‘You’ve suddenly gone tense.’
‘I’m OK, really.’
Finn wasn’t buying it. ‘OK,’ he replied uncertainly, clearly realising that the conversation was over.
Instead he told me about his day as we drove towards the restaurant that Greg had booked for his birthday meal. I was glad of the distraction. The truth was that I wasn’t fine and as I surreptitiously wiped my sweaty palms on a tissue, I made a mental note to scoot to the toilets when I got there to mop up what currently felt like a very sweaty cleavage and underarms. Not exactly the cool, calm image I usually liked to project.
‘You really don’t seem yourself.’
I guess the conversation wasn’t over then.
‘I’m OK, Finn. Really.’
Briefly he swung me that look again. Did anything get past this man?
‘Fine. I’m nervous, OK? I’m not very good at large gatherings and I don’t know anyone.’
‘You know me, and Greg, and Colette.’
‘Well yes, obviously.’
‘Then that’s all you need to worry about. Believe me, everyone is going to love you.’
I gave him a side eye that conveyed my suspicion about that particular summation, but he merely smiled and put his hand on my leg.
‘They will. I promise. How could they not?’
Having made an immediate trip to the loo as soon as I got there I then returned to where Finn was waiting, now joined by Colette and Greg. I unbelted my coat and Finn slipped it off my shoulders before handing it to the cloakroom assistant. As he turned back he stopped and stared.
‘Wow.’
Colette turned around from handing her own coat to Greg and repeated Finn’s exclamation.
‘Is that new?’ she asked, automatically touching the slinky red silk of my dress.
‘No. I’ve actually had it for ages.’
‘I’ve never seen it.’ Bearing in mind how long I’d known Colette, it was easy to understand her confusion.
‘No, I’ve never worn it.’ I gave the butter-soft bias-cut dress an unnecessary smooth down, mostly as something to do, uncomfortable and unused to being the centre of attention. Finn gently took my hands within his own, his gaze running up and down my body.
‘You look stunning.’ His gaze settled now on my face. ‘Seriously. You should definitely wear it more often. All the time if possible.’ His eyebrows waggled mischievously.
I felt the heat in my face and dropped my head a little but that didn’t mean I wasn’t enjoying the compliment.
‘He’s absolutely right,’ Colette added. ‘You look amazing! How come I’m only seeing this dress now?’
I was prevented from replying by a group of chattering people entering the restaurant and surrounding us, wishing Greg happy birthday as the two men made introductions.
As the night wore on I began to relax, helped a little by a glass or three of champagne. Finn had been right. Their friends were lovely and welcoming, not hesitating to make Colette and I feel like a part of their group. With the dinner finished and people chair hopping, Colette came over to chat as Greg got pulled into another conversation. I had a feeling I knew what her first question was going to be.
‘So? How come I’ve never seen this dress before?’ She repeated the question I’d managed to duck earlier.
‘You’re not going to let this go, are you?’
‘Not now I’m not. It sounds like there’s a story here.’
I could have kicked myself. ‘Not a very interesting one I’m afraid.’
