‘Oh. That was handy.’
‘It was,’ he agreed, leaning forward to swipe the folder from the table. As he did so, his shirt rode up, exposing a glimpse of tanned lower back and the silvery traces of an old scar.
‘So, what happened, then?’ I said, distracting myself from the view.
‘To what?’
‘To you, and Carly, was it?’
He shook his head.
‘What?’
‘You just make me laugh. There’s no preamble with you, is there?’
I pulled my mouth to the side. ‘Would you prefer preamble?’
‘No. Not really. And definitely not from you. It wouldn’t suit. You are who you are.’
‘Now you know why my ex didn’t want me to go with him to his swanky new position in America.’
‘No, I still think he missed a trick there. But his loss is our gain, so I can’t be too hard on the bloke.’
I laid my head on his shoulder in an exaggerated gesture. ‘You say the nicest things.’
‘That’s because I’m a pushover,’ he said, without turning to look at me, but I knew he was smiling.
‘But you’re a lovely pushover.’
‘And you’re going to hurt your neck if you don’t stop arsing about.’
I pulled my head upright and grinned.
‘You didn’t answer the question.’
‘What question?’
‘Stop stalling.’
He pulled my laptop off the coffee table where I’d laid it when I came in and rested the computer onto his knees.
‘I’m not stalling. She got a job in London. Is this thing password protected?’
‘No.’
‘It should be.’
‘Oh. Well, set one up for me if you like, but don’t forget to tell me what it is.’ I veered the conversation back to the original topic. ‘London’s not that far, and you work up there every day. There must have been something else.’
Charlie was tapping away at the keys. ‘No, not really. It just wasn’t working. It wasn’t anything particular. There just weren’t any… sparks, I guess. What’s that look for?’
I hadn’t realised that the surprise I’d felt inside at Charlie and his ex not having sparks had transferred onto my face.
‘What look?’
‘Stop stalling.’ He threw my earlier accusation back at me, his eyes showing that he wasn’t as serious as his tone made him sound.
‘OK. It’s just that I’ve been around you when women are sparking left, right and centre. I was at risk of flash burn that day in London what with Miss Cleavage on the train and the Any Time Receptionist.’
Charlie was shaking his head.
‘I just find it a bit hard to believe, that’s all.’
‘Sometimes it’s just not right, Libby. We’re still friends. She actually rents an apartment I own in London.’
‘Oh. Well, that’s good. I mean, about you still being friends. Not about it being not right.’
He smiled. ‘Yeah, I know. And yes, it is.’
‘OK, password is set up. It’s “champagne” at the moment but you can just change it to whatever you want.’
‘Ooh no, that’s good! I’m keeping that!’
‘OK. Is the finances file on here?’
‘Should be. Tilly said she’d labelled a folder “Charlie” within the main finances folder so it was easier for you to find. Although, bless her, with the wedding coming up, her mind has been a bit all over the place at the moment, so let me know if you can’t find it.’
I got up and wandered over to the window, looking out onto the garden below.
‘Can I ask something else?’
‘I have a feeling you’re going to anyway,’ Charlie said, without looking up, his concentration on the screen as he tapped keys and drew his finger across the trackpad.
‘Is it difficult being here? I mean, bearing in mind your ex had so much input into this place and now you’re not… together any more.’
‘Nope. It was always my house, Libby. Like you said, I had the final say on things. We weren’t especially serious. It’s not like we went and picked stuff out together. She didn’t break my heart and I didn’t break hers. It was fun while it lasted, but that’s all.’
‘OK.’
‘She needed someone a bit more…’
‘A bit more what?’
He lifted his head and looked at me. ‘I remember a time when my Saturday afternoons were peaceful and not competing to be part of the Spanish Inquisition.’
‘I’m just making conversation.’
‘As is your wont.’
‘Fine. We can sit here in silence, then, if you prefer.’
He laughed. ‘Yes, right. Like that’s going to happen.’
I narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled and looked back down at the laptop.
‘She needed someone more like you.’
‘Female?’
‘No. Chatty. She’s pretty quiet. I’m not exactly known for my extrovert personality. She needed someone to bring her out of herself more. Whom she’s now found, I’m pleased to add.’
‘You’re not a total introvert. You just take a little longer to get to know people.’
‘No, I know. But sometimes people need a bit of… va-va-voom to help them along, you know?’
‘Va-va-voom?’ I said, unable to stop the smile breaking on my face.
Charlie’s fingers had stopped moving on the keyboard and his eyes were now focused intently on the screen.
‘Va-va-voom!’ he repeated, so quiet this time I could barely hear him.
‘Charlie?’
‘I… err… nothing. What?’
I frowned.
‘Charlie?’ I said again, moving towards him.
He snapped the lid of the laptop shut.
‘Charlie?’ I repeated, more serious now. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘It was you.’
‘What? What was me? What’s going on?’ I sat on the sofa and reached for the laptop. He moved it away momentarily before releasing it.
His gaze settled on me. ‘It was you on the beach that day.’
I opened the laptop and frowned at him. ‘Has that apple juice you bought been fermenting or something because you’re making no sense whatso— Oh, my God!’
‘It was in the folder with my name on it. I… I just opened the file.’
The computer was snapped shut for a second time.
‘What the hell was she thinking? I’m so sorry, Charlie. I told her to delete that the moment I saw it!’
I dropped my head into my heads and felt my face burning.
‘I can’t believe this.’
‘Really no need to apologise, Libs,’ Charlie said, his hand gently rubbing my back. ‘I’m sure it was just a mistake.’
‘Of course it was a mistake!’ I said, jumping up and pacing to the window. ‘I’d hardly have let you at the computer knowing… that… was in there, would I?’
He didn’t answer, so I turned. ‘Wait, what did you mean when you said it was me on the beach that day?’
Charlie took a deep breath.
‘Are you going to come and sit down?’
‘No, I’m not done pacing yet.’
‘OK. But that rug is silk and was shipped over from India. It cost me a bloody fortune so do try not to wear it out.’
I glared at him, but I couldn’t make it stick. Those striking blue eyes were focused on me, and filled with amusement.
‘Come and sit down.’
‘Not until you tell me what you meant.’
He let out a sigh. ‘Are you going to go all redhead and erupt again?’
‘I don’t know yet. It depends on what you’re going to say.’
‘OK. I saw you on the beach the day that this was taken. I was windsurfing with my mate, Alex, and the wind had taken me a bit closer to shore. I glanced over and saw this girl in a really pretty yellow dress…’
My hands went to my face again. ‘Oh, God, you were the w
indsurfer,’ I mumbled through my hands.
‘And then you were under the water. I never really saw your face. The brief glance I got, it was sort of covered with your hair. Hence, I’ve never put two and two together before. As I turned, you jumped up out of those waves like a shark was after you.’
‘It was cold!’
‘I could tell.’ He chuckled.
I glared at him again, this time meaning it. ‘So not helping.’
‘I guess that’s when Tilly took this shot.’
‘Not intentionally. The camera was in burst mode.’
‘And then you seemed to lose your balance and went down again.’
‘Bloody pebbles. Besides, I wasn’t the only one who lost my balance, I seem to recall.’
‘No, you’re absolutely right. I was just recovering when I looked over again and there you were… on your hands and knees, looking like that!’ He pointed to the now-closed laptop. ‘Jesus, woman, I nearly bloody drowned because of you!’
‘I was trying to get up!’ I said, my pitch rising as I flapped my hands and colour flushed my chest and face.
‘I know you were.’ He looked over at me. ‘Come on, Libs. You have to laugh about it. It’s only me that saw this. And you can delete it now, if you like.’
‘I’ll be having some serious words with Tilly.’
‘I’m sure it was an accident. Normally she’s great at what she does, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, she is. But this? This is mortifying! I can’t even look at you.’
From behind me, I heard Charlie move. He came over to the window, and began bending further and further down until I was forced to meet his eyes.
‘You’re going to put your back out.’
‘It’s worth it if it means we get past this.’
I turned away from him. ‘I’m all right. Just mortally embarrassed.’
‘Don’t be. It put a smile on my face for the whole day.’
‘You’re really not helping, you know. At all.’
‘Come on. It’s done. And like I said, it’s only me. There are worse people to have seen it, let’s be honest.’
‘When you were windsurfing, you were with someone else.’
‘Yes.’ Charlie saw my eyes widen. ‘But he didn’t see anything,’ he added quickly.
‘How do you know?’
‘Because when I came up coughing and spluttering, having swallowed half the English Channel, I blurted out, “Did you see that?”’
‘Oh, thanks.’
‘Sorry. It was just rather unexpected early on a Friday morning. I wasn’t quite prepared.’
‘But he didn’t?’
‘No. Not a thing. Much to his disgust, I might add.’
‘And to my relief.’
‘And I only saw you from the back really, anyway. Mostly.’ Charlie bent and pulled me towards him in a hug. ‘Are we good?’
‘Yes. I suppose so.’
‘Come on, then, sit down. I’ve got something a bit stronger than apple juice in the fridge. I think we could both do with a glass now. Phew!’ He picked up a magazine and fanned himself with it.
I looked under my lashes at him, trying to glare but not pulling it off.
‘I think that might be the beginnings of a smile…’ He tilted his head, as if studying me.
‘I hope you have some big glasses.’
‘They’re normal-sized champagne glasses but feel free to top up as often as you feel necessary.’
‘I really wish I wasn’t so bad at drinking.’
11
Charlie reappeared a few minutes later with a bottle of champagne in one hand, two glasses in the other and a couple of bags of nibbly things clutched between his teeth. I got up as he came in and relieved him of the snacks.
‘Thanks.’
We sat back on the sofa and he twisted the bottle’s cork until it made a satisfying pop.
‘I should have known there’d be no flamboyant flying of corks with you.’
His mouth twitched. ‘No. Flamboyant isn’t really my style.’
‘I didn’t mean it like that. Besides, Dad always says you lose half the bottle doing that anyway.’
‘He’s right. You can.’
Charlie poured me a glass and handed it over. I watched the golden bubbles chase each other up the glass, escaping and exploding as they reached the surface.
‘What shall we drink to?’
‘I wouldn’t mind going with “unexpected waves” but I’m sensing you’ll probably veto that one.’
‘I’m going to veto you in a minute. Behave.’
‘OK, OK,’ he said, chuckling.
‘How about to friendship?’
He paused for a moment and then nodded. ‘To friendship.’
We clinked glasses and drank, neither of us really savouring the taste, instead just enjoying the fortifying hit of alcohol.
Several hours later, Charlie had finished the accounting stuff I’d brought him to look at and together we’d finished off the first bottle of champagne and started on a second. He’d also rung for a takeaway, which was now hopefully soaking up some of the champers. I was, however, in my world, rather hammered.
‘You all right?’ Charlie asked, as we sat out on the patio in his courtyard garden, the heat of earlier now reflected back at us as the paving and planters became outdoor storage heaters, surrounding us with warmth.
‘Yep!’
‘Can Matt come and pick you up?’
I shook my head vigorously. ‘Working.’
‘Amy?’
‘Marcusss-ing.’
‘You know that’s not a word, don’t you?’
‘It is now. I’ll get the bus.’
‘You’re not getting the bus. Not in that state.’
‘Excuse me? I am not in a state.’ I was totally in a state, but I wasn’t in enough of a state to not at least attempt denial at said state.
‘If you say so. But I’m still not letting you loose on the night bus on your own.’
I let out a dramatic sigh. ‘Fine. I’ll get a taxi, then. Happy?’
‘No. Not really. You’re pie-eyed and you expect a taxi driver to let you in smelling like a brewery, and besides, you’re still on your own whilst not entirely in control of all your faculties.’
‘My faculties are just dandy, thank you. And I do not smell like a brewery.’ I bent my head and started trying surreptitiously to find a way to confirm this.
Charlie studied me for a moment then shook his head.
‘You can stay here tonight. There’s plenty of room.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Why not?’
‘I didn’t bring anything else to wear. Or my toothbrush.’
‘So, just put that dress back on tomorrow. It’ll only be to go back home in. And I have spare supplies for guests in the bathroom.’
‘I am not going to do a walk of shame from your house, Charlie Richmond.’
He raised an eyebrow. ‘Walk of shame?’
‘Yes. I mean, we’ll know it’s not but to everyone else, it’ll look exactly like a walk of shame if I’m in the same clothes.’
‘Everyone else who?’
‘Everyone who sees me.’
‘Who’s going to see you? And even if they do, they won’t care.’
‘I’ll care!’
‘Libby, you won’t have done anything!’
‘I know! That’s what makes it even more annoying! I’ll know that. And you’ll know that.’ I was now pointing at each of us in turn for emphasis. Suddenly realising this, I stopped and sat on my hands instead. ‘But to your neighbours… well!’ I pulled a face that I imagined said it all. Charlie looked at me but said nothing so I continued. ‘So, unless I’m going to wear a sign that says, “This is not a walk of shame. I did not sleep with Charlie Richmond”, then it’s a no go.’
‘You’d need quite a big sign to fit all that on.’
I blinked at him.
‘And it wouldn’t really do my reputation much good.�
�
‘You have a reputation?’ I asked, my eyes wide.
‘No. But thanks for looking quite so surprised at the possibility.’
‘No offence.’
‘Some taken.’
I bumped my head on his arm as we sat on the bench, absorbing the sultry atmosphere of the late evening. ‘I didn’t mean anything by it. You’re too nice to have a reputation.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, flatly.
‘You’re welcome,’ I replied, completely missing the inherent sarcasm. And then I fell asleep.
Sunbeams tickled my face and I opened my eyes. Too bright! Quickly, I closed them again. Rolling over, I breathed in the smell of clean linen. Now facing away from the window, I tried again with the whole eye-opening procedure. This time it was a little easier, although my head still pounded whichever way I faced. I took a deep breath, pushed myself up a little and let out a groan. It might smell like clean linen but it certainly didn’t look like it. Almost half of the pillowcase was smeared in what had once been my make-up. I hardly dared look at my face.
I pushed the duvet back and swung my legs off the bed, bending my body up to follow in such a manner that kept my head from moving until the very last moment. I looked down. The fabric of my dress was all crinkly anyway so at least it didn’t look as if I’d slept in it, even though I clearly had. I had absolutely zero memory of going to bed and, as I was still fully dressed, could only assume Charlie had deposited me there. Peering sideways and hesitantly in to the mirror, I let out a squeak. The same could not be said of my hair and make-up. Both positively shouted ‘slept in’. I flopped down on the dressing-table stool and glanced around. My bag was on the bedroom chair. Leaning over, I snagged the strap and pulled it towards me, plopping it on my lap. I rummaged inside and found a hairbrush. A few minutes later, having argued with some knots and tangles, my hair looked slightly more presentable. My face, however, was another matter. I looked around the room and noticed the door on the far side of it ajar. Getting up, I crossed the room and gingerly pushed the door open a little more. En suite. Charlie, you star.
‘Good morning,’ Charlie said, as I poked my head out of the kitchen doors.
‘Well, one of those is right,’ I replied, shading my eyes from the sun.
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