She shrugged. “Of course. What else? But don’t worry. I’ll start with the less embarrassing stories. I don’t want to chase Kate away, after all. I’ll save the bad ones for later, when she’s so madly in love with you that nothing can scare her away.”
I laughed nervously, but I was also genuinely amused. I considered telling Olivia that even now, nothing could scare me away, but before I could open my mouth, a man joined our group. He had brown hair, cropped shorter at the sides than on top, and despite his mask, he was just as undeniably attractive as Olivia. He slipped an arm around her, and Henry’s demeanour changed instantly. I could feel the tension radiating off him.
“There you are,” the man said, kissing Olivia’s cheek.
Olivia smiled. “I told you I was looking for Henry.”
The man glanced from her to Henry, who looked anything but pleased to see him. Henry’s lips were pressed together, and he glared at Olivia’s companion from behind his mask.
“Hey, dude,” the man said. “You good?”
Henry crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Yeah. And you, Marko?”
I trawled my memory for his name, but I was pretty sure Henry had never mentioned him. Still, I didn’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce that Henry didn’t like him.
“I can’t complain, not when I have such a hot date,” Marko said, giving Olivia another kiss on the cheek. He was clearly tipsy already, despite the evening having only just begun.
“Olivia looks really beautiful,” I agreed.
She smiled and looked like she was about to speak, but Marko beat her to it. “She always looks beautiful. It’s a mystery to me why she would ever date a clown like Darlington.” He laughed as if he’d told a hilarious joke, but no one joined in. Marko didn’t seem to care. He sniggered again before turning his attention to the empty glass in his hand. “I’m going to get more champagne. Are you coming?”
Olivia shook her head. Marko turned on his heel without a word and disappeared as swiftly as he’d appeared.
Henry stared at Olivia as if she’d grown a second head. “Are you out of your mind? Marko Langston?”
“Who is he?” I asked, curious.
“Someone it’s best to steer clear of.”
“You’re only saying that because he broke your nose back then,” Olivia retorted. “He’s nice, once you get to know him.”
“He’s drunk.”
Olivia shot Henry a withering look. “He likes to party. So what? Just because you’ve become a bore doesn’t mean the rest of us can’t have our fun. And Marko is fun. Alotof fun,” she said, her tone suggesting she wasn’t just talking about partying.
Henry made a gagging noise. “I still don’t like him.”
“You don’t have to,” Olivia shot back. “I’m dating him, not you. And even you have to admit, he’s ridiculously good-looking. It’s worth it for that alone.”
“He looks average at best.”
Olivia scoffed. “If that’s average, then every other man has already lost.”
Henry rolled his eyes. “Fine, maybe he’s above average, but there’s no way he’s better looking than me.”
“Oh, but he is. Much better looking than you,” Olivia said, patting Henry’s cheek.
“Olivia, sweetie? Can you come here?” a voice called suddenly. I spotted an older couple who could only have been Olivia’s parents.
She gestured to them that she was coming before turning back to us. “I have to go, but we’ll see each other at our coffee date at the latest! Henry has my number. You can get it from him.” She hugged first me, then Henry, before leaving to join her parents. She turned back once more to wave at us before disappearing into the crowd. By now, the ballroom was packed, and more and more people were flocking to the dance floor.
I looked up at Henry. “In case you need reassuring:Ithink you’re more attractive than Marko.”
His mouth twitched. He uncrossed his arms and reached for my hand again, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. My fingers felt warm and secure between his, like they belonged there. “Thank you,” he said.
“Did Marko really break your nose?”
“Yes, but it must have been around seven years ago. We were drunk and reckless.”
