Page 38 of Perfect

Tom nodded, watching me thoughtfully.

“What was the fight about?”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t there so I only heard it second hand. Nate had some unwelcomed guests and they kicked off. Connor ended it mind you. I suppose it’s what happens when people can’t take their booze. Not sure what they were arguing about, but Ella got elbowed in the face by accident. She never comes to these parties now. Anyway, that’s the locals for you. They get bored with close-knit village life. That’s why we go clubbing in Scarborough every month. A change in scene is always a good thing. Resets the balance.”

My eyebrows crinkled. “Didyoufight?”

He shook his head, suddenly looking horrified. “Absolutely not. I need all my fingers to do my job,” he laughed.

I smirked but in a warm way. “Of course. Silly me.”

The moment was broken as my phone pinged to say I had a text and I briefly checked it before opening my door.

It was from an unknown number.Where the fuck are you!

From the tone of the text, I guessed it must have been from Connor and my body tingled with nerves.

Grimacing, I swiped off the screen. I didn’t even realise that we’d exchanged numbers. I purposefully deleted the message without replying.

We climbed out of the car and Tom offered me his arm. He was such a gentleman, I liked it.

As we approached the front door, Tom explained that Nathan’s’ family sold farming equipment. He pointed out three large warehouses which peeked out behind the main house, a mansion similar to the size of mine back home. You could tell the family were obviously loaded.

Several cars were already parked messily around the yard and music was booming from inside. There was also a tractor sitting there alongside the shiny assorted high-end cars, looking totally out of place. Probably what I was about to look like at the party.

I worried my lip, my stomach seemed to be sending my brain mixed messages. I bobbed my head thoughtfully at what Tom was saying, pretending to listen to what was thankfully the last part of his earlier story about hoof rot.

I eyed his profile as he spoke. He was a good-looking guy in a cute boyish way and had been nothing but lovely to me, but I wasn’treallyattracted to him and some things shouldn’t be forced.

At last, Tom finished the story, laughing at his own joke and we let ourselves in through the front entrance. A couple brushed past us in the doorway, lighting their cigarettes, they both looked so grown up.

It was then that it hit me. I should not be there.

As we entered the house, people wereeverywhereand only a small amount of light. The place was pretty trashed already. It was hot and loud andtotallyuncivilised and that original jet of excitement I’d felt at the thought of being somewhere I shouldn’t dissolved. It also reeked like a brewery.

I nervously checked my watch and noted the time. It was only just after six and it already looked like this? ‘Fucking chaos’ would be my way of setting the scene.

Tom directed me into the kitchen whilst I attempted to bump into as few of the bodies as possible. Several partygoers nodded to Tom as we passed, but I couldn’t hear exactly what was being said over the music and loud voices. I was blatantly checked out by pretty mucheveryguy we passed, even the ones who appeared to be with girlfriends. My face felt like it was burning, I also received a couple of dirty looks from said girlfriends which worried me even more.

The kitchen was quite large and was strewn with abandoned red solo cups, like the ones you saw at frat parties on American TV shows. Guys and girls were huddled in clusters and I noted a few exchanged smiles as they glanced vacantly in our direction.

Tom washed out a solo cup in one of the empty sinks, the other was full of ice and bottled beers. He uncapped one and poured it for me. I took the drink with a smile, attempting to appear adventurous.

We made our way, drinks in hand to a conservatory at the back of the house which was littered with a handful of people. Nathan Lane aka The Host was in there and he carelessly uncurled the redhead who had been draped across him and pushed himself to his feet. Yep, he was a player all right. I felt another frisson of discomfort but batted it away.

“You guys made it. Fucking awesome,” he slurred, moving towards us.

He leaned forward and pecked my cheek which felt odd, considering I had known him all of fifteen minutes. I could smell alcohol on his breath and it wasn’t attractive.

“No Ella then?” he questioned hopefully, glancing behind us.

Tom looked uncomfortable and shrugged, which was an interesting reaction.

“She didn’t want to come Nate.”

I caught a flash of something in Nathan’s expression before he masked it, taking another slug from the bottle of spirits he was holding. Neat spirits I might add.

The atmosphere between them was awkward again and a thought occurred to me. MaybeNatewas the one who knocked Ella Wade up and it was nothing to do with Connor after all? Hope clawed at my chest. Having your friend’s sister get elbowed in the face at one of your parties, could also be a good reason for friction I supposed. I decided the latter one was more plausible. I tucked both thoughts away.

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