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23
CERYS
With a shaking hand,I apply lipstick and add a pink smear halfway across my face. I follow this up by stabbing myself in the eye with a mascara wand.
Yes, I want to see Liam but his idea of a night out terrifies me. We had one coffee date the morning he surprised me by returning from LA early, but since then our relationship continued by text while he works in London. I teased him, saying Ella scared him and that’s why he wouldn’t come back. Behind the teasing, is genuine concern she might be the deal-breaker.
Liam’s insists a deserve a big night out. A big night out which includes Jem, Bryn, and an up-and-coming band. Jem found Ruby Riot recently and took on a quasi-manager role, arranging gigs up and down the country for them—tonight they’re in Cardiff. I suggested a quiet meal would be a good start to date nights but he insists. Liam was stubborn—I guess rock stars don’t often take no for an answer.
Ella is over the moon when I tell her she’s spending the night at Jordan’s house. After all, his garden is bigger and he has a dog.
I guess what to wear isn’t a huge concern for a night atPlan B, a local club with a mostly student population. From memory, black is the go-to for a few students. I settle on dark skinny jeans and a sheer black top that floats just below my hips, and short-heeled boots. I want to look as far removed from Honey as possible. Apparently the sheer top is an unwise choice because when Liam arrives his gaze zones straight to my chest, before he catches himself and switches his attention to my face.
“Admiring my necklace again, are you?” I ask him.
“You look beautiful,” he says and leans in to kiss my cheek.
I smile at his compliment. “You’ve read that ‘How to Romance’ book again, haven’t you?”
Liam frowns at me. “Don’t put yourself down. I’m telling the truth.”
The club is squashed between two boutique shops in the centre of town,Plan Bpainted in big blue letters on an illuminated sign above the door, and the retro look extends to the interior. Tattered posters from the 80s and 90s line the black painted breeze block walls; circular wooden tables pushed into corners, surrounded by stools or facing bench seats. The space between the small stage and bar is cleared, leaving little room for tables. If you’re not early, you’re standing all night. At 7 p.m., we’re early.
Following a trip to the bar, Liam leads us to a quiet corner with a beer and my diet coke. On my last couple of nights out, I drank like I’m still a teen and suffered, so I’m starting with a soft drink. Although, I did sneak a glass of wine before we left, for Dutch courage.
Liam sits back against the leather bench with his arm across the back. I sit on the stool opposite so he shifts around to get closer. Liam’s muscled thigh settles against mine and triggers the annoying shortness of breath I get when he touches, the sensation arousing me more than a simple touch should.
“Your natural environment?” I ask him.
“Yeah. Sometimes.”
“Aren’t you bothered Blue Phoenix fans might come here, too?”
He shrugs. “If they do, Jem will be their focus although the press backed off a bit lately. They’re following some shitty boy band around at the moment. I expect there’ll be other people hanging round ready to take pictures.”
I tense. “Pictures with me?”
He rubs a thumb across my cheek. “Only if they see us doing something intimate.”
I shift my leg away, heat firing into my cheeks. “Are Bryn and Jem bringing girls tonight?”
“No idea.”
Seeing Jem and Bryn again seems strange. My recollections of the guys are stronger from when I was fifteen than the drunken night out a few years ago. How will they react to me and Liam together?
I’m interrupted by a girl arriving in the bar. ‘Arriving’ is a mild way of putting the entrance of the tall, skinny girl. She crashes through a black side door and stomps in motorcycle boots across the room. Dressed in a short black dress barely covering any of her long legs, her hair catches the light of the bar and shines scarlet red. The girl leans across and shouts at the barman; he hands her four beer bottles, which she picks up, two in each hand. As she turns around, the girl spots me and Liam in the corner.
“Are you Liam?” she asks.
He tips his chin. “Why?”
“I’m only asking! Wow…” She stomps off.
Liam turns his surprised look to mine. “Did I say something wrong?”
“She must’ve missed the memo about your beautiful nature,” I reply.
Liam huffs and digs me in the ribs with his elbow. “Don’t start…”
