laugh. Apart from Ryan, who momentarily scowls, shrugs and pulls out his notepad to take our drinks order.
What say I get totally shit-faced? Then I won’t care if Ryan and Guy are in the same room. What say I get a grip and stop being so pathetic and just act like everything’s ok? It’s not like Ryan’s going to stand up and make some earth-shattering announcement about me and my virgin status and his role in the whole affair.
This is real life, not the movies.
***
Okay, we’ve got through dinner and everything’s going just fine. Fortunately Ryan, by design or otherwise (probably the former if his attitude earlier is anything to go by), didn’t serve our table after the initial time. He’s about ten tables over to the left. Anyway, I can’t see him unless I sit right back in my chair and peer over Guy’s left shoulder. Which is hardly polite, so I don’t do it too often.
“Suzy, dance?” Guy asks.
Before I have time to answer he jumps up from his seat. Looks like I have no choice. Actually, I was going to say yes. I love dancing. Though I can’t say I usually dance to this type of music.
“Sure.”
The dance floor is packed, mainly with friends of Lori’s parents all dancing like they’ve just stepped out the seventies and are on some sort of drug that strips you of any sense of shame.
We push our way through until we find a space just about big enough for us to dance in. And wouldn’t you just know it, the bandleader announces they’re going to do an Abba medley.
“Oh no,” I moan. “Want to go back to the table?”
“Are you kidding? Abba songs are great. My parents listen to them all the time. Have you seen that tribute band that tours here?”
“Um, no. Can’t say I have.”
Half an hour later there seems no let up to the Abba revival, and I’ve had enough. I signal so to Guy and his face falls.
“Just one more?” he asks.
“Sorry. Need the bathroom.” I don’t but at least it gets me away from here. I mean, there’s only so much Abba a girl can take and I passed that stage at least four songs ago. I fight my way back to the tables and then head out the way we came in. I’m not sure where the bathroom is but I guess there’ll be a sign somewhere.
I scan the entrance hall once out there but can’t see anywhere looking remotely bathroom-like. I suppose with these really smart places they try to be discreet about where the bathroom is. Like we don’t all use them all the time.
In desperation, I go through a door on the left and find myself in an empty corridor. I wonder where this leads to? Probably the kitchen or somewhere. I carry on walking until reaching another door, which leads into the garden. It must be a back way because French doors in the ballroom lead out here too. Oh well, I’ll hang around here for a while. Keep out of sight.
“Suzy. Is that you?” So much for keeping a low profile.
“Yes.” I glance from side to side but can’t see anyone. “Who is it?”
“Me. Ryan. Over here, by the wall.” I stare in the direction of his voice and can just make out a dark shadow that looks about the right height, so I stroll over.
“Hey. What are you doing out here?”
“It’s my break. And I came out to cool off.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“You mean apart from it being hot inside?” I don’t like the way he’s speaking. It’s so not Ryan.
“Um—yeah.”
“Well, how do you think I feel when I see you mixing with all those rich people knowing you’d rather be friends with them than admit our relationship?” He folds his arms and glares at me.
“But—you know it isn’t like that.”
“Isn’t it? If you can dismiss everything that happened between us so readily, clearly our relationship meant nothing to you.” This can’t be happening. He must think I’m such a bitch.
“Of course it did. More than you’ll ever know. But everything’s different. What I’m doing now, it’s all about the future. My future.”
“And for the sake of your future, you think it’s okay to deny our relationship just so you can be a member of some club you had no business joining in the first place?”
I bow my head, not daring to face him. I really hate myself.
“No, it’s not okay. But what choice do I have, if I want