Page 86 of Choose Us
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“Did Beth just slut drop in front of your dad?” Brooke burst out laughing.
“Yes, yes she did.” I pointed towards my best friend and mouthed the words, “I’m watching you.” Beth was in her element. Her sparkly gold floor-length dress was pulled up slightly at her knees, as she made the necessary room to shake her backside. Ren leant against the wall in the corner entertaining my mum in conversation and shaking his head occasionally at Beth’s extravagantdance moves.
She stuck her tongue out in response. It was a rare baby-free night, and she was taking full advantage. My dad was a good sport. It wasn’t the first time Beth had coerced him onto the dancefloor over the years.
“It’s like watching Margot Robbie twerk on Mr. Bean.” Brooke laughed. She passed me another glass of champagne. I wasn’t keeping track, and I couldn’t work out if the room turning slightly was to do with the disco ball orthe alcohol.
“Are you saying my dad looks like Mr Bean?” I reached my arm around her back and pulled her in at the waist.
“I’m saying he’s as stiff as Mr. Bean.” She had a point. His signature dance move was a combination of the two-step and a weird arm movement I liked to call thespin cycle.
“It’s true.” I laughed.
Tom had been surprisingly pleasant all evening. He clearly had a crush on Beth, which I found hilarious. He tried to steal a glance her way whenever Ren wasn’t around, and he went out of his way to provide her with another drink.
“Beth told me your brother hit on her at the buffet station.”
“Why am I not shocked? Whatdid he say?”
I could barely repeat the cheesy chat up line.
“Oh god, tell me,” Brooke insisted.
“He said, and I quote ‘My favourite dish at this buffet is you’.”
“No, he didn’t?” Brooke’smouth gaped.
“Yep.” I smirked.
“I’m going to kill him.” She scowled in his direction.
“It’s all fun and games.” I chuckled. Beth could handle just about anything. Tom flirting wouldn’t even phase her.
Robert was talking to my aunt over by theHooraysign. The fluorescent pink caused his white shirt to look a baby pink colour. He’d been working the room all night and introducing himself to everyone; he was even cooperative when we spent ten minutes posing for group photos. I liked to be as optimistic as the next person, but I’d been taught quite stringently in my line of work to air on the side of caution, and Robert’s personality transplant didconcern me.
“Your dad seems in good spirits.” I smiled.
“This is the side of him I hoped you’d see one day. He’s not all bad; he just made some bad choices.” Brooke leant her head against my shoulder. Maybe she was right; maybe this was the fresh start we needed.
“Do you think he likes me?” I asked. My insides curled as I said the words. The sad thing was, I desperately wanted his approval.
“I think he does, and I think he will grow to love you because it’s near impossible not to.” Brooke looked up, pursing her mouth for me to plant a quick peck on her freshly glossed lips.
“You love me, don’t you?” I teased.
“More than you willever know.”
The wind slashed spots of rain across the window, but nobody was talking about the weather. The topics of conversation flowed freely. The music set the tone. The volume reverted from high to low every time the randomised New Year’s Eve playlist threw out a banger that nobody was fond of. They often came at the appropriate time when everyone was due a refill and a bite of buffet food for dancing energy.
The dark green chair in the corner was being used as Paula’s prop, as she started what looked like some sort ofMoulin Rougeroutine. A lawyer from work named Steve started to play the air guitar even though it was musically inappropriate for the song. My mum tried but failed to get Ren to dance whilst my friend Jake was getting—Robert to do a shot?
I blinked twice. The odour of champagne made my nose tingle. If the countdown wasn’t a mere ten minutes away, I would have stood outside in the pouring rain just to check I wasn’t hallucinating. The scenes unfolding warmed my heart. The room was filled with all our favourite people, and they were getting along, despite contrasting personalities, age gaps, and political differences. Every person in the room was making the effort to be in the moment, to be present, andto behappy.
“Do you remember the first time you ever said you loved me?” I asked.
“Like I could forget.”
