"Something you said" Kevin teased, using her exact phrase from earlier that evening. She was just returning to the table after talking to a couple of the senior staff and donors on the other side of the room.
"Yeah, yeah" she said, brushing the comment aside. "I'm just about ready to get out of here. I've been social enough for one night" she smiled, draining her glass.
"Any sign of the others?" Kevin asked looking around.
"Jo is hanging out with Dr James, introducing him to some people. And Neil is dancing with every lady in the room again" she smiled.
"Every lady except you" Kevin said, nudging her side. She gave a little laugh. "What's so funny?"
"I was actually going to ask him earlier if he wanted to dance but I missed the boat. Mrs Gunther was right off the bat today!" Audrey said with a half smile.
"How is the friends thing going for you two?" Kevin asked, the free bar fuelling his courage.
"It's great, i think" she replied. "I freaked out a little the other night when we saw one of the scrub nurses while we were at the movies. I think he was disappointed. I was going to ask him to dance for a chance, as sort of an apology."
"Without actually having to apologise?"
"Pretty much" she smiled. "Seems you know me quite well."
"When it comes to you and Neil, there is no doubt" Kevin smiled. "Stay for one more drink" he pushed. "He hasn't let you down yet."
"Sure, why not" she smiled.
X
A half hour later, four people were back around the table they'd claimed at the start of the evening.
"Ready to head out" Matt asked Jo who had barely left each others side all night.
"You do realise that this was your first date" Kevin teased them, causing Matt to blush furiously. Starting up a debate in an effort to prolong the evening. Neil had not come back to the table for more than a minute or two and had spent most of the evening with donors and senior staff. That was no different to usual, but to Audrey it seemed more noticeable tonight.
Was he avoiding her in an effort to prevent the rumours she disliked so much? As they discussed the previous night, it was something that only she was bothered about but she didn't know if it was all in her head.
Just as they were draining their glasses ready to head out, he arrived. He didn't say a single word but just held out his hand to Audrey and smiled. They arrived in the middle of the dance floor just as the last notes of the previous song were fading out and the new one began.
"Sorry" he whispered in her ear. "I didn't think this through" he said as the notes of Norah Jones 'Come Away With Me' sounded across the lobby.
"It's okay" she smiled.
"You sure? We can go back if you want?"
"That'll look even worse" she laughed. "And don't tell a soul, but I actually like this song" she smiled.
"Really?" he said sounding surprised. "I would never have put money on that. Definitely not your usual style!"
"Anyone finds out, I'll be coming for you Melendez" she said raising her eyebrows.
"Sure thing" he replied. "I can take it."
Back at the table, the two friends stood watching them working their way around the dancefloor. Both of them startled slightly at the sound of Matts voice.
"What exactly is going on with those two?" he asked. "They seem... close."
"Just friends" Kevin replied using dramatic air quotes to express his disdain for the phrase.
"Really?" Matt replied, sounding shocked.
"Yeah, they reckon" Jo chimed in. "Can't see what's right under their noses and have spent the last two years driving us both crazy" she said gesturing between Kevin and herself.
"Well they look happy enough" Matt said innocently, causing Kevin to snort.
"But imagine how much happier they could be if they would just..." he said a little too loudly causing a few heads to turn and getting a glare from Jo.
"We've tried a few times to point out the obvious" Jo said more softly. "They don't want to hear it."
The song came to an end and the couple returned to the table oblivious to the chatter that had gone on.
"Ready to head out?" Neil asked which was met with a chorus of 'yes' in various forms.
Getting jackets together and heading to the door, Matt continued to watch the pair trying not to be too obvious.
"Penny for them" Jo said coming up beside him and linking her arm with his.
"Not worth that much" he smiled down at her. "I have been thinking about something Dr Miller said."
"Kevin" Jo corrected.
"Right, Kevin" he repeated. "Well, this is a crappy first date in my book. Would you like to go to dinner next week? Just us?" he asked after a few seconds pause.
"I would" she smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I really would."
X
"I'm glad you waited" Neil said, opening the door to Audreys cab as he always did. "I would have hated to miss that tradition" he smiled resting his hand in the usual place waiting for her to get in.
"Me too" she replied, resting her hand just next to his as usual with just a hairs breadth between them. "Goodnight Neil" she smiled.
"Goodnight Audrey" he replied, closing the door as he got inside.
Watching her cab pull away, he caught himself smiling ruefully in the reflection of the bus stop opposite and Jo walking up behind him.
His smile grew wild.
"How was your first date?" he teased earning himself a thump in the arm.
"Our first date is next week actually" she said with confidence. "We're going to dinner."
"That's great" Neil smiled. "I'm happy for you."
"It's just a date" Jo countered.
"Sure" he replied knowingly. "Just enjoy, be yourself and he'll love you in no time" he smiled.
"Are you marrying us off already?" she teased back. "If you're right, you can be my Man of Honor" she laughed.
"I'll take that bet" he laughed holding it his hand for her to shake on it.
He smiled watching her head back to Matt and noticed the way he looked at her. He was smitten already and she deserved to be happy. He wanted that, he wanted to feel those feelings but he and Audrey were at a stalemate again. The usual spark was coming back though, after months of them both suppressing it and he had mixed feelings about it.
Did he want to go through this again? Or would this time around be the one?
He took a deep breath and sighed heavily. He would just have to wait and see.