The dinner ended up with me sipping wine and checking my phone as everyone at my table knew each other and didn’t really include me. I couldn’t think of anything to say either so the meal dragged by painfully.

When it was finally over, I wandered into the next room where the dance was being held. I found the drinks table and grabbed another sparkling wine; I had had a couple already at dinner but I decided I deserved it. After all, tonight was turning out to be less fun than I’d imagined.

I tried to find Liv or Tessa again but ended up circling the room by myself at a loss as to what to do. I saw Jake and Hayley surrounded by people. It looked like they were the favourites of the party. I was glad that things had gone so well but I did feel a bit annoyed that they seemed to have forgotten about me.

I hovered by the dance floor before walking to the side near to a door that led into the bar. I leaned against the wall to sip my wine, wondering how early I could escape to my room. I wondered if Jake would have any time to talk to me tonight or if he might try to come to my room once the party was over. Everyone seemed desperate for his attention, and I wished I wasn’t feeling the same way.

‘All alone?’

I jumped as a voice spoke in my ear, close enough to be heard over the music. Turning around, my heart sunk in dismay to see Davis Mulberry beside me, drink in hand, with a slimy grin on his face.

‘As you can see,’ I replied, waving my glass. ‘Just having some quiet time.’

‘Hmm.’ Davis scanned the room. He was wearing a bow tie and it made him look older than Jake even though they were the same age. ‘I can’t see your client anywhere; aren’t you two usually joined at the hip?’ he asked, raising an eyebrow.

‘He’s in demand tonight; Hayley is with him.’

‘Hayley is here? How come?’

‘Well, she thought she should come as things weren’t going great but then Jake told everyone why he said those things about romance books to you,’ I said, giving him a glare. ‘And everyone now understands.’

Davis rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, I heard his dad ran off and chose another family over Jake and his mum. Looks like the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.’

‘What do you mean?’ I asked him.

‘I can’t hear you. Come on.’ Davis nodded his head and stepped into the bar room behind us. ‘Freya,’ he called, beckoning me over his shoulder.

I sighed but pulled myself off the wall and ducked into the room, which was far quieter and empty of people, the bar unused as drinks were being served by wait staff.