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He glowered at me, his jaw stuck in that stubborn set that I’d seen a hundred times. The man was a long-sealed tomb and I was beginning to realise that I was going to need a damned crowbar to pry him open.
“Fine. Suit yourself.” I turned away and gave him the proverbial cold shoulder. Unfortunately, ignoring Alfie meant that I was paying attention to Keira, who was looking at Riley like she was about to maul him.
“Any chance I’ll get to see your lovely self in London?” she was asking as he handed her a drink. She all but fluttered her lashes, but to my surprise, Riley didn’t seem moved. Most guys tended to melt at her feet.
“Aye, I’m there from time to time. You’re excited to be getting out of this tiny town, are you?” he asked her as he handed me a drink.
“Yeah, I can’t wait. Especially if this one agrees to come with me.” She flung an arm around my waist, effectively yanking me out of Alfie’s grip.
Oh hell, Keira.
My stomach sank, as I knew exactly what would be coming next.
“You’re going with her are you, Lo?” Riley asked me, his eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise. “I didn’t know that.”
“Neither did I.” Alfie’s voice was low, cold, and laced with anger. I chanced a look at him and wished I hadn’t. The look on his face had me fighting the urge to hide behind Keira.
What the hell was wrong with me? I didn’t wilt at the first sign of trouble.
Pull yourself together, Lo!
“She just asked me. I haven’t agreed,” I said, doing my best to avoid the argument that was surely on its way.
“Yet!” Keira jumped in and kissed my cheek before turning a begging face towards Alfie. “Help me persuade her, will you?”
Oh god, Keira, shut up, shut up!
Stuck between the three of them, I felt like a deer in headlights. I needed out.
“Let’s dance,” I said brightly. I turned to Keira, giving her the ‘Code Red’ glare and praying she wasn’t too drunk to pick it up.
“Stay. Let’s finish up this conversation.” Alfie stepped closer to me, effectively trapping me. Riley’s gaze switched between the pair of us, eyeing his friend with curious amusement.
I looked up at Alfie, pleading with him not to cause a scene. He gazed down at me, his expression resolute.
Don’t you dare, Alfie Tell. You promised you wouldn’t.
He looked over my head to Keira and Riley.
“Unfortunately, Lola won’t be able to go with you. She’s leaving with me in two weeks.” I closed my eyes. I was going to kill him.
“What? Seriously? You’re leaving?” Keira rounded on me, her expression sobering very quickly.
“No!” I exclaimed.
“No?” Alfie arched an eyebrow at me.
“Yes. Wait…maybe.” I sighed in exasperation and turned to my friend. “I haven’t decided yet.” I felt panicked as I scrambled to avoid this car crash of a conversation.
“It’s pretty much settled.” Alfie put his arm around me. He might as well have urinated in a circle around me. Keira’s face was setting into stone. I knew that look. It was theI’m-about-to-raise-helllook.
“You sure about that? She doesn’t looksettledto me.”
“Can we talk later? He just asked me last night,” I pleaded with her, my voice low, desperate not to cause a scene.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her brows knitting together. Alfie shifted beside me, effectively stepping into the space between Keira and I. He was about to speak but Keira got there first.
“Hey! Moneybags! Back off.” She shoved her drink at Riley, barged Alfie out of the way, grabbed my hand, and shoved her way through the crowd, dragging me outside.