He laughs shortly. ‘Yeah, I guess it is!’ He pauses, swallowing. ‘I mean, don’t get me wrong, I really love what I do. The acting is everything I ever wanted from my life, but the rest of it is… um, a lot.’ His eyes travel the high-ceilinged room bedecked with glittery lights and round to the crowds of people surrounding us in their finery, all clinking glasses and schmoozing. ‘All of this is nice occasionally, I guess, but a bit exhausting.’
A memory from my Milo-stalking days flashes: him storming out of an interview. ‘I can totally imagine,’ I say sympathetically. ‘You musthatehaving to do all that media stuff!’
He glances over his shoulder nervously. I’d hazard he’s checking where Katiezzz is. ‘Um, it can be quite rough,’ he says in a low voice. ‘And so much gets twisted and misquoted.’
I lean closer. ‘I understand, Milo. Personally, I’d upend a table and storm out with all that press intrusion.’
He laughs hard at this. ‘It’s funny you say that!’ he grins. ‘There was a story recently claiming I did that! The truth is, I’d had a call about a family emergency – my brother broke his leg! – and I had to go. I apologized profusely tothe journalist and offered to reschedule, but that got turned into me behaving like a diva who’d thrown a tantrum. My publicist Katies went ballistic over it but there’s no point trying to get a retraction. The internet seems to have enjoyed portraying me as a wild child ever since, sharing pictures of me constantly scowling. But that’s not who I am.’ He sighs as I reassess the bad boy image I’d painted of Milo. ‘To be honest, it’s a lot. I’m more comfortable at home, cooking dinner and watchingEscape to the Country.’
I nod like I agree, but I’ve literally never seen that show. It seems like loads of different presenters in quilted jackets talking about views. Who gives a shit about views? You know there’s such a thing as telly, right? Look at that instead! I pride myself on never having looked out of a window except to spy on people. And cooking? Ew. I’d ratherclean, and I’m definitely not doing that either.
I change the subject. ‘Right, it’s definitely my turn to get the drinks in now,’ I tell him. ‘Though I’m not getting Jemma another one.’ I make a face at Milo. ‘Sorry again about her. I’ve never really known her to get drunk, it clearly doesn’t suit her.’
He shakes his head, eyes wide. ‘Don’t apologize! I think your sister is really great. I love people who are passionate about things—’
He does? Fuck, what am I passionate about? Anything? Anything at all?
He continues with enthusiasm, ‘Especially books. I’m a big reader myself; my mum was a librarian.’
‘I went to the library!’ I tell him, thrilled to have foundsomething we have in common. I add importantly, ‘I was totally there, literally today.’ I don’t mention that I was only there for ten minutes and didn’t even glance over at the books. I add gravely, ‘I think it’s really important to use these resources, or we’ll lose them, right?’ I echo words I’ve heard Jemma say and it works, as Milo nods excitedly.
‘I really agree!’ he says, regarding me with new eyes.
It’s happening, he’s falling in love with me.
‘Yeah, I was giving the librarians some tips about revamping the place. Making it a bitcooler, y’know? They really listen to me about stuff like that. I’m a really trusted member there so they take me way seriously.’
He gives me a small smile. ‘That’s great.’ He pauses. ‘But don’t make ittoocool, will you? I think libraries are meant to be a little dorky and dated. Makes us nerdy types feel more at home!’ He laughs a little and I consider this.
Nerdy type? Milo Samuels thinks he’s anerdy type? What the fuck.
‘Sure, I promise not to make it too edgy!’ I say smoothly. ‘Jemma would never forgive me either actually. She loves the library.’
Milo glances over at Jemma, who is stealing half-finished drinks from a nearby table. ‘You guys are… close?’
‘Hmm,’ I sigh, ‘sort of! Jemma’s just quite no-nonsense, and – if I’m being honest – I am quite… enjoys-a-lot-of-nonsense. It’s hard to find common ground, y’know?’
‘I do know,’ he says nicely, and there is a beat of silence before we’re invaded by his publicist Katiezzz
‘Milo, darling!’ she squeals, looping her arm into the crook of his elbow. ‘I need you to come and meet this chap immediately – this second! He’s only here for a hot ten, so now now now!’
Milo frowns and I feel my heart leap. He doesn’t want to go! He’s having fun with us! Even with Jemma being an absolute knobber, he wants to stay. Helikesme.
‘What are you even doing here, Katies?’ he asks her in a low voice. ‘You were supposed to finish up on Friday.’
She waves her hand. ‘The temp can’t start for another week and you needed someone with you tonight.’
‘I’m not a child,’ he says gently, ‘and the baby could come any day now. You need to be at home, resting up.’
My eyes travel down her black dress, landing on the neat bump I’d completely missed.
‘You’re pregnant!’ I blurt out pointlessly. It’s such a minuscule bump. I have more of a bump even on days when Ihaven’teaten 500 grams of pasta. What’s the point of being pregnant if you can’t just really go for it and get gorgeously fat? I can’t wait to get up the duff so I can eat everything in sight.
Katiezzz turns to me with a blank expression. ‘Pregnant? I am?!’ she says sarcastically. ‘Someone better tell my husband.’
Milo gives me a small, apologetic smile. ‘She is, and she’s meant to be on maternity leave.’ He turns to her again, disapproval clear on his handsome face. ‘You’ve already put the start date off twice.’
She waves her hand. ‘I’ll be fine, it’s just a few more days.’
