Page 67 of Once Upon A Player
It’s obvious he’s rattled. Is something going on between him and Mac? Not that I’m going to ask Lucas after the way I put my foot in it with his dad and Margo.
“Yes, please.”
After Will makes a toast, curiosity gets the better of me. “Are Harry and Alice coming tonight?” I’m surprised they’re not in the limo with us. There’s plenty of room.
“Not really Harry’s scene,” Will says, pouring himself a second glass.
“Itoldhim to make the effort.” Mac exhales an impatient breath. “Honestly, you’d think he’d want to take Alice out somewhere special sometimes, wouldn’t you?”
“I don’t think she’s into this kind of thing, either,” Lucas says. Our fingers are entwined, and he absently strokes the back of my thumb. It’s crazily sexy, and I unobtrusively shift on my seat. Tonight is going to be a long, slow burn before we can do anything about it.
It takes about half an hour before we arrive at Westminster Pier, where Jax has organized a cruise party on the Thames. Even though it’s not dark yet, one boat is lit up like a Christmas tree, and the open top deck is fit to bursting with all the beautiful people.
Nervously, I smooth down my dress before we get out of the limo. I’ll have to get used to these kinds of parties, since Lucas goes to so many. Although, it’s funny. He hasn’t since we started dating, unless I count his birthday thing at Hydra.
Jax Kennedy strolls over to us, a couple of elegant girls hanging off his arms. “Hey, man,” he says, disentangling himself from his companions. He and Lucas exchange one of those manly hugs, complete with fist pumps to the shoulder.
Lucas introduces me, and Jax is charm personified. He kisses Mac on the cheek and high-fives Will. Clearly, they all know each other pretty well, and I try not to feel the odd one out.
There are also photographers who take about a thousand photos, so I keep a freaky, fixed smile on my face in the hope that disguises how out of my element I am. When we finally end the protracted greeting on the pier, which I can only think was for the benefit of the press, we make our way onto the boat.
There’s a spacious saloon, with lots of leather booth seats surrounding a dance floor, and a large bar at one end. Everyone wants to speak to Lucas, and although he never releases my hand, and introduces me to everyone, within five minutes, the whole thing becomes a blur of famous faces I can’t quite place, designer dresses, and glittering jewelry.
I try and focus and keep up with the quick-fire conversation, but it’s hard when I don’t know anyone that they’re talking about.
“Hey, Violet.” Mac links arms with me. “Want to get some air?”
Lucas releases my hand, and Mac and I go upstairs to the top deck, where’s there’s a grand view of the Houses of Parliament.
She grabs a glass of pink champagne from a passing waiter and hands it to me. “Are you okay?”
No. There are way too many people here.I swallow a mouthful of my drink for Dutch courage. I haven’t been to a big party since Geoff and I split up, and there must be at least three hundred A-listers here, which is twice as many, and three times as starry, as that other night. But since Mac appears to have inherited the same gregarious gene as Lucas, there’s no way she’d understand my panic at making a twat of myself in public.
“It’s a bit overwhelming.” Well, shit. Didn’t I justtellmyself not to say that?
“I know what you mean,” she says, giving my arm a comforting squeeze. “It’s hard when you don’t know many people.”
“I know three,” I tell her. “You, Lucas and Will.”
“Come and meet Yolanda. She’s great, almost like part of the family.”
“Oh, well I’ve already met her, actually. I mean, briefly. Weeks ago.”Just shut the hell up, Violet.
“Well, there you go.” Mac grins at me as though I didn’t just sound like an idiot. We weave through throngs of people—who ignore us, as we aren’t with the star of the show—and I see Yolanda hanging out with a couple of guys by the impressive barbeque.
My stomach somersaults. Is that Heath Granger, the bad boy star of my favorite soap,Dominion Drive?
Yes. Yes, it is.
“Hey, guys,” Mac says, before telling me everyone’s name. “This is Violet, Lucas’s girlfriend.”
“Nice to see you again.” Yolanda gives me a friendly smile.
“Great to meet you,” Heath says. “Lucas’s kept quiet about you, hasn’t he?”
He doesn’t say it in a mean way; it’s almost like a compliment. But I don’t see how keeping quiet about the fact we’re datingcanbe complimentary?
Did I really want to be splashed across the gutter press as Lucas’s new girl?
