Bound to You by Nichi Hodgson

what?’
    ‘Nichi
mou
, things are going to be a little trickier from now on. But come on, this is just one night.’
    If he didn’t understand why this night wasn’t just like every other night then I couldn’t explain it to him.
    ‘See you on Sunday, yes, little Egg? Golden Birthday Egg?’ He took my face in his hands and kissed me.
    I was beginning to lose patience with this.
    As the weeks passed it become apparent that my birthday blue-balling, for want of a better expression, was not an exception. I couldn’t remember exactly how many times Christos and I had seen each other since that night, but I could probably count them on two, maybe just one hand. Even at the weekends he was holed up studying. I, meanwhile, had started at the magazine, a happy and laid-back assignment, which left me restless for even more stimulation come the weekend.
    Late one Wednesday night, Gina texted me. We hadn’t been in touch since the night just before my birthday when her inquisition over Christos had cut just a little too close to the bone. ‘Lady, I am so sorry I missed your birthday, I’m a terrible, terrible friend. Why don’t we arrange a dance night one Saturday soon and I’ll make it up to you xxx’.
    A dance was just what I needed.
    I texted Gina back and asked whether her friends Clara and Jane, who I’d met at her last birthday party, were also free. I needed to get to know more people in London, didn’t I? And I needed some fun. ‘How about this Saturday?’ ‘The sooner the better!’ ‘What are the chances, my lovely! We are all free!’ came the reply.
    Saturday arrived. At about 6 p.m. I retrieved my outfit from my wardrobe. With Christos’s encouragement, I’d bought a black and turquoise body-con dress from a beachfront boutique back in Pefkos. It was far more figure-hugging than I would usually have opted for but it was cleverly moulded and clung in a flattering way. Tonight would be its first outing, and a long overdue one for me.
    The plan was to meet in Soho for drinks and then dancing. No fuss, just a bit of cocktail-lubricated fun. ‘And nowhere full of sleazy guys please!’ I had pre-warned Gina, who was organising our night out. ‘Er, Nichi, you’re talking to me!’ Gina had replied. ‘Queen of Anti-Sleaze!’
    We met at nine o’clock. Gina’s chosen venue was just as she had promised: buoyant with cocktails and the right kind of filthy house music, and free of irritating men. After two pretentious pomegranate martinis, I began to unwind. Clara and Jane, both law trainees, were making me laugh with tales of the unctuous solicitors they had to work for.
    ‘Nichi’s going to laugh herself out of the dress, Clara, if you carry on like this!’
    Gina tugged up the neckline of my dress playfully and as I turned to face her something skimmed into my peripheral vision. A man with dark, tousled hair, very pale skin and eyes like seascape marbles was staring at me. Those eyes. They were like lasers.
    I looked away.
    ‘Do we want more drinks?’ Clara asked. Jane and Gina both nodded vigorously.
    ‘Nichi?’
    ‘Yes, please. Although just a V&T this time.’
    ‘I’m helping,’ said Jane. ‘Double?’
    ‘Sure! I’m well on my way! Might as well carry on!’ I was already pretty tipsy but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d got so pleasantly drunk with friends.
    ‘I’m going for a fag,’ stated Gina. ‘Will you be OK with the bags, Nichi?’
    ‘Of course!’
    I waited for them to shuffle off then glanced around the room again. The man with the marble eyes was gone.
    I thought about texting Christos and then decided against it. I was still irritated with him over his decision to leave me to sleep alone on the night of my birthday. Plus, I didn’t text when I was drunk. For a start I made typos that irritated the hell out of me the next day when I read them back. And I really needed to let go of this. I needed to have some fun and forget about it.
    I looked over at the bar. Clara