This turned out to be such a fun one! I might also have invited a party theme idea 😂 There is a sneaky little Hangster moment in the blurb too, just because. Thank you for requesting Star!
🎈 Congratulations! You’ve scored yourself a spot on the guest list for Bradley's Birthday Bash Bonanza.
It was that time of year again. You’d received the invite for the party to end all parties. Ever since you became friends with him in high school, Bradley had been known to throw the most raucous, extravagant parties to celebrate his birthday, and you'd been invited to every single one, despite the two of you living in different states for most of your adult lives. You always did your best to make it, but inevitably spent the week before the big day psyching yourself up for an introvert’s nightmare, dreading the overwhelming crowds, ear-splitting music and being socially pressured to dance.
This year's theme is Perfect Pairs! Every attendee will be given the name of one-half of a famous duo to dress up as. Think Mickey and Minnie, Posh and Becks, Homer and Marge. The twist? You won't know who you're paired with until you arrive.
There was always a ridiculous theme. Bradley was too extra to do something normal.
Once you’ve found your match, you’ll become a team for the rest of the night's games, challenges, and contests. The victorious pair will win a prize!
You groaned, desperately hoping Bradley hadn't paired you up with some weirdo or lumbered you with a horrendous costume, like being the Mike Wazowski to someone’s Sully.
You opened the small envelope containing your fate with trepidation.
Bob read the card and breathed a sigh of relief. James Bond. He could work with that. He could just slick his back his hair, put on a tux and carry a martini around all night.
The couple part wasn't obvious to him though. Q? M? Moneypenny possibly? But those weren't iconic enough. Goldfinger? Or maybe the person paired with him would have to dress up like a Martini or an Aston Martin DB-something. That seemed like the sort of shit Bradley would pull.
Bob was mostly nervous about having to spend the evening in a team with someone he’d never met. He didn’t possess James Bond’s suaveness or confidence or wield a licence to thrill. As for succeeding at party games – he’d be hopeless. Unless sudoku and crosswords were involved, his poor partner would be doing most of the heavy lifting.
Worse still, what if his partner got wind that they were paired up with him and didn’t show up at all?
You can't not go, you told yourself. You'll be fine once you get there.
Looking at yourself in the mirror, though, you weren't entirely sure.
This wasn't you. You weren’t sexy enough to pull off being a Bond Girl. The dress you wore was too tight and left nothing to the imagination. The fake pistol you’d strapped your leg just looked silly. The costume jewellery you’d chosen felt too garish. And why on earth had you convinced yourself to buy a fake fur shawl?
James Bond was going to be so disappointed when he looked down the barrel of his gun and realised, he was stuck with you.
Bob gulped. It turned out it was possible to be both shaken and stirred. He almost dropped his martini when he saw you step into the room.
The Honey Ryder to his Sean Connery.
The Anya Amasova to his Roger Moore.
The Vesper Lynd to his Daniel Craig.
Except he thought you were even more beautiful than every Bond Girl to ever have graced the silver screen. But you were clearly in distress. As a fellow introvert, he recognised your familiar expression of uncertainty in an instant. So, without allowing himself to give the matter a second thought, he made a beeline for you. He ducked and dived between all the other partygoers trying to find their pairs as if he was dodging bullets or navigating a maze of lasers (or was that Mission Impossible?)
Nevertheless, he made it across the room and came to a halt in front of you. He adjusted his cuffs and shot you a smile. It took you a moment to register what he was wearing, and then your eyes went wide. It was time for Bob to channel the smooth-talking Casanova he was dressed up as.
“The name’s Bob. James, Bob.”
“007 has zeroed in on target,” Jake said, whispering in Bradley’s ear. The two of them were watching you and Bob, knowing smirks plastered across their faces.
“Am I an evil genius or am I evil genius?” Bradley asked, draping in arm around his boyfriend. Jake leant into his hold.
“Glad to see I’m finally rubbing off on you,” he drawled.
“No way. This was my master plan. I've known her for years. Bob is the one, I’m sure.”
“I'll take your word for it.”
“There's a first time for everything,” Bradley retorted.
Jake nudged him. “007 has made contact.”
Bradley was so pleased with himself he could almost burst. In about 5 seconds flat, you and Bob had gone from making awkward introductions to holding hands and giggling. Flirting.
“What did I tell you?” he gloated. “That man has a licence to kill.”