Charles smiles and wraps his arms around Loris’ red jacket. ‘Sounds good.’
‘At Easter, maybe? No rugby duties for me and the weather should be nicer.’
‘Easter? It’s far away…’
I’m counting on you to keep Loris from leaving London.
‘February half-term, then. But we might have to spend most of the stay in the hotel room.’
Charles catches Loris’ bottom lip for one light pressure of a kiss, drawing assurance from the naughtiness in his voice to silence the unpleasant echo. Now is not the time to get hung up on Patty’s comment again. They’re having a meaningful moment on their way to a meaningful evening, and Loris’ eyes are shining with promises.
‘Let’s do both so—’
‘Chips?’
‘—we can— Fuck.’
They step apart in an instant, but it’s long enough for the concrete to liquefy under Charles’ feet. And even though he’s well used to floundering in emotional quicksand, he’s never wished this badly to be dragged underground and launched into an alternative timeline. One where the Uber pulling over to pick up Elsy would have been delayed by a succession of red lights. Or where Charles would have realised sooner where he and Loris stood.
He wouldn’t have lowered his guard here a few weeks ago. From Diwali to New Year’s Day, the overdecorated facade of Divya’s placestands out on this street. Unfortunately, the lights have been taken down, and Charles only recollects that it’s Divya’s house because Elsy has just stepped out of it.
Uncharacteristically jittery, she casts a glance at the front door left open behind her, reaches the pavement and clasps Charles’ wrist.
‘I need you very straight and very in love with me right now!’
‘I’m sorry, I—’
Charles is cut off by giggles at the door and by Elsy’s lips on his mouth. He clenches her waist to push her away, but when she hangs from his neck, he has no other choice than to take her in his arms.
‘Oh! Charles is here!’
Elsy breaks their clumsy kiss and nestles against him to face her friends.
‘Told you he’d surprise you,’ Divya quips, sleeveless and shivering on her doorstep. ‘No way he was gonna wait until tomorrow!’
She’s putting on an act. As Elsy’s confident and wingwoman, she’s aware their relationship is a scam. But the other two friends aren’t. They’re gazing at Charles, swooning, while Elsy coos and caresses the spot on his neck that belonged to Loris a minute ago.
Loris, who is clueless about the Surrey pact and the narratives at play.
‘We haven’t seen you in ages! It’s a bit rude to avoid us when your wife is away.’
‘Sorry, I was— I’ve been busy.’
Charles forces a smile and shifts aside.
Loris has retreated against the low wall of the next house. He’s staring at his phone, credibly uninterested in the scene.
‘What do you think of Elsy’s new hairstyle? Personally, the jury is still out.’
‘It’s… great, she looks great.’
‘Can we please chat in the car? It’s freezing and the driver is getting annoyed.’
‘Take this one, girls.’ Elsy pecks Charles on the cheek. ‘We’ll get our own. We need to catch up before we join my parents.’
‘Catch up? Is that what kids call it these days?’ Divya sends them a kiss before moving back inside her house to close the door.
Charles is being hugged and petted, his palms sweating in his gloves as he steels himself for the moment when masks will drop. And Elsy removes her cheerful one as soon as the Uber taking her friends away drives past the next street lamp.
