She beamed. ‘Thanks for inviting me. I even got a couple of selfies with the band. How lame is that?’
‘It’s not lame at all. It’s nice to see you looking so happy.’
We left soon after. I hadn’t spoken to Nick, but luckily no one had noticed or commented on our lack of communication.
I was glad of the early night because the next evening was the one black-tie event I went to every year: a ball held by the record label Sigma.
I was always surprised that people didn’t buck the dress code. It was as if music journos secretly coveted a reason to ditch their usual uniform of jeans and trainers and dress like grown-ups.
I was wearing a floor-length red number that I’d bought inTKMaxx in the January sales. I’d swooped on it when I’d seen it on the rack even though I’d only popped in to buy socks. It was rather gorgeous: red velvet with a built-in corset, so after I’d showered and done my make-up there was no mad rush to find the one strapless bra I owned whose elastic hadn’t give up the ghost.
I like to think I’m not easily impressed, but this year the ball was at the Natural History Museum, and standing under the skeleton of a blue whale, its jaw as big as my flat, had me staring in open-mouthed wonder. I would have felt a bit stupid, but at least four other people were doing the same thing, including a minor royal.
Gav was by my side, scratching his head at the size of the damn thing, but then his attention slid over to Lucy, who’d gone to check our coats and was now coming back. He was mesmerised by her fifties-style dress; as she approached, the black netting of her full skirt bobbed up and down. He was so obviously smitten – poor guy.
Would Lucy notice him tonight? Dinner jackets did wonders for a man’s sex appeal and Gav was carrying off his penguin suit with panache – even if he had paired it with vintage Adidas trainers.
As Lucy approached, Gav leant in to me: ‘Off to find booze before the good stuff runs out.’
When Lucy reached me, she had a frown on her face.
‘Everything okay, Luce?’ I said, trying to glean if the frown was due to Gav’s departure or something else. ‘Gav’s gone to get you a drink.’
‘He could have asked what I wanted first,’ she replied.
‘It’ll be alcoholic – that usually covers it.’ I gave her an affectionate nudge, but the movement caused me to rock on my rarely worn heels and I had to grab her shoulder to right myself.
‘Blimey, Zo, how much did you drink before you came?’
‘Don’t you think Gav looks good in his suit?’
She eyeballed me. ‘Now I definitely know you’re pissed.’ She paused. ‘And overdue an eyesight test. Did you see the horrors he’s got on his feet?’
I smiled, but before I could reply, she stalked off in the opposite direction to Gav and I found myself alone and drinkless.
So, I went in search of vodka.
Armed with a double, I roamed the Hintze Hall, marvelling at the pillars that rose to meet an impressive glass-vaulted ceiling. The windows were arranged in a trinity of arches – a church to science. The scale of it had taken my breath away when I’d first come as a ten-year-old on a school trip. To be here now as an adult, and to see it bathed in mood lighting, white-clothed tables circling around me, made me feel ten all over again. And I was transported to a simpler time; a happier time.
It had been three days and I still hadn’t spoken to Simon. He hadn’t rung and that hurt. I didn’t know what to do about it because I was too scared to ring him. It was hell in this limbo and I couldn’t see a way out.
It would have been nice to let my hair down, get pissed and forget about everything, but there was a good chance Nick would be here tonight and the thought made me antsy. Still, there were several hundred guests, so even if he were here it would be easy enough to avoid him.
I chatted to friends and contacts and by the time I sat down to dinner I was feeling more like myself. I spotted Nick on the other side of the room, with a willowy blonde standing next to him. A little too close.
After dinner and coffee the crowds thinned, and he seemed to have vanished. It was probably for the best, though. Whether the blonde had vanished with him, I wasn’t sure.
Lucy was sitting on the other side of the table, and when Mike got up to go for a cigarette she came over and slumped into his chair.
‘Everything okay?’
‘Where did Gav get to?’ she asked.
I hadn’t noticed Gav leave, but his seat was empty. ‘Maybe he’s dancing?’
ADJhad set up in another room and people had been drifting towards the dance floor.
She rolled her eyes. ‘Gavdancing? He’ll knock over some priceless exhibit and we’ll all be banned for life.’
