Chapter Twenty-One
Unfortunately, though I’m not working the following Friday, I do have a prior engagement, so my quest to find Kit will have to be put on ice.
Rollerz has been transformed from a regular bar to a spectacular celebration space for Thea’s thirtieth birthday bash.
There are black and gold balloons everywhere, with matching bunting draped along the walls and above the bar, and there’s a neon sign that says Talk Thirty to Me on the wall next to the photo booth.
There’s a DJ set up on the small stage in the corner, with a playlist of songs from Thea’s birth year, and the best bit of all is the pick ‘n’ mix bowl centrepieces on all the tables.
The kitchen has prepared a tapas buffet and Rhys and I have created The Thea, a sweet and fruity cocktail that Thea commissioned for her bash, complete with sparkly curly straws.
I’m surprised either of us remembered what the cocktail contained as we got quite pissed while experimenting and Sally had to push us into a taxi to get us home afterwards.
She hadn’t been impressed with the ridiculous amount of alcohol we’d put away in the name of research either and had threatened to take it out of our wages until I pointed out that I’d secured Thea’s booking in the first place and she should see it as an investment.
This was while I was absolutely hammered but my bolshy words must have hit home because Sally let it go after that.
The bar is closed for the private party, but Thea’s friends and family have filled up the space and everyone seems to be having a good time. Thea hasn’t arrived yet, but she’s due at any moment.
‘Mum thinks I should have made more of an effort.’ Jonah holds his arms out to showcase his outfit. He’s wearing indigo jeans with his blazer over a white shirt. He’s hit the smart/casual vibe perfectly. Farrah Jackson may actually be nuts.
‘What was she expecting? Top hat and tails?’
‘I have no idea.’ He snatches up one of the cocktails from the bar.
‘But I do know the only way I’m going to get through tonight is to get very, very drunk.
’ He strides away, sipping from the curly straw as he makes his way into the throng.
I head behind the bar, where Rhys and the other bar staff are all busy serving partygoers.
‘How’s everything going?’
‘Everything’s going fine.’ Rhys places his hands on my shoulders and twists my body round, giving me a gentle nudge so I take a couple of steps away from him.
‘But you’re not working tonight. You’re a guest. So go, have fun.
Rescue Jonah from that mad-looking old woman.
’ He points across the room, where Jonah has been cornered by a grey-haired woman in a fuchsia beret and a yellow crocheted dress with an orange cat on its front.
She has her hands on either side of his face, clutching his cheeks so hard his mouth is all smooshed up.
I head over, my air of determination seeming to part the crowds to make my advance easier.
The old woman is still clasping Jonah’s cheeks as I approach, her hands pulling his face down towards her own so she can interrogate him up close.
‘You’re a good-looking boy. I don’t understand why you’re single. What happened to Jude?’
‘We broke up.’ Jonah’s words are muffled as he attempts to speak through smooshed-up fish-like lips. ‘Two years ago.’
‘Jonah! There you are.’ I grab him by the arm and start to tug him away. ‘I need your help. There’s a problem with the cake.’ I tow him away, flashing an apologetic look at the woman over my shoulder.
‘What’s up with the cake?’ Jonah looks panicked, but I pat him on the arm and shake my head.
‘Nothing. It was just an excuse. You looked like you needed help.’ I glance over my shoulder but the old lady has disappeared into the crowd. ‘Who was that?’
Jonah rubs at his cheeks. ‘That’s Mum’s oldest sister, Aunty Cassidy. Or Aunty Cat-Pissy as we used to call her because of the smell.’
I wrinkle my nose. ‘I noticed that.’
‘She used to have twelve cats. Probably got even more now. She just lets them piss and shit and breed wherever they want, and yet Mum still thinks I’m the black sheep of the family.’ Jonah cranes his neck to look towards the door. ‘I wonder where Thea and Daniel are.’
‘They’ll be on their way or waiting for an Uber or something.
’ I check the time – they’re only a couple of minutes late.
I take Jonah’s glass from his hand and sip the cocktail through the straw, closing my eyes to savour it.
I’d forgotten how delicious it was. Man, Rhys and I are good.
We should upgrade from bar staff to mixologists, except I don’t have the hand-eye coordination to do all that jazzy tossing and twirling with the bottles and cocktail shakers.
Sally would not be happy with all the wasted bottles of booze smashed on the floor.
The door to the bar opens and everyone turns to see Thea’s entrance. She looks stunning in a black sequined long-sleeved dress with a cut-out waist and side split. Her glossy hair has been gathered up in a high, sleek ponytail and she’s wearing dramatic, sparkly drop earrings.
‘Wow.’ I take a sip of my cocktail. ‘I think I fancy your sister a little bit.’
‘A little bit?’ Rhys has appeared at my side, and he puffs out a breath. ‘I think I’m in love.’
‘As if.’ I nudge Rhys playfully with my elbow. ‘Have you ever been in love with anything other than your own reflection?’
Rhys shrugs. ‘Probably not, but I’m young and handsome and there’s plenty of time for all that gooey shit when my good looks start to fade.’ He winks at me. ‘If that ever happens. Can’t imagine it myself.’
‘Whatever.’ I thread my arm through Rhys’s and start to tow him through the crowds, following in Jonah’s footsteps as he heads towards Thea. ‘Let’s go and say hello to the birthday girl.’
I do a quick mental check to make sure – for the millionth time – that everything is in place as we make our way over to Thea.
During my scan of the room, I discover a droopy bit of bunting over by the buffet table.
I want this party to be perfect for Thea – you only turn thirty once – and droopy bunting simply won’t do.
Telling Jonah and Rhys I’ll meet up with them in a sec, I hurry over, grabbing a chair on the way.
It’s a quick fix but when I hop down from the chair, I land funny, stumble and almost go over on my ankle.
‘Whoops.’ A pair of hands catch me, helping to set me back on stable footing. ‘Are you okay? Had too many cocktails already?’ My rescuer shakes his head, a grin on his face. ‘And the birthday girl’s only just arrived.’
I know what this is. I know why his fingers are still lingering on my arm even though I feel perfectly steady again.
I know why his eyes are sparkling as he looks right into mine, as though I’m the only other person in this jam-packed bar.
I am the damsel in distress, and he is my knight in shining armour (or a black velvet shirt with shiny silver pinstripes).
It has happened again.
This is another meet-cute.
‘I’m not even close to drunk yet but thank you for your help.’ I move my arm away and turn, heading for Jonah and Rhys, because I’m not in the mood for a meet-cute. Not tonight. Tonight is about making sure Thea has a wonderful birthday.
‘Happy birthday!’ I envelop Thea in a tight hug. ‘You look fabulous!’ I release her from the hug, looking around for her husband. ‘Where’s Daniel?’
Thea scrunches up her nose. ‘Frankie-Rose is coming down with a cold and is so clingy, so we thought it best for him to stay behind rather than leave her playing up for a babysitter. And this way…’ Thea takes a cocktail proffered by one of the guests around us.
‘I get to enjoy my party without worrying about how she’s getting on. ’
‘Poor Daniel.’ Farrah tsks at the news. ‘Stuck at home with the children.’
‘I was stuck at home with the children for three months while he was away. I think he’ll manage for one night.
’ Thea takes a sip of her cocktail, murmuring in appreciation.
‘And it is my birthday and I want to get leathered and dance. Jo-Jo.’ She hooks her arm through her brother’s.
‘You’ll dance with me, won’t you?’ She takes a huge slurp of her cocktail before handing the glass to her mum and leading Jonah towards the empty space in front of the DJ.
Gina G’s ‘Ooh Aah… Just A Little Bit’ is playing and they throw themselves into it, laughing as they throw their arms around and shimmy and sing along.
It doesn’t take long for other people to join in the fun and soon the dance floor is packed.
‘Come on.’ Rhys grabs my hand and tows me towards the throng.
‘You’re supposed to be working.’ My words are protesting but my feet are not as I scuttle along with him, and I have no qualms as Rhys pulls us into the middle of the dance floor and showcases his moves.
Rhys is a good dancer in a goofy, I-don’t-care-if-I-look-like-a-knob kind of way.
There’s no skill or technique and he would look like a knob if he didn’t ooze confidence, and you can’t help but want to join in as he struts about.
I sometimes think he puts on the bad-dad-dancing to lure women in, but I’m still bopping away with him like all the others inevitably do, and I even allow him to place his hands on my hips as the tempo drops for The Fugees’ ‘Killing Me Softly’ and I loop my arms around the back of his neck as we sway to the music.
‘I had another meet-cute. Over there.’ I point towards the buffet table. ‘Stumbled getting down off a chair.’
‘So when’s the date?’
I shake my head. ‘There isn’t going to be one. I’m having a night off from all that. Tonight is all about Thea. Besides, I haven’t found Kit yet.’
‘You’ve only looked once.’
I poke him in the side with my finger. ‘I can’t rock up to the piano bar every night, especially when I’m working. And speaking of working, you’re supposed to be behind the bar.’