‘Am I allowed a drink tonight?’ Her question is laced with a little mischief, and definitely some hope. I realise that she maybe feels the need for a little Dutch courage. I can’t deny her that, but I’ll be keeping a very close eye on her.
‘One or two,’ I agree, opening the car door for her. She lowers into the seat and I move in, fastening her belt. As I back up, I stop, my body bent, my face nose to nose with hers. She smiles. I smile. ‘I hope you have a lovely evening, Mrs Ward.’
‘My date is a god. Of course I will.’
I land her with a soft kiss. ‘I fucking love you.’
Chapter 37
The foyer of Café Royal sparkles, the grandeur impressive.
We enter the small ornate elevator, both of us quiet as it slowly carries us up. Ava peeks at me a few times, never releasing my hand. When the doors open, the rush of sound hits us – music, chatting, laughter. I step forward, but feel Ava’s resistance behind me. ‘Everyone is looking forward to seeing you,’ I say, trying to build her confidence. ‘And I’ll never leave your side.’
‘What if I need the ladies?’
‘Then I’ll come,’ I say matter-of-factly, because it is definitely a fact. She smiles, knowing I really will, and leaves the elevator. ‘If it’s too loud, you must tell me.’ I don’t want her getting a headache.
‘What will you do? Demand everyone be quiet and order Drew to turn off the music?’
I smile down at her, not needing to answer. She knows I’d do that as well.
‘Silly question,’ she says on a shake of her head. ‘Of course you would.’
We cross the threshold of the room, and I feel Ava’s hand squeeze mine, her other hand coming up and clinging onto my bicep. ‘Relax,’ I tell her gently, taking a glass of fizz from an offered tray and peeling her hand off my arm. I give her the champagne. ‘Small sips.’
‘Right.’ She sinks the entire glass, stealthily moving back when I reach to seize it. ‘Too slow, Ward,’ she murmurs, placing the empty on the tray.
The woman is impossible. ‘You’ll pay for that.’
‘Can’t wait.’ Her hand raises in a wave, and we’re soon joined by Raya. ‘Congratulations, Raya. You look gorgeous,’ Ava tells her, taking both her hands and holding them out to admire Raya’s dress in all its glory.
‘This old thing?’ She rolls her eyes and moves in to kiss Ava on the cheek. ‘Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me and Drew.’
‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’ Ava peeks up at me and jerks her head a little, her way of telling me to give some attention to the lady of the moment.
‘Really stunning,’ I all but grunt, peeling my eyes away from my devious wife just as Drew joins us. His suit is pristine, as expected. He gives his fiancée a loving kiss on her cheek, before moving in on Ava. I will him not to make a big deal of her presence. Everyone commenting on her actually being here won’t help.
‘Ava, you look sublime.’ Drew drops a gentle kiss on her cheek before rejoining Raya. ‘Thank you for coming. Now, if you wouldn’t mind me stealing my beautiful bride-to-be.’
‘Of course, you go.’ Ava shoos them away and takes advantage of the passing waiter as I shake Drew’s hand.
‘Easy,’ I warn as she takes the glass to her lips.
It rests on her bottom lip for a few moments as she regards my increasingly bristly form. Then she makes a show of taking the smallest, slowest sip she possibly could.
‘Don’t push me, lady.’ I collect her hand and push through the crowd, making sure I clear the way first as I pull Ava along with me.
‘There’s John,’ Ava says, pointing towards the bar. ‘And Elsie.’
He’s brought a date? I change course quickly, heading their way. The big guy is smiling, probably wider than I’ve ever seen before, and he’s made a real effort. His black suit is new for sure, his white shirt stark, and his bald head is supershiny, undoubtedly freshly polished. As soon as he spots me, his bright smile turns into a filthy glare. One that could shrink every muscle I have, and I have a lot. But, of course, I completely ignore his suddenly threatening stance, my body becoming taller.
‘Don’t tease him,’ Ava warns.
I scoff. I’ve waited for ever for this. ‘John.’ I slap a firm hand on his solid shoulder. He doesn’t move an inch. ‘You look like you’re here to impress.’ His eyes darken, only making my grin widen. I turn it onto Elsie and blind her with it. ‘And you look ravishing. I hope John has told you so.’ I can’t imagine him paying a compliment.
‘Oh, he has.’ Elsie’s hand reaches for John’s. ‘Quite a few times, in fact.’
John’s still glaring at me, and I’m still totally ignoring it. ‘How romantic of you.’ His eyes are telling me to fuck right off before he smashes me in my smug face, but he would never tell me so in front of his new lady friend. ‘So you two official?’
‘Jesse.’ Ava sighs, sounding tired by my game. Tired? I’ve only just begun. ‘Let’s go and find Kate and Sam.’
‘Good idea,’ John growls as Ava pulls me away. I just can’t wipe the grin off my face. ‘Have a nice evening.’ John sounds less than sincere.
‘You too,’ Ava calls, her yanks of my arm getting firmer. ‘Jesse, for the love of God, will you behave?’
‘This is monumental stuff, baby.’ I relent and turn, letting her pull me through the crowds. ‘I’ve only known him to be goo-goo over his bonsai trees.’
‘He has bonsai trees?’ Her wonder is warranted as she glances back to the colossal, mean-looking man who I adore with all my heart.
‘If he pays as much attention to Elsie as he does those trees, she’ll be feeling pretty special.’ I spot Sam with Kate, who’s shoving a canapé in her mouth. ‘Hungry, Kate?’ I ask, alarmed as she follows it up quickly with another.
‘Oh my God,’ she mumbles around her full mouth, closing her eyes like she’s tasting heaven. ‘I just can’t stop eating.’ She collects another and holds it while moving in to give Ava a hug. ‘Food. Just give me food and I’ll be happy.’
Ava laughs over her shoulder as Sam shakes his head in amusement. ‘Shall we get some seats?’ I ask, mindful of Kate’s huge belly, and of my wife’s dodgy leg.
‘No.’ Sam shakes his head, pointing his beer to a passing waiter. ‘She’s figured out the route to the kitchen. This is the prime spot to bag the good stuff before everyone else gets to it. We’ll be here all night.’
‘You need to sit down, Kate,’ Ava moans at her, reaching for her tummy and giving it a little rub. ‘How are you feeling?’
‘Hungry,’ she replies, seizing another canapé and stuffing the whole thing in her mouth.
Sam looks entirely exasperated as he takes one for himself. ‘And I’m coming out in sympathy. This baby needs to come soon before its mum and dad run out of food and eat each other.’
Ava laughs, looking relaxed as she observes our friends munching their way through canapé after canapé. I’m not standing here all night. Besides, Ava needs to sit down. I spot a waitress entering the room, heading this way, and as soon as she makes it to us, I take the tray from her hands. ‘It’s an emergency,’ I say to her startled face.
‘Oh God.’ Kate’s on me like she needs me to breathe, ramming food into her mouth.
‘Come on.’ I usher them all onto the balcony, following with the tray.
The traffic on Regent Street is clear, the lights glowing, the bustle of London a perfect backdrop. Stone columns close us in, prisms of fire warming the night air. It’s beautifully idyllic, this little private haven above the busy streets of London.
As soon as Kate’s sitting down, I put the tray in front of her, smiling at Sam when he rolls his eyes. ‘Sips,’ I whisper in Ava’s ear as she lowers to a chair, taking a water for myself. ‘You hungry?’
‘Even if I was, I don’t think I’d dare take one from her,’ she quips, making Kate’s chewing slow to a stop.