Page 60 of Date with Destiny

They both look so happy and excited, it makes my heart explode.

‘Drink?’ I turn to find Zach has arrived. His smile drops as he takes me in. ‘Gosh, Ginny, you look…’ He swallows. ‘Very nice.’

‘Thanks.’ I feel silly suddenly. It’s too much. ‘You do, too,’ I add sincerely. Because he does.

Myfanwy is at my shoulder.

‘When is Mikey getting here?’ she asks impatiently.

Zach narrows his eyes but says nothing. I suddenly feel awkward, like I’ve done something wrong.

‘Um,’ I hedge, still looking at Zach. ‘I don’t—’

A voice interrupts us. ‘Did I hear my name?’

I spin around, nearly choking on my feathers. It’s him. Mikey. And he looks amazing.

He greets Myfanwy and Sonali, hugging them both as they laugh about our last joint outing, remembering embarrassing moments of spilling drinks and dancing in the middle of bars with no music.

Then he turns to me.

He takes my hands in his, his eyes travelling up and down my body with a look I can only describe asintenseapproval.

‘Ginny,’ he says in a low voice, almost a growl, ‘you look ridiculously sexy. Even better than the last time I saw you.’ He pulls me close and I feel his breath hot on my ear.

I am acutely aware of Zach watching all of this. Pulling away, I clear my throat. ‘Mikey, this is Zach.’ Mikey turns to him with surprise, like he hadn’t noticed the film star standing with us. ‘All right mate?’

‘Hi,’ Zach replies shortly, and they shake hands.

‘Zach works with us at Celeste’s Stones,’ I add hastily, like this will explain the tension. ‘He’s our bespoke ring designer.’

‘Cool,’ Mikey says dismissively, barely looking at him.

‘I was just getting drinks,’ Zach says, matching his tone. ‘Can I get you one, Mick?’

‘It’s Mikey.’ He corrects him smoothly, a crackle of testosterone in the air. ‘And yeah, thanks mate. I’ll have a lager.’ He turns his back on Zach in an open display of disinterest and Myfanwy glances at me, eyes wide and sparkling. She loves drama.

‘Now, let me have another look at you, you gorgeous thing…’ Mikey grabs me, hands on my waist as Zach stalks off, his face thunder. ‘I can’t believe I’m finally seeing you,’ he continues, pulling me nearer. ‘I wish we were alone right now, you really have no idea.’

It sends a shiver through me as I smile into his cheek.

‘We can be very alone later,’ I murmur back and feelmyself redden, partly from the adrenaline, partly with embarrassment. ‘I look forward to finding out what you would’ve done.’

He pulls away, staring at me with a small, longing smile.

I am definitely going to get some.

Three hours later and the problem with the party has revealed itself: it’stoofancy. Toni’s twenty-something pals are arriving, looking around with fear in their eyes, downing a drink and then leaving within thirty minutes. Considering Shawn’s thirty-four, I’m surprised to note there are hardly any older people on the guestlist. In fact, I’d say me, Mikey, Zach, Myfanwy and Sonali are easily the oldest ones in the room. A fact we are trying hard not to care about as we forcibly enjoy ourselves, dancing around the room, swigging expensive shots from the bar and punching random helium balloons. Mikey and I have so far been incredibly restrained; dancing close but no cigar. By which I mean no kissing. We’re at a grown-up party; you can’t just snog in the middle of the room like it’s a Year Nine Valentine’s disco. Much as I’d like to.

The initial weirdness between Mikey and Zach seems to have – thankfully – eased up, with the pair bonding over the variety of lagers on offer.

‘I’m off to the loo,’ Mikey announces now and squeezes my hand, sending promising chills through me. Honestly, the sparks flying between us, it’s like someone’s handing out sparklers to teenagers and everyone forgot to do a firesafety notice. We’re going to need a St John’s Ambulance on standby if this keeps up. I watch Mikey’s bum as he meanders across the room in the direction of the loos.

‘Oh my god, he’s so sexy, isn’t he?’ I murmur to Myfanwy, hypnotized.

‘Sure, sure,’ she says hurriedly. ‘Listen, while he’s gone…’ I turn to give her my full attention but my brain is still full of Mikey butt images. ‘I think I’ve found the funfair!’

‘What?’ The bum is gone, replaced by a blurry-edged image of our fortune teller. ‘How? What?’

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