I take the remaining drinks and head back to the table, arriving to find everyone laughing. Yes, my situation is quite hilarious, I agree. “What’s so funny?” I ask, placing Ava’s small wine on the table and her large water next to it. She’s falling apart on her stool, laughing uncontrollably.

“We’ve just found Tom’s Achilles heel,” Kate says, and I frown.

“Sam,” Ava splutters.

“Sam?”

“Tom fancies Sam!” Ava’s blonde work friend—Victoria, I assume—sings, and it falls into place. I take Ava’s water and unscrew the cap, having a quick swig before thrusting it at her. “Here, have some.” She accepts without argument, lucky for her, but no sooner has she swallowed it down, she claims the wine and necks it. All of it. I should shove my fingers down her throat and make her throw it all back up. This is getting ridiculous, and it doesn’t bode well for our future together. If she thinks I’m going to let her out with friends after what I’ve seen tonight, she can think again. She’s plastered. It doesn’t suit her.

I lean on the table, watching her, while the rest all chat, Drew getting interestingly close to that Victoria woman. What’s his game? She’s so far away from his type, she may as well be a bloke. And Sam with Kate? I like her, and I can only imagine the headache I’ll get from Ava if my free-spirited mate messes her around. I shake my head to myself. Yes, because you haven’t got enough problems of your own to deal with, huh?

I return my attention to Ava. My Ava. My very drunk Ava. For the love of God, she’s going to fall off that stool soon. I round the table and place myself behind her, holding the base of her neck. “What’s your plan?” I ask Sam, my eyebrow arched.

His smirk is filthy. “I might take a leaf out of your book and woo her. Take her for dinner or something, since I can’t take her to The Manor.”

I give him wide eyes, looking down at Ava. I’ve nothing to worry about. She’s barely awake. Enough is enough—I’ve been more than reasonable. I claim her bag and crouch in front of her, waiting for her to open her eyes. It takes forever, and when she does, she’s forced to close one in order to focus on me. What a state. “Come on, lady. I’m taking you home.” I lift her off the stool and walk her to everyone in turn to say goodbye. “Can you get home okay?” I ask Kate, just as Sam swoops into her side and throws an arm around her shoulder.

“She can get home just fine.”

“Is that so?” Kate asks, turning her eyes onto my grinning mate.