back in the centre of the table, I grab it to get a look for myself. We’re bidding on a holiday package it would seem. I’m less concerned with contents and more interested in the intricate box. Based on the explanation sheet, it seems like the box comes with the winning bid and I instantly have to have it. I write down my name and fill in an exorbitant pound figure, hoping it’s enough to secure the beautiful box.
I get a funny sensation and look up to see Hayden practically glaring at me, his brow furrowed in the most frustrated manner. What the hell is this guy’s problem? If I was trying to forget about that sexual chemistry I felt before, this is a right proper way of achieving it.
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Benji croaks and then burps, slapping his hand over his mouth.
“Oh fuck,” I whisper as he shoots up out of his seat and makes a mad dash for the exit. “Where the hell is he going?” I say out loud to myself. Christ, I did not intend to be someone’s babysitter tonight!
I follow Benji out of the ballroom—a bit more gracefully than him—and stroll outside to find him hunched over a waste bin retching his guts out. “Benjiiii,” I groan, looking away so I won’t make myself sick as well. Mustn’t smell it, Vi. Mustn’t smell it!
“You guys okay?” Leslie asks, hurrying after us.
I shake my head and gesture silently to the scene because it truly does speak for itself. I think I might even hear Benji weeping. Theo comes out next and assesses the situation in that brooding way he’s got about him.
“You can’t get him in a cab like that. The driver will take one look at him and tell you to get stuffed,” he says, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Damn, he really looks like his brother without his glasses on. “He lives in Notting Hill,” I say, placing my hands on my hips. “It’s not terribly far…Maybe I can lump him onto the Tube?”
“The hell you can!” Leslie admonishes. “Theo, go get Hayden. He’s sober. He can take them.”
“No!” I exclaim and then rein in my reaction since Theo and Leslie gawk at me in shock. “No…thank you, but that’s completely unnecessary. Really, I’ll figure something out.”
“Stop, Vi. It’s no trouble. Theo…go.”
Theo doesn’t even hesitate before he takes off back into the ballroom. Oh God, this is going to be awkward. “I really wish you’d just let me figure this out, Leslie. I’m a big girl.”
“I know you are, but that’s what friends are for!” she says, gazing over at Benji apologetically. “Poor bastard. Your heart was in the right place.”
“Yeah, well, don’t feel too sorry for him. It was self-inflicted.”
A moment later, Hayden and Theo are outside and Hayden does not look pleased. We connect eyes and annoyance is written all over his features.
“Thanks, Hayden. Our hero with a chariot!” Leslie sings with glee.
Hayden’s eyes narrow on me. “I just hope he doesn’t vomit in the car.” He hands the keys to the valet who hurries off to bring the car around.
“See! This is a bad idea, Leslie. We can’t have him mucking up anybody’s car. I’ll get him on the Tube. It’s only one stop. I can manage.”
“How are you going to get him on the Tube?” Hayden huffs, his eyes roving down my entire body.
Crossing my arms over my chest self-consciously, I reply, “Don’t worry about me, mate. I’m stronger than I look.”
“Wearing that? I have a hard time believing.” He rolls his eyes and saunters away, raking his hand through his hair.
“Hayden’s right, Vi. Just let him help. Here’s a bag just in case.” Leslie hands me a clear plastic baggie that I pray to the Lord Benji doesn’t end up needing because he won’t be the only one needing a bag in the car if that’s the case.
“I gotta get back in, babe,” Theo says. “Mum wants me to say something when they finish auctioning my pieces.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” She looks at me.
I get a funny sensation and look up to see Hayden practically glaring at me, his brow furrowed in the most frustrated manner. What the hell is this guy’s problem? If I was trying to forget about that sexual chemistry I felt before, this is a right proper way of achieving it.
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” Benji croaks and then burps, slapping his hand over his mouth.
“Oh fuck,” I whisper as he shoots up out of his seat and makes a mad dash for the exit. “Where the hell is he going?” I say out loud to myself. Christ, I did not intend to be someone’s babysitter tonight!
I follow Benji out of the ballroom—a bit more gracefully than him—and stroll outside to find him hunched over a waste bin retching his guts out. “Benjiiii,” I groan, looking away so I won’t make myself sick as well. Mustn’t smell it, Vi. Mustn’t smell it!
“You guys okay?” Leslie asks, hurrying after us.
I shake my head and gesture silently to the scene because it truly does speak for itself. I think I might even hear Benji weeping. Theo comes out next and assesses the situation in that brooding way he’s got about him.
“You can’t get him in a cab like that. The driver will take one look at him and tell you to get stuffed,” he says, removing his glasses and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Damn, he really looks like his brother without his glasses on. “He lives in Notting Hill,” I say, placing my hands on my hips. “It’s not terribly far…Maybe I can lump him onto the Tube?”
“The hell you can!” Leslie admonishes. “Theo, go get Hayden. He’s sober. He can take them.”
“No!” I exclaim and then rein in my reaction since Theo and Leslie gawk at me in shock. “No…thank you, but that’s completely unnecessary. Really, I’ll figure something out.”
“Stop, Vi. It’s no trouble. Theo…go.”
Theo doesn’t even hesitate before he takes off back into the ballroom. Oh God, this is going to be awkward. “I really wish you’d just let me figure this out, Leslie. I’m a big girl.”
“I know you are, but that’s what friends are for!” she says, gazing over at Benji apologetically. “Poor bastard. Your heart was in the right place.”
“Yeah, well, don’t feel too sorry for him. It was self-inflicted.”
A moment later, Hayden and Theo are outside and Hayden does not look pleased. We connect eyes and annoyance is written all over his features.
“Thanks, Hayden. Our hero with a chariot!” Leslie sings with glee.
Hayden’s eyes narrow on me. “I just hope he doesn’t vomit in the car.” He hands the keys to the valet who hurries off to bring the car around.
“See! This is a bad idea, Leslie. We can’t have him mucking up anybody’s car. I’ll get him on the Tube. It’s only one stop. I can manage.”
“How are you going to get him on the Tube?” Hayden huffs, his eyes roving down my entire body.
Crossing my arms over my chest self-consciously, I reply, “Don’t worry about me, mate. I’m stronger than I look.”
“Wearing that? I have a hard time believing.” He rolls his eyes and saunters away, raking his hand through his hair.
“Hayden’s right, Vi. Just let him help. Here’s a bag just in case.” Leslie hands me a clear plastic baggie that I pray to the Lord Benji doesn’t end up needing because he won’t be the only one needing a bag in the car if that’s the case.
“I gotta get back in, babe,” Theo says. “Mum wants me to say something when they finish auctioning my pieces.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” She looks at me.
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