17
It was strange seeing Leo so nervous. I mean, he’d been nervous nine months ago on the beach in the Maldives when he told me he was in love with me, but nerves go hand in hand with admissions of undying love and affection that may or may not be reciprocated. This was different. This time he was going out on a limb and doing something he’d never even come close to doing before. After years of making responsible decisions, he finally chose to listen to the small voice inside that was telling him what he truly wanted to do. Even if it was a little crazy. Tonight, the fruition of that dream had arrived.
Tessa, Mum, May and I had shared a cab into the city, leaving Jack with his new best friend, Uncle Billy, who had promised to teach him how to make sous-vide duck. Theirs was a friendship none of us had seen coming but that we all gladly welcomed. Jack spent most weekends at May and Billy’s house, happily taking over my old bedroom once I’d finally moved out (I bought a penthouse, but not in Bondi. Henry claimed that Bronte Beach was so close that it still counted—a fact I continue to dispute).
When we arrived, I looked around in awe. The long, blue, marble bar had gold edging and chandeliers hanging above it, reflecting specks of golden light on the bartenders below. Behind them, rows and rows of whisky and gin, too many to possibly count. A photographer approached us for a photo, Leo nervously placing his hand on the small of my back as I tucked myself in next to him, beaming proudly towards the camera. As it flashed, I spotted Malik, completely in his element, keeping a close eye on the bartenders and an even closer eye on the drinks they were sending out.
‘The place looks amazing, darling,’ I told Leo. ‘You’ve done it. You’ve actually gone and done it! And it’s bloody packed!’
‘Well, I’m pretty sure Finley’s attendance has something to do with that. I can’t believe he’s here.’
‘He loves you. And he also takes full responsibility for us getting together, so I think in a weird way he feels like he’s as much in this relationship as I am.’ I giggled, grabbing a martini off a tray as it went past and taking a sip. ‘My God, that’s good.’ I sighed happily. ‘So, no regrets?’
Leo looked at me, eyebrows raised. ‘What, do I regret punching a man who continually disrespected and undermined the woman I love? Do I regret resigning so she could shine in all her glory, continuing radio domination without having to explain to people that her boyfriend is technically her boss? No, my love. I regret nothing.’
I didn’t know it at the time, but Leo had had his resignation letter printed and ready to submit the day we both met with Mark. On a personal level, I knew it made sense. He did the job because he was good at it, not because he loved it. Not like I loved it. And Leo Billings was so smart that he could do anything he wanted.
And it turned out, what he really wanted was to open a martini bar.
As for Darren Chase, public sentiment about him had soured after his true colours had been exposed. He chose not to press charges against Leo, perhaps fearing more attention, perhaps satisfied that Leo’s resignation was revenge enough. His contract had been paid out, and he had disappeared soon after. Rumour was that he changed his name and went to attempt some sort of a career revival in regional Queensland.
‘Speak of the devil,’ Leo called out, his eyes darting over my shoulder to Tom and Finley who had just arrived and were walking towards us. I gasped when I saw them.
After a brief, speechless moment, the words finally came. ‘Are you … both … wearing … custom Gucci?’
‘Nothing but the best for the social event of my calendar year, my darlings!’ Finley yelled, exuberant. They looked like they’d both stepped off a 1970s yacht full of millionaires who’d spent twenty-four hours existing on nothing but magic mushrooms and/or French champagne. It was utter perfection. ‘Now, obviously, as the unofficial celebrity ambassador of the launch I’ve prepared a little ditty. You don’t mind if I steal the stage for a couple of minutes do you, Leo, my love?’
Leo shook his head, shocked and obviously delighted at the prospect. ‘Of course, Finley! Just say the word!’
Tom rolled his eyes at me. ‘And I thought I loved being the centre of attention,’ he whispered, obviously as delighted as Leo.
‘Right well, this is me saying the word,’ Finley said with a grin. ‘Let’s do it now so I can get pissed on martinis like everyone else, hey?’
Two minutes later, Finley grabbed the microphone without waiting for an introduction. The last time I saw him stand up on stage in front of a crowd like this was the night I discovered the truth about him and Tom. Leo and I were still the only ones who knew about them, apart from their parents who were all as delighted as we were that their boys had found love.
‘Hello, everybody!’ Finley announced as he walked onto the stage, the beading on his lapel shining under the glittery lights. ‘If I could get your attention, please, I’d love to welcome you tonight. I’m Finley Stark, but I suppose you all know that already, don’t you?’
The crowd cheered ferociously, a sea of iPhones appearing just above eye level.
‘I’m glad you’ve all got your phones out, because I’m gonna need someone to put this on the internet. In fact, I’m gonna need you all to put this on the internet. Because I’ve got a new song that I wanna play for you tonight. It’s a song that nobody on the planet has ever heard.’
The crowd cheered again. I looked at Tom, who looked back at me and shrugged. It seemed he was as surprised as everybody else.
‘I wrote this song about the first time I fell in love. And I mean, like, proper, deep in your bones love. Not the fake shit most of us pop stars sing about.’ He paused, finding Tom’s eyes in the crowd. ‘I want to dedicate it to the love of my life, who’s here tonight …’
I heard Tom gasp as he reached out his hand towards me to steady him.
‘We could have chosen fear, baby. But I’m so glad we chose love. I chose it then, and I choose it now. I choose it forever. Thomas Winter, this is for you, my darling.’ He strummed his guitar, cleared his throat and looked back to the crowd. ‘It’s called “Love or Fear”.’
The cheers were loud before, but now they were deafening. The crowd scrambled to catch a glimpse of Tom, who, with tears streaming down his cheeks, had a smile on his face big enough to light up the universe.
Finley’s tearful and joyful serenade began and, before long, half of the room was either searching through their handbag for a tissue or wiping their eyes with their sleeve. The song was raw, vulnerable and altogether stunning (it unsurprisingly went on to spend a month on top of the UK charts and become his most successful release).
Once he had sung the last line and strummed the last chord, an almost holy silence fell upon the room. Finley gently placed the microphone on the ground, hopped off stage and walked towards Tom, the crowd parting before him. I let Tom’s hand go and stood back, finding Leo’s arm. Slowly, carefully and lovingly, Finley took Tom’s face in his hands, leaned in and kissed him.
And then he pulled back, kissed him again quickly and looked to the crowd.
‘I suppose Goldie Lane is officially open. Now let’s all enjoy the best goddamn martinis on the planet!’
Cheers reverberated through every corner of the room as glasses were thrust into the air. Through a gap in the crowd I spotted Joanie, who beamed when she caught Leo’s eye, the two of them finding each other in the crowd and embracing. Above them hung a giant, ornate gold chandelier.
A couple of metres away, May and Tessa giggled like schoolgirls as Malik cleared their drinks and placed another two down in front of them. It was hard to believe they’d only known each other for a couple of months, but I suppose that’s what a chosen family is. The ones you meet along the way who very quickly feel like home. Henry and Georgia chatted away animatedly on a chaise lounge, and nearby Vanessa had her mobile phone out and was showing Mum pictures of her latest adventures on the Galápagos Islands.
I stood there alone, surrounded by more love than I ever thought possible, overcome by the life I had somehow found myself living and the people I was sharing it with.
I’m not sure what happens after we die, but I’d like to believe that the very best of us lives on in the people we love. And as I looked around that night, I couldn’t help but hope that in another universe somewhere Goldie and Laney had found each other. I imagined them, happy and free, sipping on cucumber martinis and toasting to the loves they left behind and the futures their love made possible.
‘Cheers, girls,’ I whispered as I subtly raised my glass to the ceiling, took a sip and walked towards Leo, whose hand was outstretched, ready to hold mine. Just like he promised it always would be.