Three hours later, I’m officially drunk. Unacceptably drunk. I’ve had to listen to Lizzie wax lyrical about what a wonderful father she has, what an incredible support he’s been all her life, and how she’d never be who she is without him, during her speech that had the room roaring with approval. Julian was even beating the table with his fist and whooping like he was at some kind of sporting event.
Lizzie’s grandparents are here too. I recognise them from photos I’ve seen in the Emblem penthouse. They both gave short speeches about what an incredible young woman she has grown up to be. Their American accents have softened by years spent in the UK, much like Rafe’s. They make a handsome couple, and it’s easy to see where Rafe gets his good looks. If I weren’t already drunk, I’d go and introduce myself, but what would I say?Hi, I’m Diana. I’m Lizzie’s best friend. Oh, and I slept with your son.
They would be appalled.
I’m seated at a table between two young men I don’t know, both of whom are travelling with Lizzie. They seem perfectly nice, but I can’t summon the enthusiasm to entertain them, andI’d probably slur if I tried to talk for too long anyway. I’m done with tonight. My head is spinning. I should go home. Iwillgo home. I’ll order a cab and take myself off, go for a swim and a sauna in the morning, and everything will be fine again.
I’ll pretend I never kissed Rafe Bastion.
He’s sitting at his table, Melanie next to him. She’s laughing,again, and I’m sure I can catch the annoying pitch of it through the chatter of the party. Her hand lands on his arm, long, slender fingers clasped around the sleeve of his jacket. Her nails are painted blue to match her dress; she’s all elegance and sophistication, and I find myself hoping I can be just like her when I’m older. The thought boils my blood. She leans in and, with her other hand, wipes something off the corner of his mouth.
She touched his mouth.
She. Touched. His. Mouth.
No.
No, no, no, no.
The word rings like a siren in every cell of my body, and through the haze of my drunkenness, I cling to one thought.
He. Is. Mine.
My gut clenches, my mouth falling open as her hand continues its trespass to his cheek. A few inches more and she’ll be sliding her fingers around the back of his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.
No fucking way.
The heat that rushes me, the anger that powers my actions, is a force I can’t resist. If Melanie Castow can be overt about what she wants, then so can I.
Keeping my hands beneath the table, I extricate my phone from my clutch and pull up my messages. Before I can second-guess myself, I bring up the contactHandsomeStranger.Imight have thrown away the Delirium card, but not before I’d saved the number.
Just in case.
I start typing faster than my brain can process the words.
Hey there Stranger,
There’s a mask night at Delirium this Saturday.
I might let you come on my face this time.
Will I see you there?
And then I hit send.
26
DIANA
Islept with my phone in my hand, waiting for a reply.
Nothing.
My message went unanswered.
Read, but unanswered.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.