Warming up right now was definitely not an issue.
* * *
I could guess at the knowing smile on Amy’s face even before we got close to them. We’d known each other long enough for me to know exactly what her response would be to seeing Alex’s arm resting casually at my waist.
‘What did we miss?’ Alex asked.
Marcus raised an eyebrow. ‘Not much.’ I saw his gaze flick from Alex’s face to Charlie – a brief, almost imperceptible look. But I caught it. Talking of missing things, had I missed something here? No, of course I hadn’t… had I? Suddenly I felt hot and uncomfortable. I bent down and made a show of fiddling with the ankle strap on my sandal, an action that forced Alex’s arm to fall away from me. Returning to an upright position, I made an apparently casual glance in Charlie’s direction. He was listening to something Alex was saying but as I looked at him his glance drifted and caught mine. He smiled at me, a moment of hesitation in the action.
‘Everything all right?’ he asked, moving a step away from the others and glancing down at my shoe.
‘Oh, yep. I think I just had it on the wrong hole. Felt a bit slippy. You know.’ It hadn’t at all and I had no idea why, after feeling completely relaxed with him for the last few months, I was now acting like an awkward teenager.
‘It’s a lovely party,’ I offered, when Charlie didn’t say anything else.
‘Glad you’re enjoying it.’ He smiled again. His gaze stayed on me. There was no flick to Alex as there had been from Marcus, or secret smile like Amy. I didn’t know what to make of that. Or whether I should even be making anything of it at all! I let out a sigh. This! This was exactly the reason I didn’t drink much. My brain was far too easily addled by alcohol.
‘Are you all right?’ Charlie said, his smile replaced with concern. ‘You’ve gone a little pale.’
I gave him a look.
‘OK. Paler than usual.’
‘I think I’m just a little tired.’
‘Do you want me to call you a taxi?’
‘No. It’s all right. I’ll wait until we all go. I don’t want to be accused of being a party pooper.’
Charlie let out a laugh. From the corner of my eye, I saw the others glance round. ‘I don’t think anyone could ever accuse you of being that, Libs.’
‘That’s a nice thing to say. I think.’
‘It was a compliment, don’t worry. I just meant that you’re always fun. Bubbly. Definitely not a party pooper.’
‘What do you say, Charlie?’ Alex’s voice pulled us back into their conversation.
‘Sorry?’
Alex proceeded to explain that an off-road biking session had been arranged for tomorrow morning and Charlie was now taking part.
‘Oh. Yes. OK. Right. Sounds good.’
I kept my eyes down.
‘Oh, wait! No, I can’t. I’m sorry. I promised Libby I’d take some photos for her blog tomorrow.’
‘OK. Never mind. Another time.’ Alex smiled, his gaze taking both of us in. I didn’t know him well enough to read anything into his expression. If there was even anything to read into it. Oh, God, I really was getting myself in a mess here.
‘You should go, Charlie. It’ll be fun. There’s no hurry for the blog pictures. Go biking.’
‘No, honestly. You and I arranged this ages ago. I can’t guarantee when I’m going to be around to do it again, with the various business trips I’ve got coming up.’
‘Even more reason why you should go biking, then. In fact, I insist. If you come to the flat tomorrow, I’m not going to let you in.’ I tilted my chin up at him in defiance.
He shook his head at me, a mixture of amusement and something else I couldn’t quite place on his face.
‘OK. I will risk life and limb and go mountain biking with these two muppets instead, then. Happy now?’
