Three's a Crowd (7 page)

The table fell silent. I sat there awkwardly as the first couple of people got up on stage and squawked their way through some ancient songs I didn’t know.

Why was everyone so upset that I wasn’t excited about Mum having a baby? I mean, the baby wasn’t even a real person yet. I just didn’t get it.

And why did I keep getting it wrong with Eve? I looked across to the side of the stage, where Jonno and Lola were now standing, side by side. It was their fault, I decided. Lola had somehow upset Eve, and Jonno was determined to spoil everything for both of us.

I was just about to whisper to Eve that maybe we could slip away later – no, that we
had
to slip away later – when there was a small commotion at the table and I looked round to discover Chloe making her way onto the stage.

Avoiding the grey-haired pianist who appeared to be coordinating what people were singing, Chloe marched over to the drummer and began talking to him. He smiled, then started laughing. I looked at Ryan. He was gazing tenderly at Chloe.

Then he turned and caught me watching him. “What?”

I shrugged.

“Luke’s wondering why you’re not jealous of Chloe talking to that guy,” Eve said icily.

I looked away. That was, in fact, exactly what I’d been thinking. Ryan stared at me. “Chloe’s just having fun,” he said.

The noise level in the room rose as people started chatting impatiently. The pianist strode over to Chloe and extricated her from the drummer. A minute later Chloe was singing. Some old ballad I vaguely recognised. She had an okay voice. Nothing special, but she was clearly enjoying herself so much that the audience burst into the biggest round of applause so far when she finished.

She bounded back to our table, flushed with excitement.

“That was so cool,” she said. “You have to try it. Go on Ry.”

She hauled a protesting Ryan to his feet. I watched him. Even as he was saying “No”, he was edging closer to the band.

Give it up, Ry
, I thought.
You’re just as much of a show off as she is.

“You were great, Chloe,” Eve said, as Chloe took a sip from her drink.

Chloe beamed. Ryan was on stage now, chatting with the pianist. He, too, wandered over to the drummer. I watched them talking. Ryan was pointing back at Chloe, presumably explaining she was his girlfriend. I smiled. Maybe Ryan wasn’t quite so immune from jealousy as he made out. Then the music struck up. It was another old swing tune. God knows how Ryan knew the words. He sang terribly. Barely in tune and rasping out most of the lyrics. But the funny thing was, it didn’t matter. Ryan had this way of flirting with the audience when he sang that made you forget his voice. He sauntered around the stage, pointing at people and smiling, like he was singling them out.

Chloe leaned across to me. “Isn’t he fantastic?”

As the song came to an end, Ryan received a big round of applause. He flumped back down in his seat looking extremely pleased with himself. Chloe flung her arms round him and kissed him.

Jonno marched over with Lola. I kicked Chloe under the table, worried Jonno was about to tell her and Ryan off for embarrassing the guests by snogging in public. Chloe looked up as Jonno loomed over the table, beaming at us.

“Great show,” he said. “Guys, this is Lola.”

I felt Eve hold my hand under the table. Lola gave a bored look round. Her lips curved into a smile as her heavily made-up eyes met mine. “Hey, there,” she drawled.

“Hey,” I squeaked. Lola was, frankly, terrifying. Like a great big sexy snake – the sort that swallow their victims whole.

I felt Eve draw her hand away from mine. I looked at her, my face reddening.

“Thanks,” she whispered, her voice low and bitter.

“What?”

“Your turn, Babycakes.” Jonno grinned at Eve. “The open mike awaits you.”

The table fell silent. I could feel Eve freeze beside me.

“No, Daddy,” she croaked.

“Yes, Daddy.” Jonno chewed on his cigar. “Come on. I want to see what I’ve been paying for. You’ve had eight months to practise.”

I frowned. What was he talking about?

Eve was shrinking back in her chair. “Please don’t make me,” she said, in this tiny, little-girly voice. “I’m too shy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” Jonno stood over Eve, a smile fixed to his lips. His presence so close was overpowering just like when he’d told me not to go anywhere near Eve.

No wonder Eve’s mum was scared of him.

“You’re singing, Eve. Now.”

Eve stood up slowly. I could do nothing except watch as she followed Jonno onto the stage. I glanced at Chloe and Ryan. They were kissing again, oblivious to Eve’s misery.

Lola slid into Eve’s empty seat.

“Having fun?” She ran a long, pink nail across the tablecloth in front of me.

I nodded vaguely, all my attention on Eve.

She was standing in front of the microphone now, looking absolutely petrified. Jonno and the pianist were standing beside her, deep in discussion. Part of me fantasised about going up there, grabbing her hand and pulling her away. But, of course, I didn’t.

The music started up – a soft tune on the piano, a delicate hiss on the drums. Eve was staring down at the floor. My heart was in my mouth. Suppose she was too scared to make any sound at all?

Then she looked up, her eyes glistening, and opened her mouth. This pure, perfect sound soared round the room. Every note, every word was rich and whole, like gold melting. Or maybe it was just me? I looked round the room. No. The entire audience was on the edge of their seats, silent, eager to catch the next note. Ryan and Chloe had stopped kissing and were staring at Eve, open-mouthed. I could feel Lola beside me, also transfixed.

I looked back at Eve. She hadn’t moved from the microphone and I was pretty sure she hadn’t looked directly at anyone in the audience, but somehow her presence was filling the nightclub through the sad, deep, heartbreak of her song.

She finished and looked back down at the floor. There was a pause. Then the room burst into tumultuous applause. Jonno strode over to Eve and pulled her into an enormous hug. Lola got up and wandered over to them both.

The three of them talked for a minute. Then Eve was back, flushed and happy, at the table.

Chloe hugged her. “You were brilliant.”

“Where did you learn to sing like that?” Ryan asked.

Eve’s blush deepened. “I’ve been having singing lessons since February,” she said. “Dad pays for them. He thinks I’ve got talent, but . . . it’s just . . . I like singing, but not in public like this. . .” she tailed off.

I stared at her. She’d been having singing lessons since before we’d started going out? Why hadn’t she ever mentioned it?

“Is the teacher a man?” I said, suspiciously.

Everyone stared at me.

“For God’s sake, Luke,” Chloe said in a disgusted voice. “Is that all you ever think about?”

“She’s a woman.” Eve looked down at the tablecloth.

Awkward pause. Then Ryan squeezed Eve’s arm. “She’s obviously brilliant, whoever she is.” He stared at me. “Don’t you think, Luke? Didn’t Eve sound fantastic?”

Eve looked up at me, her eyes all innocent and hopeful. In the heartbeat that followed, I opened my mouth. A little voice in my head was telling me just to tell her that she was great, that she’d sounded amazing, that I was so proud of her.

I ignored it.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were having singing lessons?” I snapped.

Eve’s mouth trembled. Then she turned and rushed out of the room.

“You are such an idiot,” Ryan said for the tenth time. “What were you thinking?”

I sat, my eyes shut, my head resting in my hands, wishing he would stop.

The evening lay in ruins.

After Eve had rushed out, Chloe had followed her. That was over half an hour ago. Now the open mike sessions were reaching their climax, and the nightclub was buzzing with excitement.

Except at our table.

Jonno and Lola were nowhere to be seen. I almost wished they would come back. Maybe it would shut Ryan up.

“Well?” he said. “What’s the matter with you?”

I shook my head. I didn’t know what the matter was. All I knew was that I couldn’t bear the idea of Eve doing anything with anyone I didn’t know about.

“You have to stop it, man.” Ryan’s voice was suddenly serious. “You’re going to drive her away.”

I looked up at him, shocked. “D’you really think so?”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Frankly, I’m surprised she hasn’t already dumped you. You’re worse than her dad.”

I stared at him, stung. “I’m not anything like him. He’s . . . he’s—”

“Possessive and overbearing,” Ryan snapped. “Just like you.”

“I’m not,” I protested. “I just don’t like it when other guys make it obvious . . . you know. . .”

Ryan shook his head contemptuously at me.

“You don’t either,” I said, feeling irritated. “I saw you telling that drummer Chloe fancied that she was your girlfriend.”

Ryan’s face creased with exasperation. “I was telling him how we hang out at the Garito, you idiot,” he said. “I was asking if he ever went there.”

I stared at him. “Why? Why would you do that when you can see Chloe liked him?”

Ryan stared back at me. “Why get so heavy about it? Why’s it such a big deal?”

A hand clipped the top of my head. “Ow.” I spun round. Chloe was standing behind my chair, glaring down at me.

“You are such an idiot.”

I grabbed her arm. “Where’s Eve?”

“She’s been crying in the loo for the past thirty minutes.”

I sank back in my seat.

Chloe slid into the one next to me and folded her arms. “I told her she could do miles better than you.”

“Thanks, Chlo,” I said bitterly. “I really app—”

“Anyway, she’s gone out to the beach now, says she needs—”

But I didn’t wait to hear what Eve had said she needed. I was already halfway across the nightclub floor, pushing past tables, rushing for the door. I ran across the main lobby and out past the pool, down to the beach.

My heart thudded against my chest. I had to find Eve. Apologise. Make her see how much I cared about her. Wanted her. Needed her.

I looked up and down the beach. It was another beautiful evening, a warm breeze rolling in off the sea, distant waves lapping at the sand.

There. I saw Eve about a hundred yards ahead of me, her shoes dangling from her hand.

I raced after her. I didn’t call out. I was scared if I did she would run away, into the trees at the side. The beach was almost empty. Most people were still at the Open Mike Night, though a few couples were strolling along, hand in hand.

I ran up beside her. “Eve?” I said. “Eve?”

She didn’t look at me, just kept walking.

I fell into step beside her. My heart was pumping so fast now I thought it might burst. “Please, Eve.” My voice cracked. “I’m sorry I upset you. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I just hate being here and not being able to be with you. It’s . . . it’s driving me crazy.”

She looked up at me at last. Her face was pale in the moonlight. I could make out the tracks of her tears down her cheeks.

“You’re so beautiful,” I said. “And you sang so beautifully too. And I’m such an idiot.”

I stopped, not knowing what else to say.

We walked along silently for a few minutes. What should I do now? I wanted just to grab her and hug her and make everything all right. But I didn’t know if that’s what she wanted. I reached out and felt for her hand.

I curled my fingers round hers, half expecting her to pull her hand away. She didn’t. She stopped walking and looked up at me.

“Luke.” Her eyes filled with tears.

Jesus. She’s going to dump me.

My stomach twisted into a huge, agonising knot. I pulled her towards me and kissed her. At first I just wanted to stop her saying anything else. But then I felt her respond, her tongue soft in my mouth. And all I could think about was wanting her.

I kissed her as slowly and gently as I could, trying to do it exactly how she’d taught me, all those months ago.

She drew back and smiled up at me.

“I love the way we do that,” she whispered.

I nestled my forehead down against hers and ran my fingertips down her back. She shivered and closed her eyes. I kissed her again, my hands moving lower and lower. . .

Then suddenly Eve was twisting away. I stumbled slightly on the sand.

“Luke,” she said softly. “It’s too easy to just . . . I mean . . . we ought to talk. Don’t you think?”

“Okay.” To be honest, I didn’t really see what there was to talk about. Whatever had gone wrong between us was all right now, wasn’t it? Still. If Eve had something on her mind I knew she wouldn’t be happy until she’d talked it through.

I took her hand and we walked further up the beach.

Eve explained how she’d been too embarrassed to tell anyone about her singing lessons.

“I thought it would sound all stupid and pretentious,” she said, putting her arm round my waist. “I didn’t even want to do it that much, but my dad
made
me. You know what he’s like.” She rested her head on my shoulder. “I don’t know why I didn’t say anything. It just felt like this really private thing. And I didn’t want Chloe and Ryan to laugh at me or expect me to
perform
or something. And now I’m going to have to put up with Lola going on about it – she’ll probably suggest we sing a duet or something. Honestly, she is
such
a bitch, she. . .”

As Eve segued into another rant about Lola, my mind drifted off, mainlining on the feel of her body next to mine.

A minute later Eve sighed. “Are you even listening to me?”

I jumped guiltily. “Of course.” I looked round. We had wandered way past the staff cabins and the Garito. The beach was completely deserted up here. “Why don’t we sit down for a bit?” I said.

I pulled Eve over to the trees at the top of the beach and smoothed out a patch of sand for her. “Sorry I haven’t got anything for you to sit on,” I mumbled.

She smiled at me. “’S okay.” She sat down beside me and looked out at the sea, her arms wrapped round her knees.