‘Or don’t you think so?’
‘Yes.’ We look at each other. It’s quiet. All I can hear is my heart thumping.
Does that mean he wants me to say it?
No, come on, get over yourself. This is about Romeo and Juliet, not the two of us. Why wouldn’t it be? For pity’s sake . . .
‘You should ask Eleanor what she thinks about it,’ I say hurriedly.
‘I don’t care about Eleanor,’ he blurts. ‘I mean . . . I do care, but you’re the scriptwriter here. It’s your call.’
‘You two have to act it.’
Sinclair gulps.
When he doesn’t reply, I continue: ‘But maybe Juliet should actually say that and then he can point out that it’s wrong. Like you just did.’
‘You mean to give the audience a chance to question the statement?’
‘Exactly.’ I force a tiny smile, but it doesn’t really work. I’m about to ask if we should carry on when Sinclair opens his mouth.
‘Has Val said stuff like that?’ he asks.
I feel cold. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘I’ve heard the way he talks about Eleanor.’
I don’t ask what he’s heard and, to be honest, I don’t want to know. I shrug. ‘He doesn’t mean it.’
‘So why would he say it?’
‘Sinclair, that’s how he is. He doesn’t think about stuff. He’s never really got his head around feminism and all that.’
‘Is he planning to?’
‘How would I know? Doesn’t matter to you, does it?’
‘Yes, it does.’
I sigh. ‘Oh, my God. He doesn’t always think before he speaks. But he doesn’t mean anything bad by it.’
‘So he means it nicely? Oh, well, that’s all right then. And, anyway, I get the impression he knows exactly what he’s saying. And exactly how he needs to act to get what he wants.’
‘What do you mean by that?’ I ask quietly.
Sinclair says nothing. His gaze weighs a ton. We both know the answer to my question.
‘He manipulates you,’ he says, in the end. ‘He tries to make you believe stupid stuff.’
‘You can’t know that.’
‘Tori, I’ve got eyes in my head. And I know you. You’re different when he’s around.’
‘And what makes you think that’s a bad thing? Maybe I’m different because he treats me differently.’Differently from the way you do . . .Like I’m desirable. Because he shows me he wants me and I don’t have to keep guessing at what he feels for me. ‘Anyway, you’re different when Eleanor’s around too.’
‘Tori, leave Eleanor out of this.’
‘Why? It was you who brought her up.’
