“Everything okay, I saw you talking to Peter at the bar?” She asks as I dip her and then pull her back into me.
“Fine. Just a friendly chat.” I smile and she softens in my arms, allowing me to take the lead. “You really do look beautiful tonight. There isn’t a person in here who is not looking at you right now.”
“Erm, I’m pretty sure they’re just admiring your killer dance moves.” She giggles, her whole face lighting up as I try my hardest not to kiss her in the middle of the dance floor.
This whole being friends thing is not going to be easy.
As we walk through the hotel towards the staircase, I feel like a princess next to him. Especially when we get to the top of the stairs and everyone is looking at him with lust in their eyes. I should feel embarrassed but instead, I feel proud to be here with him.
Then I spot mum waiting impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. Thanks to the-mile-long queue outside, we’re running about thirty minutes late and there is nothing my mum hates more than tardiness.
Nerves begin to take hold and I realise I’ve been digging my nails into the firm skin on Ethan’s waist since we started moving towards her. I imagined that she’d be wearing a classic A-line dress, just like she has for the past five years but instead she’s wearing a sparkling black skin-tight off the shoulder number with full length sleeves and a split up the side. The expression mutton dressed as lamb springs to mind but to be honest, she actually pulls it off quite well.
“Amelia. I’m so glad you finally made it.” As we approach, she throws her arms around me in a tight embrace, completely disregarding the fact that Ethan is stood beside me. “You look absolutely beautiful.”
“Thanks mum,” I stand in front of her, waiting for her to acknowledge my date, but when she continues to ignore him, her ignorance annoys me, and I try to force the issue. “This is Ethan.”
He holds his hand out waiting for her to do the same, but she just pretends he isn't there and continues talking to me. I want to shake her, tell her that she is being rude.
Okay, I get that she doesn't agree with me being here with him but why can't she just play nice for a few hours. Surely, it's not that difficult and if she took the time to acknowledge him, she would see that he's a nice guy.
Making his excuses to leave, he asks if I want anything from the bar. Since moving in with him I've developed quite a taste for whiskey, but I don't want to give mum any more of a reason to hate him, so I just ask for a small glass of dry white wine instead and let him know that I'll meet him at our table before watching him walk away.
“Did you have to be so rude?” The way she just treated Ethan makes my blood boil. “I know you're not happy with him being here, but can you please be civil for a few hours?”
“What on earth were you thinking? Bringing someone like him to an event like this. He’s got tattoos on his hands for heaven’s sake, what will people think?”
“Just give him a chance mum.” I plead, “Tattoos don’t make someone a bad person.”
“Oh, Mrs Sinclair has just arrived.” She ignores me, changing the subject, “I'll be back in a second. I need to say hello.”
“No problem. I'm going to go find our table.” She walks away and I make my way across to the other side of the dance floor in the direction of our table which is conveniently situated directly opposite the bar.
I glance over to see Ethan leaning casually against the bar, a wave of contentment spreads across my face at the sight of him.
“You make a beautiful couple.” I recognise the woman sitting next to me as the wife of my mother’s boss. A very handsome silver haired woman with kind eyes, her face has aged but it’s easy to tell that she would have been an absolute stunner in her prime.
“Oh, we’re just…” I reply after being averting my gaze from him.
“You pair are the envy of everyone here tonight, you know.” She smiles, her eyes becoming smaller as the fine lines around her eyes dance. “Every guy wishes they were him and every woman, well every woman wishes their partner would look at them the way that he looks at you.”
“It’s not like that.” I deny, “We’re just friends.”
“That may be child, but friends do not look at each other the way that the two of you do.” She sips from her glass of champagne and glances over at her husband before returning her gaze to me. “When you find love that beautiful and all consuming, you should embrace it and do everything you can to never let it go.”
I glance towards the two-woman sat around the table, eagerly nodding their head and I am speechless.
There’s no way!
It’s just a little crush.
I’m not in love with Ethan Brooks…
Am I?
No, it’s not possible. I mean, that night we spent together was amazing but there’s no way it could be love. I haven’t known him long enough to be in love with him and he definitely doesn’t feel that way about me. I’ve seen the type of women he tends to go for and they are the complete opposite of me. No, we’re just friends.
My gaze returns to the bar and I am horrified to see him speaking to Peter. I’m not sure what I expected to happen if the two of them met — which let’s face it, was bound to happen sooner or later when there are less than a hundred guests at the event, — but
