“Perfect! I have a proposition for you.”
Leslie goes on to explain that Theo’s family hosts a formal charity gala every year in London and two of her former roommates, who were going to attend, had to back out last minute.
“Theo’s family is throwing the event you say?” I ask cautiously. “So they’ll all be there I would assume.”
“Yes, yes. Of course,” she replies dismissively. “You’ll be at a table with some of my old roommates. Frank, Finley, and Brody. Then Reyna and Liam will be at your table as well. You met them all at The White Swan Pub soft opening a couple of weeks ago.”
I exhale when I realise she hasn’t mentioned the one I’m most curious about. Recalling my less than stellar first impression I had with Theo’s brother, Hayden, I can’t tell if I’m relieved or disappointed to hear he won’t be sitting at my table.
Hayden Clarke is…memorable…to say the least. He had that sexy soulful look about him that lured me right in. “That sounds quite fun,” I reply, clearing the frog in my throat.
“Do you think you can secure a plus one?” Leslie asks. “The plates are three hundred quid a piece and are already paid in full. Oooh, maybe one of your brothers?” Her voice rises with excitement.
I exhale sharply while rolling my eyes. My gaze happens to land on my coworker, Benji. I catch him picking dirt out from beneath his fingernails with an opened paperclip and my nose crinkles. “What would you say if I wanted to bring Benji instead?” I whisper quietly into the phone. “I really think the bloke needs a nice night out.”
Leslie groans, “Your brothers would be much more thrilling, but dammit, you’re probably right about Benji. Do you think you can keep him occupied, though? I can’t trust that Theo won’t get twitchy if he starts following me around all night.”
I purse my lips to conceal my giggle. Benji is our personal assistant and is hopelessly in love with Leslie. It’s quite cute, really. He’s twenty-three, small bodied with mousy brown hair, and has an awkward, nerdy way about him. He’s not unattractive, but he is the polar opposite of Theo. Theo is large and heavily muscled with trimmed dark blond hair. He’s brooding and intense with a confidence that you can’t fake. And the passion that radiates from him when he’s around Leslie…It gives me butterflies and I’m not even on the receiving end of those looks. Not to mention he pulls off smart glasses like no bloke I’ve ever seen.
“He’ll be fine,” I appease. “Maybe he’ll meet a nice girl?”
“Aw, I’d love that for Benji,” Leslie sings hopefully into the phone. “So you’ll do it then. Yay! Thank you, my love. It means a lot. I gotta run, though. Marisa is stirring and I still have to get in the shower. It takes hours to do anything when you have a colicky baby. I’ll email you the details.”
“Great,” I reply.
“Okay, bye-bye, Vi. Oh look, I made a rhyme! I’m a poet and I didn’t know it!” She snickers like a loon and I can’t help but laugh pathetically back. Her voice grows serious again, “I’m sorry…Mommyhood has murdered my brain cells. Talk later!”
I shake my head as I hang up thinking about just how much Leslie’s life has changed since she’s come to London. At twenty-seven, she’s only a couple of years older than me and I can’t even imagine being where she is currently in her life. I’m still getting dumped by douchey DJ’s for goodness sake.
“Hey, Benji,” I sing merrily as I saunter over to his desk, which is situated behind the designer cubbies.
He looks up, dropping his paperclip on the desk and clumsily tries to cover it up. “Hiya, Vi. What can I get for you?”
Shooting him a cheeky grin, I ask, “Have ya got plans tonight?”
He blinks in confusion and furrows his brows. “Not particularly.”
“Leslie just called and wondered if you and I would be keen to go to a fundraiser she’s a part of tonight. It’s a formal do, I’m afraid.”
Benji shoots up out of his chair. “Leslie called? Are you serious? Did she ask for me specifically?” His voice rises to a high-pitched squeal.
“Benji,” I chastise like a proper mum. “If you’re going to act this excited around her tonight then it’s probably not a good idea for you to go. She’s got a lot going right now with a new baby and all her wedding planning. She really needs a nice evening out.”
His face drops. “No, I just…Oh, bugger. I didn’t mean to…It wasn’t that—”
“I know you’re fond of her. Leslie’s a great mate. Just promise to be cool and we’ll go together and have a fab time, all right?” Benji adamantly promises to be calm and I know I can trust him. He’s harmless, really. Just overeager.