and he’s in a worn-out T-shirt I think I remember from uni – though it’s a little tighter on him now. Gerty looks haughtily beautiful, as usual, with no make-up on, and her hair yanked up in a ballerina topknot; it’s hard to tell if she was planning to come because she never wears make-up, and dresses impeccably all the time anyway. She could well have just pulled on a slightly higher pair of heels to go with her skinny jeans last minute.
They’re making their way across the dance floor. My suspicion that Mo was not planning to be here is confirmed – he’s not dancing. Take Mo to a club and there will always be dancing. So why have they turned up on my random Wednesday night out with Rachel? They don’t even know her that well – only through the odd birthday drinks or housewarming parties. In fact, Gerty and Rachel have a low-level alpha-wolf feud going on, and when we do all get together they usually end up bickering.
Is it my birthday? I drunkenly wonder. Do I have exciting surprise news?
I turn to Rachel. ‘Wha—?’
‘Table,’ she says, pointing at the booths at the back of the club.
Gerty does a relatively good job of hiding her irritation at being redirected just when she’s battled her way through to the centre of the dance floor.
I’m getting bad vibes. I’m just at the happiest point of drunk, though, so I’m willing to suspend worried thoughts in the hope that they’re coming to tell me that I’ve won a four-week holiday to New Zealand or something.
But no.
‘Tiffy, I didn’t know how to tell you this,’ Rachel is saying, ‘so this was the best plan I could come up with. Get you happy drunk, remind you what flirting feels like, then call your support team.’ She reaches to take both my hands. ‘Tiffy. Justin is engaged.’
4
Leon
Conversation re flat not at all as predicted. Kay was unusually angry. Seemed upset at idea of someone else sleeping in my bed besides her? But she never comes round. Hates the dark-green walls and elderly neighbours – is part of her ‘you spend too much time with old people’ thing. We’re always at hers (light-grey walls, cool young neighbours).
Argument ends at weary impasse. She wants me to pull down ad and cancel Essex woman; I’m not changing my mind. It’s the best idea for getting easy cash every month that I’ve thought of, bar lottery winning, which cannot be factored in to financial planning. Do not want to go back to borrowing that £350. Kay was the one who said it: it wasn’t good for our relationship.
She’s come that far, so. She’ll come around.
*
Slow night. Holly couldn’t sleep; we played checkers. She lifts her fingers and dances them over the board like she’s weaving a magic spell before she touches a counter. Apparently it’s a mind game – makes the other player watch where you’re going instead of planning their next move. Where did a seven-year-old learn mind games?
Ask the question.
Holly: You’re quite naïve, Leon, aren’t you?
Pronounces it ‘knave’. Probably never said it out loud before, just read it in one of her books.
Me: I’m very worldly wise, thank you, Holly!
Gives me patronising look.
Holly: It’s OK, Leon. You’re just too nice. I bet people walk all over you like a doormat.
She picked that up from somewhere, definitely. Probably her father, who visits every other week in a sharp grey suit, bringing poorly chosen sweets and the sour smell of cigarette smoke.
Me: Being nice is a good thing. You can be strong and nice. You don’t have to be one or the other.
The patronising look again.
Holly: Look. It’s like how . . . Kay’s strong, you’re nice.
She spreads her hands, like, it’s the way of the world. Am startled. Didn’t know she knew Kay’s name.
*
Richie rings just as I get in. Have to sprint to get to the landline – I know it’ll be him, it only ever is – and hit head on low-hanging pendant light in kitchen. Least favourite thing about excellent flat.
Rub head. Close eyes. Listen closely to Richie’s voice for tremors and clues to how he really is, and just for hearing a real, living, breathing, still-OK Richie.
Richie: Tell me a good story.
Close eyes tighter. It’s not been a good weekend for him, then. Weekends are bad – they’re banged up for longer. I can tell he’s down from that accent, so peculiar to the two of us. Always part London, part County