I’d gone silent when she nudged me with her elbow. “So, the renovations?”
I shook myself. “Sorry. I wandered off there for a second.” Thinking about what a great person you are and how I might be a bit of a dick. Definitely don’t say that out loud. “The renovations haven’t been great. It’s a bit of a shitshow, actually. I feel like one of those people who go on Grand Designs with all these lofty ideas, and then three years later, they’re still living in a mobile home in a muddy field beside a construction site.”
Her eyes took on a sympathetic look. “Is it really that bad?”
I nodded. “I’ve been having some trouble with one of my contractors. Bit of a nightmare. I’m in the middle of trying to find someone more reliable to replace him, but it’s tough. There are so many cowboys out there.”
She frowned empathetically. “I’m sorry. That sounds horrible. I’m happy to help coordinate things if you’d like. I am your PA, after all.”
I shook my head. “That’s kind of you to offer, but I think you have enough on your plate.” I didn’t need to be taking any more help from her. Michaela already did so much for me, and dealing with my home renovations definitely wasn’t part of her job.
“Well, let me know if you change your mind,” she said as the doors to the lift opened and I gestured for her to step off first.
Michaela knocked on Callum and Leanne’s door since I was still holding the cake. Paul let us in, his tall frame and bright red hair filling the doorway.
“Hey, you two!” he greeted with a wide smile. Paul was rarely found without a grin on his face. He took the cake from me while I went to give Leanne a hug and wish her a happy birthday.
“Didn’t Diana come with you?” she asked, glancing over my shoulder.
“She’s feeling under the weather, but she sends her best.”
Leanne gave a wry snort. “I’m sure she does.”
I shook my head at her, mildly amused. “I’ll never understand why you two rub each other up the wrong way so much.” My mum had a similar attitude towards Diana, but I’d always put it down to her not thinking any woman was good enough for her special boy. Most mothers had a hint of that in them, I was sure.
“Maybe it’s because I’m jealous she snagged one of the last truly good men in this city,” Leanne teased, flicking me on the shoulder.
“Hey!” Callum exclaimed. “What does that make me?”
She turned to him, reaching up to tug on his shirt collar. “You, my dear, are a dirty rotten scoundrel, but I love you anyway.”
“Yeah, ya do,” he grinned before dipping his mouth to hers for a kiss.
Leanne and Callum were a fiery, passionate couple, and they weren’t shy in showing public affection. I glanced at Michaela and she gave me a small smile and shrugged. I found myself holding her gaze for a moment longer than usual before I dropped it.
What was going on with me tonight?
I definitely wasn’t getting enough sleep.
“Can you two please give it a rest?” Paul complained. “I know it’s your birthday and all, but some of us singletons could do without the up-close PDA.”
“Technically,” Callum replied as he came up for air, “it’s not public since we’re in our own flat.”
“Yes, well, there are young, impressionable minds present,” Paul answered back before shooting Michaela a wink.
She rolled her eyes.
I’d never seen her as particularly young or impressionable, but then again, she was only twenty-two. She was also a vicar’s daughter, which made me imagine her upbringing was probably quite strict and sheltered.
“Happy birthday, Leanne,” Michaela said, handing her a small gift-wrapped box.
“You shouldn’t have!” Leanne exclaimed. She opened the box to reveal a small gold necklace with a sparrow pendant. “Oh my goodness, I love it,” she went on.
“It reminded me of you,” Michaela said shyly.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you so much.” Leanne came forward to give her a hug just as Isaac entered with a tray of drinks.
“Okay, I hope everyone likes rum because I’ve whipped up a batch of my signature punch.”
“I’ll pass,” I said. “The last time I drank one of your cocktails, I blacked out for half the night.”
“Isaac does favour a heavy pour,” Paul grinned.
“Lightweight,” Isaac teased when he offered me a glass and I shook my head.
“Diana doesn’t like it when I come home drunk,” I responded.
“Speaking of Lady Di,” Callum said. “Will she be gracing us with her presence tonight?”
“She’s sick,” Leanne told him, and I nodded, adding, “She’s sorry she couldn’t make it.”
“Which reminds me,” Paul said. “Trev and Reya can’t make it either. I believe their official reason was ‘Reya’s too pregnant to go anywhere.’”
“A viable excuse,” Leanne accepted.
“I hope there’s one for the cap and the hoodie,” I told Callum. He was dressed like he was about to head to the gym, not host his girlfriend’s birthday party.
He shot me a conspiratorial wink. “All will be revealed in due course.”
I frowned, no clue what he was talking about until an hour later, when he announced he had a very special surprise for Leanne. He pulled a chair into the middle of the room and gestured for her to sit.
“I’ve been working on this for the last few weeks,” he said, “so you better be impressed.”
“Oh my God, do I even want to know?” Leanne said while Callum disappeared inside the bedroom. I glanced at Michaela questioningly, but it seemed she was just as lost as I was when she shrugged her shoulders. Then Paul hit play on the music and “Pony” by Ginuwine came on.
I had an unfortunate feeling I knew where this was going.
Five
Michaela
The bedroom door flung open and Callum stepped out, a sultry look on his face as he started to dance.
“Oh no, I can never unsee this,” Isaac said dramatically.
“Perhaps we should leave, give them some privacy,” Neil suggested. My very professional co-assistant looked far from comfortable in what he was witnessing.
I put my hand to my mouth, unable to hold back my nervous giggle. What on earth was Callum doing?
“I think I’m going to faint,” Leanne said, jokingly fanning herself as Callum did a backflip right there in the middle of their living room. He pulled off the white vest he’d been wearing under his hoodie, then dropped to the floor, thrusting and gyrating his hips before popping back up. He took his discarded vest, briefly shoved it inside the crotch of his sweatpants, then pulled it back out and threw it at Leanne. She caught it, giggling away, while Paul shouted, “Eww, unhygienic!”
I felt my cheeks heating despite myself. I’d never witnessed an actual striptease in real life.
“This better end before he reveals a thong under those sweatpants,” James muttered quietly, and I suppressed a chuckle.
“It’s a very impressive routine,” I replied. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say Callum once did a stint as an exotic dancer.”