Page 88 of Must Have Been Love

I tug at the low neckline, wanting to cover myself up.

“You look glorious,” Hudson tells me.

“Remind me why we’re here again,” I ask.

“Because it’s one of my investor’s birthdays and he invited us.”

“And his name is Daniel?”

“That’s right. He’s there.” He points at a huge table in the restaurant, where a silver haired man is laughing and surrounded by people who stare at him adoringly. “That’s Daniel, next to him is his wife.”

“Which next to him?”

“The left.”

“She looks younger than me.”

“Welcome to New York.” Hudson smiles, sliding his fingers between mine, as somebody calls out his name to greet him.

It turns out that the whole restaurant has been rented for this birthday. Hudson and I are at the main table, across from Daniel and his blonde wife, who is clad in black Dior. I try not to cling too hard to Hudson’s hand as he introduces me to our fellow guests.

It’s one of those parties where couples aren’t seated directly next to each other. Instead, Hudson is three people down from me, and I’m between two men – one of whom is apparently Daniel’s son, who looks distinctly like he doesn’t want to be here. The other is Daniel’s lawyer, whose wife is also wearing black.

Let’s face it, all the women are wearing black. Except me.

“You’re a new one,” the lawyer’s wife says, leaning across her husband to talk to me. “What an interesting dress.”

“Thank you.” I flash her a smile. From the corner of my eye I can feel Hudson watching me. I take a breath and square my shoulders. It’s fine. I’m fine.

“How long have you and Hudson been dating?” she asks.

“Um… a little while.” If you can count bedless sex as dating. I decide not to add that.

“Where did you meet?”

“On Liberty Island. Where Hudson has his hotel. I run the bar there.”

“You’re a bar maid?” Daniel’s son suddenly comes to life. And I immediately wish he hadn’t.

“Iownthe bar,” I correct him.

“Where did you go to school?” he asks.

“High school?” I clarify. Why would he want to know that?

Everybody around us laughs at my response. “He means college,” the lawyer’s wife tells me.

“Oh. I um…I didn’t go.” I feel my face start to heat up. Hudson stands up and leaves the table and I’m wondering if he’s regretting bringing me. I’m such an idiot. “Well I kind of dropped out of community college after the first semester.”

“Dropped out?” the lawyer’s wife murmurs. “That’s novel.”

“Wish I could have dropped out,” the lawyer says, rolling his eyes. “I only just finished paying off my loans.” He shoots me a smile and I smile back. But I still feel like a stupid fish out of water.

“Okay?” Hudson murmurs, leaning down to kiss my cheek. Where’s he been?

“Of course,” I say too quickly. He strokes my shoulder.

“Where’s your bag?” he asks.

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