The pain in my head pulses a little harder.
Tonight is going to be a long night.
Chapter Fourteen
Stand By My Woman
Charlie
Rather than wondering what exactly is up Mina’s butt, I focus on the fact she looks incredible. I wish I could tell her. In fact, I’m itching to tell her. It feels like the most urgent item on my to-do list and yet one I’m too scared to do. It’s not because it will be technically hard to tell Mina that the lilac of her dress looks incredible against her bronze skin tone and black tattoos, and as inappropriate as it may be it wouldn’t even be difficult to let the words “and your arse looks amazing” leave my mouth, but in reality, it all feels… too much. Mina won’t even let me buy her drink, nor did she accept my offer to fill a plate with food for her, so I highly doubt she wants to hear about how much I want to slide my hands around her waist, down her lower back and cup as much of her backside as I can fit in both palms as I pull her body flat against mine.
“Sure you don’t want a drink?” I repeat my offer. Mina is still standing by my side, my arm around her waist and I feel like I deserve a medal for how diligently I’m restraining from digging my fingers into the soft curve of her hip.
“I’m fine, honestly,” Mina says, her tone a little softer now compared to a moment ago and I relax a little, but maybe I do too much. Maybe my fingertips apply too much pressure to her hip, or maybe she’s just uncomfortable under my arm, or perhaps she simply doesn’t want this much proximity to me, but she breaks away from me in a jolting movement that makes me feel instantly deflated. She repositions herself opposite me and while I miss her warmth by my side, I’m pleased I can now look at her head on, can soak up the sight of her treacle-brown eyes, framed with her full eyelashes and heavy eye make-up, her cute button nose, and her pretty, pouting mouth.
“I should probably go and give this to the happy couple,” I say lifting the champagne bottle I bought for Aisha and her fiancé. Mina did say no gifts but it felt all kinds of wrong showing up here empty-handed.
A little to my dismay, it looks like it almost physically pains Mina when she rolls her eyes and tells me to follow her as I assume she leads me to find the happy couple.
There aren’t many people here so I have already spotted Aisha and her fiancé by the time Mina and I are approaching them. I also think I see Mina’s parents too, over by the table moving dishes around, but I don’t say anything. It’s up to Mina when, or maybe if, she introduces me to her parents.
“Aisha, Nick,” Mina practically grunts. “This is Charlie.”
Mina’s sister and her fiancé are a very attractive couple. While she has the same dark hair, pretty features and warm brown skin tone as Mina, Aisha’s physique is longer and leaner, as if she started off like Mina but got stretched out. It’s also instantly noticeable how different her style is. Apart from the henna she has on her hands and forearms – a work of art I know Mina is responsible for – she has no visible tattoos, no piercings and her jewellery is gold and minimal. As for her fiancé, he’s also long and lean and towers above Aisha by a few inches, and he has dark brown hair, white skin and a well-tended goatee. They both smile at me warmly as they shake my hand.
“Pleasure to meet you both, congratulations! This is for you!” I present the bottle of champagne to them, sommelier style.
“Ooh, champers!” Aisha giggles but neither of them reach to take the bottle.
“Okay, you’ve met them now,” Mina says and she nudges the side of my arm and she turns as if to walk away.
“What the… Minnie.” Aisha grabs her sister by the arm. “Are you okay?”
Mina gives me a look before she replies, a look that makes me feel like I’ve done something very, very wrong and I wrack my brains to think what it could be. I wasn’t late. I may be dressed a bit casually, but Nick’s also wearing trainers and I can’t imagine Mina would really be bothered about that. I did bring a gift when she told me not to, but I don’t think even Mina can hold that against me. And then there’s what happened with Hannah. Wasn’t that a good thing? But the way Mina is giving her sister the most thunderous stare has me wondering if I got that very, very wrong.
“Just not feeling so good,” Mina says, her eyes down on the floor.
“An attack?” her sister asks as the question formulates in my mind and concern makes my chest tight.
“No, I don’t think so.” Mina lifts her hand to her head.
“Come on,” Aisha says in a firm voice. She grabs hold of Mina’s wrist. “Come over here.”
And before I know what’s happening, she’s whisked Mina away.
I scramble for something to say to Nick now that I’ve effectively been left in his company. A quick glance his way tells me he’s feeling just as lost for words as he puffs out his cheeks and purses his lips together.
“I should take that, right?” He gestures to the bottle of champagne.
“Yes, absolutely. It’s your gift.” I hand it to him and mentally congratulate myself on successfully passing two seconds of this awkward time.
As it happens when I speak again, it’s at exactly the same time that Nick asks me a question.
“So, when’s the big day?” I ask.
“Fancy a drink?” he suggests.
“Yes, definitely. That is a truly excellent idea.” I nod and I am not over-exaggerating my enthusiasm. Something tells me I’m going to need a drink to get through this evening.
