I glance at Theo. Still perched there like she belongs in a still life. Dark hair neat, shoulders square, no clue how much I want to ask her to stay.
So I aim for casual. ‘There’s a small party here in Edinburgh. Low-key, the sister of a teammate turning thirty. You should come.’
She barely looks at me. ‘No, thanks.’
I flash a grin. ‘Fair. You and your cat got big plans. Tuna and telly, living the dream.’
Still nothing.
I wait. Then I push, because apparently I’m not done humiliating myself. ‘Might be good for optics. Public-ish. Bit of strategic hand-holding. You know. For the cameras.’
She side-eyes me. ‘Did you rehearse that?’
‘Naw. I always improvise my charm.’
Another pause. Then she sighs, and I beam, because that sound means she’s coming with me.
‘Will there be group sex, Finn?’
‘Probably not. But no promises,’ I say, half in love with the way she tries not to smile.
Dammit. I enjoy hanging out with Theo more than I enjoy hanging out with anyone else. Too bad I’m wired wrong for good things like this.
Chapter 7
Theo
I’ve never seen someone high-five with their entire body before.
As soon as Finn and I step from the cobbled back lane into the converted mews – once a carriage house, now all exposed beams, stone walls, and bespoke lighting – he bounces around like a pinball, from one rugby player to another. Chest bumps, complicated handshakes, bear hugs that lift grown men off their feet.
I hover just behind him in the hallway, coat still in hand, posture snapped to attention. The floor’s littered with heaps of trainers, boots, and heels. No one bothered to tidy up after themselves. I take off my Mary Janes and position them next to the umbrella holder. On second glance I realise that it’s a real elephant foot.
Disgusting.
Before I can figure out where to go or what to do with my arms, a woman with perfect blonde balayage appears, Prosecco bottle in hand.
‘Hi, I’m Polly! Nevin’s sister?’ she says when she sees my puzzled expression. ‘The birthday girl. Come in properly!’
‘Oh, hi. I’m Theo. And happy birthday.’ I force a smile. ‘Sorry for showing up uninvited and without a gift. That’s a bit rude. But it was also a bit spontaneous.’
She waves it away. ‘Any girlfriend of Finn’s is family. Though we’re all shocked he’s settling down.’ She wiggles her eyebrows.
‘Well, I?—’
‘Lennox, ya wee chancer!’ A voice booms from what looks like the kitchen. ‘Get yer daft arse in here!’
‘One sec!’ Finn calls back. He lights up every time someone shouts his name. I, in contrast, generally shrink a little every time someone says mine.
He turns to me and leans in. ‘I’ll say hi and be right back. Everyone’s sound, promise. You’ll be fine.’
‘I know how to handle myself at parties, Lennox. The question is: do you?’
He laughs and weaves through the crowd.
Sure, I’m fine.
Just like I was fine at that client party in Shoreditch, when I stood next to the bar for an hour while Gil regurgitated my strategy and ideas to the room as if he’d written all of it in his sleep. No one even looked at me, because they naturally assumed it could only have emerged from his extraordinary brain. And that’s when it clicked. The only person who’d ever called me brilliant – my boyfriend – had been using my work to elevate his standing all this time. When I tried to call him out, he told me not to make a scene. Said I was imagining things.
