‘Thank you.’
‘It’ll probably be a doddle to someone who reads hieroglyphics like they’re reading a book written for toddlers.’
‘I’ve been doing it a long time.’
‘I still think it’s fascinating. Just like I think you are.’ He bent and nuzzled my neck. ‘But much to my chagrin right now, rather than discovering just how fascinating you are, we have to go and be sociable.’
‘Maybe we can pick this up later?’ I asked, emboldened by downing a glass of champagne on a stomach that hadn’t seen food since I’d hurriedly scoffed the last Weetabix this morning. I made to pull away but his arms tightened.
‘Nope. You need to stay there for a minute.’ His head was tilted up as he apparently studied the chandelier with great interest.
‘But I thought we had to go and mingle.’
‘Yes, in a sec,’ he said, still not looking at me. The penny dropped.
‘Ohhh.’
‘Exactly.’
I giggled.
‘It’s not funny,’ Finn returned in a pained voice.
‘It is though,’ I said, giggling even more and I felt the rumble of laughter through his chest as he finally looked down.
‘You’re going to pay for that.’
‘Is that a promise?’ I said, teasing as he pulled away.
‘Definitely.’
I flashed my eyes at him. ‘I can hardly wait.’
‘Stop it or we’re never going to get into this party.’
After several drinks and letting go of my panic at being in the midst of a large family gathering where it appeared I was one of the main attractions, I’d sat down with Alice and got quietly, or not so quietly, drunk with her. By the end of the evening, she’d taught me how to sign all the rude words I’d ever need. We’d hugged goodbye like old friends before Finn and I folded ourselves into a taxi and headed back to my place, Finn arranging to return tomorrow to collect his car.
‘Finn?’
Silence.
I wriggled closer. ‘Finn? Are you awake?’
‘No. I’m having a nightmare that my girlfriend won’t let me sleep.’ Finn’s head moved on the pillow. The ultra blackout blinds he’d fitted for me made seeing anything impossible but I heard the pillow scrunch with the movement.
I kicked him in the shin and he wrapped his legs around mine so that I couldn’t do it again. Maybe I should have kicked him earlier…
‘Can you teach me some sign language tomorrow?’
‘Of course.’
‘I already know all the rude words.’
The deep laugh reverberated through his chest and I felt it within my own body. ‘Then you’ve got a good grounding already.’
‘We could start now.’
‘Elizabeth. I’m knackered and I can’t see my hand in front of my face.’
