It's cold. She enters the room, thinking of the awkward small talk, cringe worthy pauses, and self loathing at poor social skills that will come in the dark later at night. It's not very loud, thank the Lord, but at first scan she doesn't know a single person. Social anxiety hell.
Then. Bliss. A friend. A good one. She air kisses him, thrilled, grasping his arm like the life vest it is. She asks where his latest amour is, he rolls his eyes, they grin and grab some drinks from the bar and sit on a convenient sofa.
"I could see you start to panic" he laughed, knowing her well.
"You could have come up sooner" she punches his arm.
"Relax dude" he grins, brown friendly kind eyes. They clink glasses, take a sip and survey the room.
"Were we ever that young?" she thinks, watching what must surely be fifteen year olds writhing to the music on the dance floor.
"They're in their twenties. And yes we were" he answers her thoughts, to her startled laugh.
"I feel so old. And alone" She confesses.
"It's ok, at least you have a beautiful five year old waiting for you at home. I have a lonely empty house. And the ghosts of my dead parents". She snorts into her drink.
"And your millions". His turn to snort, but his expression becomes darker as it always does when he thinks about their loss.
Sarah joins them, his latest. She is wearing a red dress, slit up the side. Sexy clothes three months into the relationship means she's still trying, and he is not into her. A bad sign. They all air kiss, cosy on the sofa in an alien room. They occasionally jump up to mingle here and mingle there. After thirty minutes, she is done, and ducks out to call the valet without saying goodbye to anyone.
"Ghosting already? I thought you had another half an hour in you" She jumps guiltily as he catches her outside the main door, as the valet pulls her car up front.
"Break up with her already darling. If she's boring you so much you're looking for my company, you must be desperate to get away from her". He winces.
"God you are so direct it hurts sometimes"
The car pulls up. He shoos the valet aside and opens the door for her. Good boy. She gets in, but he hesitates before closing the door. She looks up questioningly. "Say hi to the little guy from me" he says, and shuts the door.
She drives home, wondering what he really wanted to say. Confusing man.
Then. Bliss. A friend. A good one. She air kisses him, thrilled, grasping his arm like the life vest it is. She asks where his latest amour is, he rolls his eyes, they grin and grab some drinks from the bar and sit on a convenient sofa.
"I could see you start to panic" he laughed, knowing her well.
"You could have come up sooner" she punches his arm.
"Relax dude" he grins, brown friendly kind eyes. They clink glasses, take a sip and survey the room.
"Were we ever that young?" she thinks, watching what must surely be fifteen year olds writhing to the music on the dance floor.
"They're in their twenties. And yes we were" he answers her thoughts, to her startled laugh.
"I feel so old. And alone" She confesses.
"It's ok, at least you have a beautiful five year old waiting for you at home. I have a lonely empty house. And the ghosts of my dead parents". She snorts into her drink.
"And your millions". His turn to snort, but his expression becomes darker as it always does when he thinks about their loss.
Sarah joins them, his latest. She is wearing a red dress, slit up the side. Sexy clothes three months into the relationship means she's still trying, and he is not into her. A bad sign. They all air kiss, cosy on the sofa in an alien room. They occasionally jump up to mingle here and mingle there. After thirty minutes, she is done, and ducks out to call the valet without saying goodbye to anyone.
"Ghosting already? I thought you had another half an hour in you" She jumps guiltily as he catches her outside the main door, as the valet pulls her car up front.
"Break up with her already darling. If she's boring you so much you're looking for my company, you must be desperate to get away from her". He winces.
"God you are so direct it hurts sometimes"
The car pulls up. He shoos the valet aside and opens the door for her. Good boy. She gets in, but he hesitates before closing the door. She looks up questioningly. "Say hi to the little guy from me" he says, and shuts the door.
She drives home, wondering what he really wanted to say. Confusing man.
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