She laughed. ‘I wish I’d seen your text earlier, though. I’m not exactly dressed for a gig,’ she said, holding her arms out. She was still in the fitted white shirt, denim skirt and flat pumps she had worn to work.
‘You look great. And you’re wearing a skirt – that’s the important thing.’
‘Huh?’
‘If we’re going to be doing it in public, easy access is essential.’
‘Oh.’
Luca laughed. ‘Hey, don’t look so worried. It’ll be fun.’
‘I’m not sure I’m ready for doing it in public,’ she said nervously, though she felt a thrill of anticipation.
‘You know you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. Don’t you?’ He grabbed her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers, and looked at her so sternly that Claire knew he wanted an answer.
‘Yes, absolutely. But I’d like to try.’ She couldn’t deny the idea excited her.
‘Okay. But if you want to call it off at any time?—’
‘I’ll just tell you to fuck off.’
‘That’s my girl.’ Luca laughed. ‘Emma’s band is great. We’ll have a good time either way.’
The downstairs bar was heaving when they arrived, a Friday-night cocktail of heat, light and noise as the hipster crowd laughed and roared over the crash of glass and a thumping bass soundtrack. Claire held on tightly to Luca’s hand as he pulled her through the throng to the upstairs venue. The room was packed and stuffy, a crush of bodies standing, drinks in hand, in front of a small stage where the band were setting up under a banner bearing the name ‘The Legendary Fall’. Luca seemed to know a lot of people and he was stopped several times as they wove towards the bar by friends greeting him with hugs and claps on the back. He was obviously very popular and everyone seemed happy to see him. There was a lot of ‘Where have you been hiding?’ and ‘Haven’t seen you in ages’ while eyes slid curiously in Claire’s direction. Luca didn’t let go of her hand, introducing her to everyone he met and exchanging a few words with them. She couldn’t help noticing the admiring, hungry looks he got from a lot of the girls, or the inquisitive, assessing way their eyes raked over her, blatantly checking her out. It gave her a shallow feeling of pride at being with him that she liked more than she should have.
They got a couple of beers, then took up position close to the stage, Luca standing behind Claire with his arms wrapped around her, occasionally bending to nuzzle her neck, for all the world like an adoring boyfriend whocouldn’t keep his hands off her. Claire tried to relax, but she kept wondering if he was going to jump her right there in front of everyone. She half expected to feel him pulling her skirt up from behind, and it put her on edge, even though she reminded herself that she could just tell him to stop.
Once the band started, however, she forgot her nerves, forgot about her sex lesson and just enjoyed the music. There were six band members packed onto the tiny stage, three guys and three girls. The singer was a tall, striking girl with long, flaming red hair and a powerful voice, her clothes an eclectic cross between Goth and fairytale princess. Luca pointed out his friend, Emma, a gorgeous, raven-haired girl who swayed sinuously around the stage as she played the violin, oozing sensuality. Claire was envious – she was so sexy and graceful. She wondered if she and Luca had ever been more than friends.
Claire loved the music, and she found herself having fun, dancing with the crowd, or swaying in Luca’s arms during the slower songs. She felt light and carefree andyoung. It was good to be out on Friday night with people her own age for a change. The room was alive with youthful vibrancy; the very air seemed charged with energy and possibility. She felt more herself than she had in a long time – or maybe like a new version of herself that she’d never been before. Whatever it was, she liked it.
‘Do you want another drink?’ Luca asked her, when the singer announced that they’d be taking a short break after the next song.
‘Yes, please.’
‘I’ll beat the rush to the bar,’ he said, releasing her as the intro played. ‘Won’t be long.’
On his way to the bar, Luca glanced back at Claire and stopped in his tracks, turning to watch her for a while as she moved to the music. She looked so happy and carefree – and hot. She had no idea how sexy she was – which made her even sexier. And he wasn’t the only one who saw it, he thought angrily, as he watched a guy beside her leering at her in a way that infuriated him. He was tempted to go back and tell him to take his eyes off her and get lost, but Claire wasn’t aware of the guy’s staring and it would only make her self-conscious if he drew attention to it. She was enjoying herself, and he didn’t want to spoil her fun, so he told himself not to come over all caveman and continued to the bar. He kept an eye on her, though, glancing over regularly as he waited impatiently to be served. When the band left the stage and the lights came up, he was annoyed to see the guy turn to Claire and start chatting her up, leaning in far closer than was necessary to talk into her ear. She was responding to him with a polite smile, but she was darting anxious glances towards the bar. Luca knew she was looking for him and tried to catch her eye. She didn’t see him, but he caught the desperate plea for help on her face before her eyes slid away again.
Fuck off, arsehole, he thought, grabbing the two bottles of beer off the counter as soon as they were served and pushing through the crowd to Claire. He hated guys like that. Couldn’t he see that she just wanted to be rid of him? He obviously wasn’t fluent in body language or else he was choosing to ignore hers because every time he leant closer she compensated by leaning away, until she was almost doing a limbo in the middle of the room. The guy glanced round as Luca approached with a scowl, trying to quell him. To his satisfaction it appeared to work, because theman said something to Claire, smiling regretfully before he quickly disappeared.
‘Hi.’ Claire smiled as he reached her, and he could see the relief in her face.
‘Was that guy bothering you?’ he asked, handing her a beer.
‘He was just being friendly, really.’
Luca rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, right.’ He took a slug of his beer. ‘So, having fun?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘The band’s great – I love their music. Thanks for bringing me.’
‘Thank you for coming.’ He put an arm around her and pulled her to him, planting a kiss on her mouth. ‘Sorry, I just have to go for a slash. Do you mind?’ he asked, handing her his beer to hold.
‘No, of course not.’
‘I won’t be long. Don’t talk to any strange men.’ He grinned, then zipped off towards the exit.
Claire turned back to the stage, doing her best to look aloof and unapproachable, while she willed the band to come back on or Luca to return. She didn’t want that guy to see her on her own and come back. Though she didn’t admit it to Luca, he’d been a bit of a creep and wouldn’t take no for an answer, even when she’d said she was waiting for her boyfriend who was just up at the bar.
