Page 89 of Unapologetic Love Story

She glanced around at him after he said the words. She took in the subtext but didn’t press him. Instead, she covered his hands with hers and they both looked back out at the water. The boat was nearly at Battersea and the city was brightly lit like a nocturnal feast.

‘London is so full of people who ran away to join the circus,’ Raina finally said, as they looked up at Battersea Power Station. ‘That’s what I like about it.’

‘Excuse me?’

Tom and Raina both turned to see a slightly drunk woman who’d broken away from her pack.

‘I jus’ wanted to say, you two are so fucking good together,’ she slurred, gesturing to the two of them. ‘Like, you look like a picture. I want what you’ve got.’

‘All right, Sharon,’ said a very sober redhead, tugging her tipsy friend back to the group. ‘Let’s get you something to eat.’

‘Drunk girls are the best,’ Raina told Tom, laughing as Sharon waved to them both from the bar. ‘The only thing I like about nightclubs is making friends in the toilets.’

‘Yeah, I’ve heard about this,’ Tom said. ‘What magic goes on in the women’s bathroom?’

‘I couldn’t even begin to explain it to you.’

Tom turned her around and pushed her long hair away from her face. He straightened the lapels of his jacket, which she was still wearing. ‘You look really beautiful tonight.’

Raina watched him and opened her mouth to respond but the soulless music that was playing suddenly cut out, and the sound of cutlery against glass could be heard on deck.

Seb was preparing to make a speech. Ottie was standing near him, quickly gesturing to people in her eyeline with slightly frenzied hand movements, mouthing ‘film this’.

‘She asked you to record it,’ Raina whispered gently to Tom.

He groaned but hauled out his smartphone.

‘As you know,’ Seb boomed, exchanging his usual Harrow drawl for a loud, resounding bark, ‘I have known this beautiful woman for almost ten years.’

‘Eleven years,’ Ottie chipped in, smiling a little awkwardly.

‘Oh, my God,’ Raina breathed, and Tom could hear wonder in her voice. ‘Is he about to . . .?’

‘Yes, I think so,’ Tom responded, grimacing. ‘Nice and public.’

‘Oh, it’s lovely,’ Raina reprimanded softly.

‘It makes the woman feel pressured to say yes.’

‘Not if they’ve discussed it beforehand. It’s okay if she knows it’s coming.’

‘You think she knew?’

‘She asked you to film it.’

Tom blinked and then cursed. He’d caught their entire conversation on camera. He stopped and restarted his filming, capturing Seb as he continued with his speech.

It was, as Raina was hoping, a proposal. Seb didn’t get on bended knee until there was an uncomfortable silence after the ‘will you marry me’. Then he, somewhat unwillingly, got down onto the deck.

Everyone applauded, including Raina as she watched Ottie give a demure ‘yes’.

‘So nice,’ Raina said, clapping loudly.

Tom made sure to end his recording before speaking this time. He stuffed his phone in his pocket before saying, ‘Yes, it’s darling.’

‘Oh, stop it,’ Raina scolded warmly. ‘They’re not exactly my kind of people, but they certainly seem well suited to each other.’

‘Oh, they’re two peas in a pod. I don’t know . . . I just don’t like seeing this kind of thing paraded around as if it’s love.’