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“What are you talking about?”
“There’s something in my room I need for the party,” I explain through gritted teeth. “Come with me. Now.”
To my mild surprise, he listens. As soon as we’re both in my room, I close the door and jab a finger in his face.
“Be nice to Cleo. I’m serious. Be polite to her, or I swear to god—” I bite the words off. There’s no way I can threaten Lucas. He’d beat me in a physical fight. And there’s nothing I can offer him, nothing he wants from me, nothing he respects about me. All I can do is hope he listens. “Don’t ruin her night. Just…be civil. Okay?”
His eyes have gone black and dilated. He doesn’t nod or say yes, but he doesn’t refuse either. He hasn’t shoved me away yet, oddly enough. Hopefully that means he agrees.
I pull back and start to open the door when he grabs my wrist, whipping me around to face him again.
“Are you sure you want me to be nice to her?” he asks.
“Of course, that’s what I just said.”
He’s silent for a few seconds. “Fine. Your call.”
I return to the main room to find Cleo standing by the kitchen bench, combing her fingers through her hair. I’ve never seen her look like this before. She’s always seemed to exude endless confidence, like she owns every building she walks into. Now she looks…rattled.
I smile at her, and hopefully it’s reassuring. “Let’s go,” I say.
*
“I searched up the restaurant we’re going to tonight,” Cleo says as the three of us walk down a narrow alley, her shoes clacking against the concrete path. “Apparently, it’s really good,” she continues. “It’s got great reviews.”
“Yeah, Gilly and I chose it,” Lucas says. He’s not smiling, but at least there’s some warmth in his voice.
“Really? You know, the winner of last year’s Romance Isle had dinner there a few nights ago. She posted it on Instagram.”
“No way,” Lucas says. “Hmm. I wonder if there’ll be anyone famous there tonight.”
“Hopefully!”
Lucas laughs. Then, over the top of Cleo’s head, he gives me a look. It says: see? I’m being nice.
“I’ve never seen Romance Isle,” I say.
“Don’t watch it,” Cleo says. “It’s terrible, but I swear the producers put crack or something in it, because once you start watching, you can’t stop. Anyway, I’m going to have to take so many photos tonight. Everyone will be so jealous. You’ll help take photos of me, won’t you?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Thanks, babe.”
Lucas’s jaw twitches.
We arrive at the restaurant, and before we’ve even stepped inside, I can tell the place is fancy. Through the huge windows, so clean they’re practically invisible, are tables covered in white tablecloth, already set with gleaming silver cutlery and wine glasses. Light fixtures resembling avant-garde sculptures hang from the ceiling, illuminating the place with luxurious golden light.
After entering, we’re led to the back of the restaurant, where a long banquet table sits in front of a wall covered in vine-patterned wallpaper. Half of the plush grey chairs have already been filled, and when Gilly spots us, he greets us in his booming voice.
“Charlie!” Gilly exclaims as he wraps me in a big hug, tight enough to lift me off the ground for a few seconds. “Thanks for making it tonight.”
“There’s no way I’d miss it. Happy birthday.” I hand him his birthday card along with his gift.
“Thanks,” he says, taking them.
Gilly hugs Lucas, though it’s more of a bro-hug with them slapping each other’s backs than a real hug. Cleo says hello and Gilly greets her with enthusiasm. “So you’re Charlie’s girlfriend! It’s nice to meet you. Tell me — how exactly did he convince you to date him?”
“Oi,” I say. Gilly laughs heartily and Cleo giggles.
