‘I’d like a drink,’ she said, even though she’d already had more than enough. ‘Some wine would be nice.’
‘Coming right up,’ Mark said, glancing at her warily. It was like there was a bomb in the room, and they had to be careful not to trigger it.
When they were settled on the sofa with their drinks, she took a deep breath and began, ‘So – you and Sophie…’
Mark let out a long sigh of resignation or relief – perhaps both. ‘What she said about me moving on while she was in rehab – it’s not true,’ he said. ‘We’d broken up long before then.’
‘So why did she say that?’
He shrugged. ‘Sophie likes to make mischief. And she has a rather creative relationship with the truth. Honestly, Claire, you could ask anyone around that table tonight. They all know it wasn’t true.’ His eyes radiated sincerity.
Claire just nodded.
‘She doesn’t really mean any harm,’ he said.
Claire wasn’t so sure about that. She felt Sophie had been deliberately trying to unnerve her. And it had worked.
‘Do you believe me?’ Mark asked.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It was a bit of a shock, though, hearing that out of the blue.’
‘It’s all in the past.’
‘But she’s still in your life.’
‘She’s a friend. You’re still friends with the Artist.’
‘I suppose so,’ she conceded.
‘More than friends,’ he mumbled.
She wished she could tell him that he had no reason to be jealous, that she wasn’t friends with any exes because she didn’t have any exes, because she’d never had a proper relationship with anyoneever, least of all Luca, and that she was the only person in this room who had any possible cause to be jealous. But she couldn’t say any of it.
‘I’ve known Sophie for a really long time. I can’t just cut her out of my life.’
‘She doesn’t seem your type,’ Claire mused.
‘She’s not. That’s why I’m not with her any more,’ Mark said. ‘We’re not good for each other. It just took a while to figure that out.’
‘I don’t think Sophie’s there yet.’ Claire thought of what she had overheard. Sophie had sounded devastated.
‘Maybe not,’ Mark conceded. ‘But there’s nothing I can do about that. Other than not encourage her, which I don’t.’
That was true. She had almost felt bad for Sophie, he had been so cold and aloof.
‘I really like you, Claire,’ he said pleadingly, taking her hand, his thumb stroking over her fingers.
‘I really like you too.’ And when he leant in for a kiss, she met him halfway. But she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was trespassing.
‘Have I blown this?’ he asked, pulling back, perhaps sensing her hesitance.
‘It’s not your fault.’
He sighed wearily. ‘Bloody Sophie! I should be used to her sabotaging my life by now.’
‘Sorry. I do really like you, Mark. I just can’t… not tonight.’
‘I know,’ he said, standing and pulling her to her feet.
