Do I?
He laughed when he saw my face and gave me his cup, taking mine as I finished and I smiled. "Thank you," I said, kissing his cheek.
I sighed, leaning against my seat as I melted. This cake was delicious. I had to ask them where they got it from. Darius beamed as he also leaned back in his chair and took out his phone from his pocket.
"Rewy?" The word 'really' getting jumbled as my mouth was full of cake. Maybe not the best table manner.
"Just a quick email," he said, his fingers tapping away. I shook my head. Well, I can't blame him. He must be bored in a party without anyone he knows.
I looked around to see other people either talking or dancing on the dance floor. Placing my half finished cake on the table, I stood up. "Come on, let's dance." Maybe that would make him less bored.
I dragged him to the dance floor as he reluctantly put away him phone and smiled, pulling me into his arms. "You want to dance to this music?"
I shrugged. Maybe it wasn't the most perfect music to dance to, but it was still possible. After a few more songs, the music finally slowed down and matched our pace. It was quiet and relaxing. I looked around the room, seeing all the balloons with the number 21 on them. That made me think.
"How old are you?" I asked Darius.
This got his attention. He looked at me with a questioning look on his face and I felt my cheeks go warm again. What, am I not allowed to ask?
"You don't know how old I am?"
I shrugged, looking out the window at the lights of the harbour. "My father may have told me."
"May?"
I blushed even more. "They gave me your picture and details," I said as I met his eyes.
"And?"
"I might have burnt them?"
Darius looked amused and I could see the corner of his lips twitch. "You burned a photo of me?"
I bit my lip, looking over his shoulder instead. "Well, it wasn't exactly how it sounds. I was just angry at my mother and I might have dropped it and it ended up in the fireplace?"
"Of course."
I rolled my eyes as he laughed. It wasn't my fault. I was really angry that time and when I am really angry, I don’t think I am overacting. It was only afterwards when I thought about it that there was always a better way to approach it.
After a few more songs, we decided it was time to leave. Darius has work in the morning and I will be job hunting with Adrian. There was always the option of working for my father or even Darius but after the disaster with spreadsheets with father, I don't think I'll ever go near business stuff.
"I'll see you soon," said Daniel as we gave him a goodbye hug.
"Yes. Come visit!" I told them. That would be great. They can meet Adrian, and I knew they would get along perfectly.
"Good luck," he told Darius and I looked at them. Good luck for what?
"What did he mean?" I asked as we walked out of the venue toward the car.
"Business stuff," Darius replied, rubbing the back of his neck and saying nothing more. I raised an eyebrow in question. What business stuff? Was this some other deal?
I climbed in after him as the driver took us back home. The moon was bright tonight and it made the city look stunning. The car ride was fairly quiet and I looked at Darius from the corner of my eyes a few times. I felt like something was wrong.
He was quiet. He always was quiet but he seemed to be deep in thought about something that made me anxious. It felt like it was bothering him.
Maybe later.
"Twentyfour," he said as the car came to a stop.
"What?"
He got out and held the door open as I stepped out. The lights were on in the house, which got me thinking. I was sure they were off when we left.
"I'm twentyfour, twenty five in another month," Darius was saying while closing the door and turning around. I smiled. That made him four years older than I was. Somehow I liked that age gap. I nodded and turned around to hurry out of the cold when he grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
"Do you regret it?"
I stared up at him. "Regret what?" The moon was behind him and I couldn't see his face very well but his eyes looked grim as he looked at me.
It took me a moment to realise his fingers were stroking my finger, where my ring should have been if Adrian hadn't stolen it, or if I hadn't dropped it down the sink.
"Marrying me."
His eyes were staring deep into mine, like he was making sure I wasn't lying. I tried not to double over laughing. Is he really asking me this?
I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Well, to be honest," I joked, trying to lighten the mood, but then realised this was Darius.
"No," I said in a more serious voice. Even if I was in heels, I still had to go on my tippy toes so I could meet his eye level. "I don't," I continued, letting my lips meet his and whispered, "…because I love you."
He stiffened.