Page 40 of From Notting Hill with Love…Actually
“What do you mean?”
“Oh sorry, nothing really. Please, continue about your mother.”
“No, go on,” Sean insisted. “I don’t want to dampen the mood of this happy occasion. What did you mean, about Davids?”
I stalled for time by finishing off the last of my drink. Then I swirled the remaining ice around in the bottom of the glass. Did I really want to start a conversation about David andmyself with Sean? But after what he’d told me about his mother I didn’t want to seem insensitive. “David is my fiancé’s name,” I said eventually, putting my empty glass down on the table. “And it’s just…he’s quite conventional too.”
“You mean boring?” Sean grinned.
“No, not boring. He knows what he likes, that’s all.”
“What does he do for a living?”
I looked at Sean—I knew what was coming before I even spoke.
“His family owns a chain of cinemas.”
Sean threw back his head and laughed. “Scarlett, you really are something else. Is that why you’re marrying him, so you can get free cinema admission for the rest of your life?”
“No.” And there was me trying not to be insensitive.
“I’m sorry,” Sean said, trying to straighten his face. “I shouldn’t have laughed. But you’ve got to see the funny side.”
“I suppose it may be mildly amusing. But that’s not why I’m with him.”
“Why are you then? Wait,” Sean said, raising his eyebrows suggestively. “Is he Brad Pitt’s long-lost twin by any chance?”
“What my David is or does is none of your business.” I was getting cross with Sean now, mother or no mother. Why did he always have to find something about me to ridicule?
“Right, so he’s not great looking. He’s boring…and you’renotmarrying him to get free movies forever, so that only leaves…his money.”
I glared at Sean.
“Oh, Red, you’re not, are you? I never thought you would be so mercenary.”
Sean was joking, but he was getting a bit too close to the truth for comfort, and I didn’t like it.
“Don’t be silly—of course I wouldn’t marry someone for their money. I love him. There, isn’t that enough?”
Sean looked as if he didn’t believe me. “Methinks the lady doth protest too much. However, I’ll trust you—you don’t look the gold-digger type.”
“Thanks,” I said sarcastically.
Alfie and Diana returned to the table.
“So,” Alfie asked, panting heavily after a vigorous rendition of Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ la Vida Loca.” “How are you two getting on?” He looked between the two of us. “More drinks?”
“Yes please, Alfie,” I said, holding up my empty glass. “That would be great.”
“My round,” Sean said, standing up. “I think Scarlett has had enough of my witty repartee for now. Haven’t you, Red?”
I chose not to respond and looked out at the dance floor.
Sean just grinned. “Right then, same again for everyone, is it? Good, then I shall return forthwith!”
Sean strode over to the bar, leaving me sitting with Alfîe and Diana.
“Oh dear,” Diana said with concern. “He hasn’t been teasing you, has he? He’s a devil for winding people up.”
