Page 30 of Enemies to Lovers

Jamie.

‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to say to that,’ I tell him.

‘No,’ Jamie concedes, and irritation prickles at my neck.

‘I saw you talking with a few women before,’ I say. ‘Seems like you’re having a nice night.’

It isn’t a question.

‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to say tothat,’ Jamie retorts.

Thankfully, we’re interrupted by the barman, and Jamie gestures to me to go first.

‘Water, please,’ I say.

‘Two,’ Jamie adds, holding his fingers in a peace sign.

The barman grabs two bottles and Jamie slips him cash.

‘On me,’ he says, cracking open his lid.

‘Thank you,’ I say grumpily, like I don’t want to be around him, but I don’t move. Neither does he.

‘It’s none of my business,’ Jamie says. ‘But your man there, I think there’s a tourist in every port, so to speak.’

I look over to where he has gestured, to Adonis being greeted by two blonde girls with deep tans and crop tops. They air-kiss on each cheek and one of them keeps her hand on his hip, lingering, like she’s used to touching him.

‘You’re right,’ I reply.

Jamie looks puzzled. ‘And you’re … okay with that?’ he asks.

‘Oh,’ I tell him, ‘I don’t mean you’re right about a woman in every port. You’re right that it’s none of your business.’

‘Message received and understood,’ he says, putting two fingers to his forehead in a captain’s salute. We both look out across the dance floor, watching Adonis chat with a group of girls, including the one Jamie was dancing with earlier. She must feel our eyes on her, because she looks up, raising a hand at Jamie and blushing, coyly.

‘Well,’ I say.

‘Well,’ he repeats.

My eyes settle on the ground just in front of our feet, my mood sullen. So Jamie has opinions about who I spend my time with, when he’s off flirting, too? That’s absurd. I shoot a look at him, annoyed and confused. We lock eyes and I’m shaking my head, a gentleWhat the fuck?Jamie’s eyes roam my face, deciphering what I can’t find the courage to actually say. And then the most annoyingly strange thing happens.

Jamie shifts his body to block my view of the party and reaches up to my face. I can’t help but look at him now. I hold my breath and his hand comes towards me, reaching to an errant piece of hair that’s come loose from my up-do, gently pushing it behind my ear. His face softens as he does it, but he doesn’t smile.

‘He’s lucky to have you, if that’s what you want,’ hesays gently. For a moment he looks wistful. I get a strange thought at the very back of my brain, a hazy alert that he regrets passing on me himself. But then the thought disappears – a helium balloon I have accidentally let go of, floating away up to the clouds.

‘I agree,’ I say, with more conviction than I feel.

‘Florence!’

Adonis appears at my shoulder and instantly takes a hand and spins me round.

‘Hey,’ I say, feeling the disjointedness between Jamie’s solemn stare and Adonis’s high energy.

‘You’re the prettiest girl here,’ he says to me, pulling me close and rocking me back and forth in a dance. ‘Do you know that?’

I shake my head and crease up my face.

‘Really,’ he says. ‘Everybody is saying so.’

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