The Night That Changed Everything Read Free

Danielle’s shoulder.
    â€˜Nah, they’re just the world’s two biggest flirts. Jamie’s probably the only man in here who doesn’t fancy Danielle.’
    He looks confused. ‘I don’t.’
    We eye-lock again, the tension thick.
    â€˜Ben?’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜Your drink is dripping on your shirt.’
    â€˜Arggghhh. Crap.’
    He straightens the straw to stop the flow.
    â€˜Want me to go get you a napkin? I owe you one.’
    He laughs that lovely laugh again, then pauses and says: ‘I do if it has your number on it?’
    It’s spoken as a question and his eyes are looking for mine again so I know I’m meant to answer, but I freeze. I can’t reply how I’d usually reply to such a cheesy line, because my standard ripostes are designed to make the guy run away, and I don’t want that to happen.
    What would Danielle do?
    She would calmly take a pen out of her bag and write her number on to a napkin, kissing it to leave a red imprint of her lips before handing it over and shimmying away.
    I laugh inwardly. No way I’m pulling
that
off.
    The silence is growing.
    â€˜You’ve finished your drink,’ Ben says, nodding at my empty as if the last thing he said wasn’t a question after all. He’s making it easier for me not to answer, and I hate myself. ‘Can I get you another?’
    Out of the corner of my eye I see Danielle retreating towards the door with her coat on. Why is she leaving? ‘Sorry,’ I tell Ben. ‘I just need to check in with Danielle quickly. I’ll be back in two minutes.’
    I rush towards the exit, bumping into Jamie on the way.
    â€˜Hey,’ he says. ‘I didn’t realize you were still here. I’ve hardly had a chance to talk to you all night. How’s work going? Are you all ready for Monday?’
    â€˜Getting there,’ I say, mentally groaning when I remember how much I still have to do tomorrow. ‘Where’d Danielle go?’
    â€˜Shane called earlier and said he was running late. He asked her to meet him outside when he gets here. Seemed he isn’t in the mood for a party.’
    I sigh. Danielle wouldn’t leave a friend’s party for anything usually, but Shane is her weakness. The kryptonite to her Superwoman.
    Jamie is still talking but I’m only half listening. I position myself to face the room so I can look for Ben without Jamie realizing. Eventually I see him standing by a booth, chatting to his friends.
    â€˜Anyway,’ Jamie is saying, ‘I need to nip back behind the bar while Erica takes her break. Are you sticking around?’
    â€˜Er.’ I glance at Ben again. He’s deep in conversation – there’s no way I can go over and interrupt. ‘I should really head off.’
    â€˜What is it you keep looking at?’ asks Jamie, twisting his neck. ‘Ah ha. That’s Ben,’ he tells me, lowering his voice. ‘He keeps looking over at you, I’ve noticed.’
    â€˜He does?’ I try to keep the keenness out of my voice but fail, and I can see Jamie is taken aback.
    â€˜You like him!’ Jamie says incredulously.
    â€˜Why? What’s wrong with him?’
    â€˜Nothing, he’s a legend. It’s you – you never get doey-eyed over anyone.’
    â€˜I’m not doey-eyed, you knob.’
    I go to slap him on the chest but he catches my arm and laughs.
    I glance over at Ben one last time. He’s whispering something to Russ. There really is no way I can butt in. And it’s even more awkward now Jamie has cottoned on.
    â€˜I’m off,’ I say, a cheery smile covering my disappointment. ‘I’ll see you later.’
    â€˜Will you be OK getting home? Shall I get you a cab?’
    â€˜Don’t be silly, I’m only round the corner.’
    â€˜Fine,’ he says, knowing there’s no point arguing. ‘Text me when you’re home. And good