London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 37. Daniel

The thought of Alex meeting my mother at my friends' wedding gives me no peace. And worst of all, I probably won't be around to break them up in their corners. Of course I love my mum, she's an amazing woman. But she's a woman of character. In fact, so does Alex. And I'm not so sure they're gonna get along right away. It's easier to lock two angry panthers in one cage than to push two stubborn women with their foreheads. I hope everything goes well and they won't ruin Tyler and Janine's wedding.

Alex is nervous, though she tries not to show it. But every time Janine calls her to her parents' house, Alex clarifies the names of everyone who will be in the house. And Mum's probably there a lot now.

My parents have been friends with Tyler's parents for years, as have Liam's parents, so we're kind of no strangers to each other. And since Tyler is the first of the three of us to decide to ring himself, our moms got down to business together.

- Can you hear me, Daniel? - Soph is clearly getting angry.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. We leave Monday morning, I remember. You'll send the tickets in the post. Will I have a day between cities to get back to London for the wedding? - I make an attempt.

- It's easier to stop the Earth, to be honest. Sorry, but I don't think so. The downside of being popular, what did you want? It's not going to be like before, girls all over the world want you now. If you were thrown into a crowd, they'd take you for trophies. I'd stand there with a stopwatch and set records,- she grins.

- You're so bloodthirsty tonight,- I notice.

- And you're like a seal with your head in the clouds. Get it together. Don't make me angry.

- Again quarre...- I'm starting to say. Soph's mood often depends on her relationship with her husband. She isn't let me finish.

- Don't even keep thinking about it! I don't want to talk about him. One more question about my mood and you'll be advertising family pants all over Europe,- she barks.

- Calm down, - I raise my hands in a conciliatory manner, - I get it. You're not in the mood. Everybody gets it.

- Okay, I'm sorry, I'm a little out of control. Nervous about the tour, so many things to deal with before we start. Julie's still late.

The sound of heels is heard in the corridor, Julie is always heard from afar. The door swings open and my partner walks into the office.

- Sorry I'm late. I couldn't get parked. - Julie sits back in her chair, looking intently at me and Soph. - What did I miss?

- We were discussing your tour. Remember that you have to maintain intrigue around you. Even though, as we recall, Daniel managed to light up with some girl. Your fans need to think there's something between you two. Play it like you always do,- she instructs.

Julie rolls her eyes defiantly. We didn't really like each other at first. Julie was acting weird until one day I saw her sneaking around with a make-up artist girl. Then everything fell into place. I knew her little secret that she kept so carefully, and she was grateful that I'm not particularly talkative. We got to know each other better and even became friends. But things were changing in the frame. We were playing a couple in love, the heat of passion with lots of explicit scenes. Apparently, we played very well because the fans practically married us. They were looking for confirmation of their assumptions in every look, in every movement. Though everything was far from the truth.

Maintaining the half hint of an affair is a bit stressful, but it does the films good, so it was decided to maintain the intrigue. I should warn Alex, I guess. Though she's unlikely to fall for it. What's the point, then?