Gentleman Sinner(69)
‘She’s so lovely.’ Jess sighs. ‘So motherly and loving.’
‘Or a lioness,’ I muse, imagining Judy turning into quite the formidable one herself should anyone cross her boy, no matter how big, dangerous, and capable of looking after himself he is. Judy lifts her hand in goodbye to Theo and Callum as she goes, and they both nod as an applause erupts. She looks across the club to the stage, and I follow her stare, seeing Penny thrusting her crotch in a patron’s face while his friends cheer her on. Judy’s lip is curled in disdain, and I recoil, interested. Oh, she really doesn’t like her. I barely have time to wonder why before Andy pulls his wife out of the club and I spot Theo and Callum wandering over, people clearing their path vigilantly.
Jess stiffens next to me. ‘Oh God, please don’t let me speak. If I try to speak, kick me. I’m drunk. I’ll only say something stupid and look like a twat.’
The expression of disbelief I aim at her isn’t noticed, because she’s staring down into her glass. ‘You’ve already made yourself look like a twat when you were sober. At least now you’ll have an excuse.’
‘Shut up. I can’t read him,’ she hisses at her wine. ‘It’s frustrating. Makes me behave out of the ordinary.’
I snort, most unladylike. ‘Whatever. He’s coming.’
‘Stop.’
‘He’s looking at you.’
‘I hate you.’
‘With take-me-to-bed eyes.’
Her head whips up, just as Theo and Callum come to a stop before us. Callum’s eyes aren’t take-me-to-bed eyes at all. They’re more like scrutinizing eyes. ‘Hi,’ Jess squeaks before throwing back more wine.
Callum watches, waiting until she’s downed the lot. ‘I’ll take you home,’ he says finally, and I grin, looking out the corner of my eye to see her increasing discomfort. I’m not sure what’s wrong with her. Alcohol usually makes her bolder, but she’s almost painfully awkward.
‘Jess.’ I nudge her when she makes no attempt to show her face. ‘Callum is ready to take you home.’
‘Okay.’ She slides her glass on to the bar and jumps down, kissing me quickly before grabbing her bag and scurrying away. ‘Speak tomorrow.’
Theo’s looking at his friend with a slightly lifted eyebrow, but Callum just shrugs, trudging on his way to catch up with Jess. ‘Take the rest of the night off,’ Theo calls, a wicked smile on his face.
I fall apart on the bar stool, watching my friend alternate between staggers and determined strides, until Callum is forced to help her out before she veers completely off course and lands in the Ladies’. ‘She’s steaming,’ I say with a chuckle, grinning into my glass as I sip.
Theo appears in my peripheral vision, and I turn towards him with my glass at my lips, finding him leaning against the bar, watching me. And I remember: I’m not talking to him.
I drop to my drunken feet, then spend a few moments concentrating on finding the stability I need to walk away with my dignity still intact. After a considerable amount of time, I give up and start my zigzagging meander across the club. I don’t need to worry about bumping into anyone. They’re all being rather helpful and moving from my path. ‘Thank you,’ I say politely to one man. ‘Good night,’ I say to another. ‘Thanks.’ I smile at a lady, who grins as she shifts out of my way. I feel more conspicuous than I’d like, everyone obviously concluding I need the space. Either that or they’re worried I might throw up on them.
As I make it to the door, I take a quick glimpse over my shoulder and find Theo mere feet behind me. I realize, even through the haze of alcohol, that all those helpful people weren’t moving for my benefit at all. They weren’t being helpful. They were being sensible.
I narrow my eyes on him as he reaches past me and punches in the code. Then he kindly motions for me to lead the way. I push my way through without thanks, letting it close behind me. There are no people in the corridor, but there are walls on both sides of me. I stop and focus forward, blinking my blurry vision clear as best I can. Then I stagger two steps to the right . . . and bounce. Then two steps to the left . . . and bounce. I roll my eyes to myself and continue to ping-pong my way towards the office, vaguely hearing a deep, rumbling chuckle from behind.
‘This is your fault,’ I mutter. He doesn’t speak. Probably can’t from laughing too much. Wrestling with the door, I finally get it open and let myself in, turning and finding his laughing eyes before I slam it in his face. Then I bounce off every piece of furniture in the workspace before I make it to the other door. I resort to closing one eye to zero in on the handle, eventually finding it and performing the same childish actions as before. I turn and scowl at Theo, then slam the door in his face.
The never-ending corridor that leads back to his house sees me ricocheting off the walls all the way. By the time I make it to the end, the room is spinning, and I don’t have the energy to be spiteful and slam any more doors in his face, so I stumble to the stairs and whimper when the stripes of the carpet become a wavy mess, making me sway on the spot. I’ll never make it.
But I don’t have to. My feet are swiped from beneath me and I’m suddenly floating. Theo doesn’t breathe a word of scorn, nor does he make fun of me. And like it’s ingrained in me, I don’t move a muscle now that he has me in his hold. He carries me up the horrid stairs and into his bedroom, laying me on the bed gently. And he strips me down, patiently and calmly as I drunkenly writhe atop the covers, just wanting to crawl under the sheets and say goodbye to today. When his hands are gone from my body, I snuggle down and exhale.