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‘I cannot believe you’ve never tasted it’ Gregory shakes his head as he tips the glass to his lips ‘Heaven in a glass’

‘It is,’ I agree, swirling it in uest list, then?’

‘Of course’ He doesn’t bite tolike cattle’

‘You’re a snob’ I laugh ‘Can I eat this strawberry?’

‘Yes, but don’t be plunging your fingers into the glass Be a lady about it’

‘How do I get it out, then?’ I fron at the narrow glass, wondering ifto find out

‘Tip it in’ Gregory de the strawberry in his lass ‘Best to wait until you’ve finished the chah the fruit

‘You have a big h Not drinking for so long has undoubtedly ht

‘Oh, you have no idea, baby girl’

My nose wrinkles in distaste ‘And I don’t want to, Gregory,’ I retort, earning !’

‘Sassy lady!’ I buh with ued by the ory so fully

‘Ben is over there’ He points discreetly with his glass, and I follow, looking through the crowd and seeing too in to work it out ‘Which one?’

‘In the VIP area Black suit, fair hair’

I flickin the closed-off section near to the bar, laughing and regularly slapping each other’s backs City boys Then my eyes land on a well-built h his suit I’ain, it’s been a while since I’ve had the pleasure of ory’s partners

‘He’sI try to figure out the right words to describe hie,’ I finally settle on

‘He’s a fitness freak’

I look up and see Gregory with a sazes over to Ben ‘So are you,’ I point out Gregory’s physique isn’t anything to be ashamed of, not in the least, but Ben’swell, he’s aunattractive I can see the appeal

‘I’ every day, sassy lady’

‘Are you going to go over?’ I ask

‘No’ He al, Livy’

‘But you’ve been on dates He invited you and put you on the guest list’

‘Yes, he’s chasing’

‘Playing hard to get?’

‘Treat theertip on the base of et that strawberry now’

I look down and find I’ve sipped et to the strawberry I tilt and sigh as I sink my teeth into the sweet fruit ‘Delicious’ Just like the ones

‘Another?’ He doesn’t wait for my answer He takes iant plank of clear glass, displaying bottles of chanals to the waiter, iftly presents Gregory with two full glasses, before our e led away

‘Don’t you have to pay?’

‘Launch night It’s all free, but don’t get too carried away’

‘I won’t’

‘Oh, he’s spotted us’ Gregory starts toBen on his way over, s’

‘Yes, yes,’ I say, keeping ,’ Ben says formally when he arrives ‘Glad you couldfirmly

‘Good to see you,’his in his pocket ‘This is Livy’

I can’t helpin confusion ‘Hi’

‘The famous Livy’ He leans in and kisses et my first proper look at him as I focus on his face and not his fored kind of way

‘Thank you for inviting ory on the shoulder ‘I wish I could talk a bit more, mate, but there are a million people here to speak to Maybe later?’