‘You tell me when you’re ready. I’ll always have your back, Chips. That won’t change.’
He smiled, simmering down. ‘Thank you. I’ll always have yours. But I’ll miss it.’
‘My back?’
‘All the hidden parts of your skin.’
She found his thigh underneath the table. ‘Well, I’ve heard breakup sex is phenomenal.’
It was. It was all the more phenomenal that it could be the last time. That Wednesday night. Then on Friday afternoon. And on Sunday morning, before they headed off to the estate of Charles’ grandfather in Surrey.
All day, they played the part of the full-of-promise couple they had been for two years. They wandered among the high-society crowd and giggled whenever a guest slobbered over the fairytale picture they formed. Their mothers received rhapsodies of praise, as if they had in any way contributed to the success of their relationship. As for Charles’ father, he introduced Elsy to every attendee who hadn’t had the honour yet, presenting her like a hunting trophy his son had beaten a legion to claim.
Milton’s smugness on this topic wasn’t new, but Charles truly noticed it that afternoon, because it would soon be ancient history. Swept away by the shameful understanding that Charles had failed at keeping Elsy. Replaced with belittling and venomous comments.
When they escaped for a walk by the river, Charles would have thrown up with angst had he eaten anything.
Elsy was fuming and, once certain that they were away from prying ears, she exploded.
‘Screw that! Let’s carry on acting the part.’
‘Whatpart?’
‘Kate and William of Hampstead, or whatever fantasy they’re all getting off on.’
‘The one that infuriates you?’
‘No, I don’t care. If that floats their yachts. I’m enraged because of Penelope, and Daphne, and Victoria! I refuse to be in that position. Dragged from one boring douchebag to another by my parents. Bitched about behind my back because I’m changing man every full moon. And having my love life overshadow everything I may accomplish! Penelope aspires to cure incurable diseases, but the one thing those backward boneheads discussed is whether she’ll find a good husband! I can’t go through that! I’d never manage to bite my tongue, and that could cost me the lifestyle I need. So it’d be sanity-saving for me, but also for you, if we kept on being Kate and William of Hampstead in public. That would prevent Milton from using our separation to humiliate you more than he already does, and I wouldn’t lose my mind. Unless… the idea of lying stresses you out?’
‘Anything is better than a brand-new reason to dread dinner conversations!’
‘Yes? So we don’t tell anyone we broke up until… you find your Kate? Or until we don’t care about being cut off? Until we have the sufficient means to tell them to shove their absurd expectations up their arses.’
‘I can absolutely picture myself doing that,’ Charles said with a brittle laugh.
‘I want a front-row seat when you do! But, Chips, if it gets too complicated for you, we pull the plug, alright?’
‘Alright.’
As he hugged Elsy very tight, his stomach settled down and the shape of a new bubble draped over his shoulders like a bespoke coat.Nothing felt simpler than showing the world how much he adored and needed her.
Elsy stands up, answering a text. ‘You don’t mind if I join Divya in Soho?’
‘No, but what about the game?’
She groans and gestures at the screen where the score hasn’t changed. Charles leans on his side to fumble for his phone through his clothes on the floor.
‘You’re not going there, are you?’
Charles looks up at Elsy, then at the TV.
Sunday afternoon fixture: Manchester City v Tottenham. On the left, photos of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling. On the right, Harry Kane and Hugo Lloris.
With two Ls.
‘Chips?’
‘Sorry?’
