AN AFFAIR TO DIE FOR

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IF THERE WAS one damn thing Audriana despised, it was the notion of birthday parties and in particular, the surprise kind; partly because all the secrecy and hassle wasn't really worth a completely feigned look of surprise from the celebrant, partly because the concept of celebrating an occasion that marked you a year closer to death didn't really resonate with her.

Mostly though, it was because she was far from a celebratory mood, the baby inside of her a constant reminder of the fact she hadn't been good enough for her husband. That he'd seeked physical pleasure from another woman and despite it all, she missed him. Because you're weak, her conscience snarled unforgivingly.

But Alice was her cousin and Italian culture emphasised heavily the idea of family and so Audriana found herself standing next to a pungent smelling middle aged woman, in a setting pretty clearly meant for drunk teenagers.

Perhaps it was the grimy music or the young couples peppered across the dancefloor, salivating tongues inches down each others throats. Audriana was no conservatist, but that didn't mean she approved of the ridiculous amount of grinding that was occurring around her, the stench of alcohol curling up her nose.

Regardless, she silently vowed to enjoy herself tonight, after all, she'd earned a good time. So she shrugged off her pessimism and with a very questionable facade of a smile cried "happy birthday!" in mock delight to Alice. Predictably, the look of surprise was a complete act.

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Alice drank a lot and so barely an hour in, Audriana found herself (and not for the first time) reduced to nothing more than the friend who kept an eye on Alice's rapidly decreasing sobriety.

"You don't need Jae!" She slurred loudly, much to the agreement of her group of friends who all nodded enthusiastically. Though instead of providing Audriana with the moral support they believed they gave, they only succeed in pissing her thoroughly off. They didn't understand, her situation was complicated.

She nodded with what she hoped was conviction, concerned at how everybody in town was suddenly aware that her supposed perfect husband had cheated on her. There was a shame in the whole affair that enraged Audriana because it very definitely demeaned her as a woman, but a part of her acknowledged that she couldn't possibly have expected Alice to keep a secret this scandalous to herself.

"You don't need a man, Audrey," Alice declared, hungrily eyeing the redhead girl that was considerably too young for her, throwing her a wink and sweeping her thick locks away from her eyes. "And if you do, it doesn't need to be some damn Korean prick."

That Korean prick is the father of my child. But Audriana pursed her mouth, raising her glass in unison with the other girls and trying wholeheartedly to refrain from gagging when they smashed their glasses together in a cheers, vodka and saliva streaming down the rim of their glasses.

It didn't take long for the pounding music and the alcohol to have an adverse effect on an already wary Audriana. Her head was reeling and she felt incredibly nauseous. She'd never been much of a drinker, and as the liquid seared against her throat, she remembered why. But she was allowed to pity herself tonight.

"I have a surprise for you, cugina." Alice said grinning, before declaring loudly, "who wants some fucking entertainment?" She was met with raucous applause and from somewhere in the crowd, a shrill but out of tune wolf whistle. A group of heavily made up teenagers who'd been eyeing them with disgust rolled their eyes, making a very obvious effort to leave, eyes wide in revulsion when Alice visually flipped them off.

Her entertainment, obviously, was in the form of erotic dancers. Ridiculously tall females with endless legs, perfect skin and undoubtedly exotic names took centre stage. Audriana couldn't help but see them through Jae's eyes, lustfully approving. What Alice had meant as a surprise for her came in the form of glistening abs and a costume fireman's outfit, sporting a classically handsome smile.

Riccardo offered her a cheeky wink before displaying some of his most erotic hip thrusts on one of Alice's red faced friends. She drunkenly pulled Riccardo towards her. He concealed his horror well, but Audrey saw him swallow his nerves, wrapping an arm around her neck as she squealed in delight. His eyes however, were locked on hers: his tongue flicking out of his plump lips, as if teasing her with thoughts of what he could to her.

Alice snuck a glance at her cousin, playing the smug matchmaker and mistaking Audrey's innocent intrigue for something more, pushing her towards an exhilarated Riccardo. He caught her as she stumbled clumsily, his reflexes heroically swift.

His breath was hitched when her cold hands came into contact against his burning skin; he realised it was only to steady himself but he interlocked his fingers with hers, leaning down for a kiss, encouraged by the emphatic crowd and an overly enthusiastic Alice.

It was with great difficulty that he managed to conceal the humiliation and hurt when she shook her head in a gentle no. She looked sorry though, he managed to convince himself as she excused herself, thanking Alice graciously, though not without sarcasm.