."

"Me too."

I snuggled against him again, looking out at the view. It was better than mine.

Could this view be mine someday? Could I settle down and be a lawyer's wife, and throw great parties like this?

Getting ahead of myself. We'd only been dating for a few weeks.

Still… it was awfully nice out here, in Ben's arms.

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