if i had all the money in the world

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"Everyone thinks you're pretty." she shrugged, relinquishing her hold on him. It was no secret the McGrath boys had incredibly pretty genes, dark hair, strong features... pretty. She wasn't giving anything away by admitting that.

She rolled her eyes as she watched him, putting her hand over her mouth as she delicately swallowed another grape, but mostly to conceal the fact he'd succeeded in making her laugh. She couldn't keep it going for long though, a cheerful giggle spilling from her as he tugged her in. Her hand flapped awkwardly for a moment before she settled for wrapping an arm around his middle, awkwardly returning the embrace. She wondered if the people at the party were sending them funny looks, hearing laughter and seeing their feet poking out from behind the table. People probably thought they were kissing.

"Hm, I think so too." she said, hoping her uncertainty didn't come out in her tone. She wasn't entirely sure if this was her year to get kissed, but you had to manifest these things. You had to try to be positive to feel positive, otherwise nothing would ever happen to her. And Cora was a girl who wanted lots of exciting things to happen to her. One day.

"I'll let you know when they do." she chirped, resting her head against his shoulder.

“Not everyone,” Davey noted, his mind wandering for a moment. Maybe that wasn’t fair. Eva probably did think he was pretty, in an almost objective manner, but not in the way he hoped. Not in the way he’d always dreamed of. 

They fell into a comfortable silence as Cora’s head dropped against his shoulder, and Davey smiled fondly as he looked down into his lap. With no ulterior motives, he curved an arm around her waist, pulling her in and resting his hand on her hip. As crass as Davey could be, he’d meant what he said. Cora was a sweet girl, and she deserved to find somebody who enjoyed her softer side. Not to mention, she was utterly gorgeous. He doubted it would take long for some other, preppy little geek to snatch her up.  

Around them, music started to dim and voices started to rise. Davey spotted the scuffle of shoes as people moved away from the buffet table, presumably towards the television or the balcony as partygoers started to count down from 60 seconds. He glanced quickly at his watch and huffed out a laugh. Midnight was closer, and he’d be spending the first New Year’s Eve in years away from all the action. Straightening himself up as best he could in their current position, Davey’s hand slipped away from Cora’s hip, instead resting on her waist as he maneuvered himself to face her instead. 

“How about we ring in the New Year together, love?” he whispered, voice low as though the two of them were in on a secret together. 

The countdown grew ever closer as he stared at Cora, her pretty freckles mingling with the blush that was dusting her cheeks. 

Ten. 

Nine. 

Eight. 

Seven. 

Six... 

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"You're being annoying." she huffed, no malice in her tone as she let herself lean into him, leeching his warmth through his suit jacket. Suddenly, it seemed like the most brilliant idea in the world to stay curled up under Davey's dining room table until all the fuss died down - with Davey in tow. He was fun to talk to, and besides, she wasn't expecting the grape's magic to work that fast. They hadn't enforced some kind of curfew. Better get up and out from that table, Cora - your chances to be kissed are slipping away by the minute!

"Stop eating my - your - grapes!" she chastised him, batting at his hand so he let go, the grape rolling away and out from under the safe haven of the table. She scoffed, one eyebrow cocked as she watched him manoeuvre in the tiny space, the weight of his arm still around her shoulders. Up close, Cora could practically count every single long, delicate eyelash. She felt bright and warm all over.

"Thank you." she breathed, returning his smile. See? He could be nice when he wanted to, a downright gentlema-

Or not.

"Davey!" she whined, planting a hand on his chest and giving him a firm, if noncommittal, shove. Her other hand tangled in the lapel of his jacket, keeping him upright as she gave him a firm stare.

"You are very... very smug and far too aware of your own prettiness." she scolded him, her eyebrows knitted together as she scowled. "You should be the one asking me nicely."

Letting him go, she busied herself with popping another grape between her lips, hearing her presumptuous little words back.

"You have to give the grapes time to work."

“Cora Bailey!” Davey gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as she batted his hand away. “If you’d wanted to hold my hand, love, you could have just said so. I would be more than happy to oblige.” 

There was something very fun about teasing a girl like Cora. She was absolutely nothing like the girls he usually flirted with, who had no reservations about flirting right back – and when they did, they had no qualms about shutting him down. Cora seemed to genuinely fluster under his words, blushing a rather gorgeous shade of pink as she averted her gaze from his, or scolded him in a manner that wasn’t quite convincing. He wondered if boys flirted with her often, or if she was a novice to such things? Luca was too much of a gentleman, he was sure.  

He pondered over what he might say to her next and how he could shock her when he felt her hand settle against his chest, the feeble shove giving way to nothing but her palm flat against the lapel of his jacket, holding steady as she rested it there. His eyes flashed with a hint of... something. Surprise? Adrenaline? Arousal? He wouldn’t lie and say there wasn’t something extraordinarily sexy about being teased and taunted by a girl like Cora. It was quite exhilarating, to think of her gaining the upper hand and putting him in his place. Maybe that was where she excelled in the bedroom, and Christ wouldn’t he love to know? 

“You think I’m pretty, do you?” Davey laughed, though the sound came out a little dazed, breathless even as he lost himself in his daydream momentarily. 

He cleared his throat, suddenly remembering himself. With a swift shake of his head, he cleared his thoughts and gave her a very stern nod, as though he was taking her grape theory very seriously. 

“You’re absolutely right, of course,” he said, shaking his head as if to say silly me! He decided to drag the action out a little, playfully allowing his hair to flop around, strands spilling free from whatever hairspray Eva had coated it in, framing his face. It was altogether too scruffy for Davey, but he quietly hoped it might make Cora laugh. 

As she busied herself with another grape, he peered curiously at her, mildly amused at the way her lips puckered so prettily around the fruit. He wondered just what else she’d like to wrap those luscious little lips around? Of course, Cora wasn’t that sort of girl. She was delicate and sweet, somebody who should be treated with great care. He bumped her shoulder gently before wrapping his arm around it, tugging her in with no ulterior motives. 

“I quite agree with you, though. A girl as lovely as you should be asked nicely, love. And someday soon, you’ll certainly find the right person to turn your world upside down.” 

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