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It only takes me a second to realise what has happened. It’s from Jess kissing me on the cheek.
‘It must be a bit of my own,’ I say as I wipe at my face, guessing where it is.
‘It’s lip print-shaped,’ Tobias says through a laugh. ‘I’d spend all my time in the toilets too, if I came out covered in lipstick. Do you have a gang of friends somewhere else you’re not telling us about?’
I’m sure he’s joking but it rattles me.
‘No, no. Maybe it’s transferred from my glass or something,’ I reply. ‘Or maybe it’s magic, I don’t know.’
‘Did I hear someone say magic?’ a voice chimes in.
I glance to my right to see a very smug-looking familiar face.
‘Now, you look like a girl who enjoys magic tricks,’ he says to me.
There’s a knowing look in his eye, one that suggests he overheard our conversation just now, and that he knows I’m up to something – something I would rather my friends didn’t know about.
‘You got me,’ I say, faking a smile. ‘I’m a sucker for magic.’
‘Really?’ Leila says, pulling a face.
‘Yep,’ I continue.
‘Well, allow me to show you some tricks,’ the magician beams.
He takes out the card with the corner ‘missing’ and repeats the trick. This time, he allows the fake corner to simply fall to the floor, in a spot where only I would see it.
‘Oh, my God, amazing,’ I say with an entirely put on enthusiasm.
‘Yeah?’ he replies.
‘Yeah!’ I echo. ‘I don’t know how you do it but, just, wow.’
The others give me a few funny looks here, a few laughs there, but they don’t suspect a thing, they just think I’m being a bit goofy. The alcohol in my system is certainly helping.
I continue to fake my way through the rest of his act. It’s rubbish, but I’m the perfect plant.
‘What about a tip?’ he asks me, as he prepares to move onto another table.
‘Here’s a tip, don’t push your luck,’ I say, slurring slightly.
‘Are you okay?’ Leila asks.
How long have I been here? Is it time to go back to the other table for a while? My head feels so fuzzy.
‘Yeah, I just need another drink,’ I say, standing up.
‘You’ve hardly touched your drink,’ Leila points. She cocks her head. ‘And yet somehow you seem like you’ve had way too much.’
‘Then I guess I need the loo again,’ I say with a shrug. ‘Back in a minute.’
Christ, this is exhausting. Morally I could never cheat on anyone but after this evening, I think I can rule it out on logistical grounds too.
I feel seriously wobbly on my feet, as I head back to the other table. I’m just approaching the clown painting when Rocco catches up with me.
‘Billie, is everything okay?’ he asks me, taking me by the hand. ‘You seem a bit… I don’t know.’
‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ I insist. I can just about make out my mum and Jess from where we’re standing. If they looked over here, they would see us for sure.
