Some You Win ..

'Would you like a beer', asks the host.  I think he's called Mark.  I open my mouth but before I can speak, James says 'She doesn't drink'.  He tries to make eye contact with the host, as if apologising for me.

'We've got zero alcohol ones', says Mark, looking at me, not James.  'Would you like one of those ?'  'Oh yes please !' I realize I have shrieked, like a child who has discovered there's ice cream at the party after all.  James looks embarrassed (he spends quite a bit of his life being embarrassed by me) and mutters, 'Obviously more weirdos here then', as  Mark smiles and walks away.

A few minutes later he returns with two Peroni Zeros and hands me one.  We clink bottles and he starts to drink the other.  James rolls his eyes with a 'not another one' expression.

Later on, while James is busy networking (he doesn't go to parties to enjoy himself, god forbid), Mark comes up and asks me to dance.  James is a clinically excellent dancer.  With a bored sneer he perfectly executes complicated moves which have other couples stopping to watch us.  I hate it.  Mark, on the other hand, is rubbish, but you can see he knows that and doesn't care.  He bops about enthusiastically in front of me, with a big lopsided grin.  It's Love Shack, my favourite all time dance track.  Mark leans over and shouts in my ear 'I love this !'  I think I could love you crosses my mind.

Its 1am and we're leaving. James is putting a handful of business cards into his wallet. Mark holds up my coat for me.  I shrug into it, taking more time than I really need. 

Another man, tall, good looking, impeccably groomed, comes up and puts his arm around Mark's shoulder. Mark leans back  into him.  'Thank you for coming to our party' he says, smiling at me. 

Damn.