‘Err… sure,’ I say, caught off guard. I thought perhaps he was shutting down the conversation now, but it seems he’s actually intent on keeping it going.
‘I’ll have a beer,’ he says to the server when he gets to us, then looks at me with a questioning expression. ‘And?’
I pause for a moment. Perhaps this isn’t such a good idea. ‘Actually, I’m fine.’
‘You sure? It’s on me. Go on, let me buy you a drink so we can raise a glass to our freedom.’
His smile is warm and friendly, and I have a sudden urge to stick one to Adrian by having a drink with my ex. An ex he hated. Plus I’m finding it very difficult to reject Kit’s offer when he’s being so charming.
‘Okay. I’ll have a cocktail,’ I say wildly, feeling the need for something strong to help me relax. I’m a bit jangled, if I’m being honest, sitting here with him, trying to pretend this is a totally normal situation.
‘Can you do me a Mai Tai?’ I ask the server, scrambling for a cocktail I remember the name of. I know it’s not a very Japanese drink, but my mind’s gone completely blank.
‘Yes, of course,’ the server says, giving us both a nod before turning and heading over to the bar on the far side of the pool.
Kit doesn’t comment on my choice of drink and lies back on his lounger and stares up at the sky.
Glad of a reprieve from his attention, I lie back too and close my eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation of the sunshine on my face. It’s been a while since I sunbathed, and it feels wonderful to be just lying here, not doing anything. I’ve been so busy at work and at the same time planning the wedding, I’ve not had much time to chill recently.
I try not to think about the money we’ve – or rather Adrian’s – wasted on cancelling the wedding at the last minute. He promised he’d cover it and pay me back for any I’ve lost, since it’s his fault we’re in this horrible situation, but I’m still smarting about the time and energy I’ve wasted on it – and him.
Hot tears start to pool behind my eyes, and I have to force myself to think about something else so I don’t start blubbing right here at the poolside in front of Kit. I really don’t want him to feel like he has to look after me in any way.
Out of the corner of my eye I see him shift on his lounger, as if he’s sensed I’m thinking about him, and I feel his gaze on me.
After a second I glance round at him, not wanting to seem impolite, but also not wanting to appear as if I’m up for a long, drawn-out chat right now.
‘So how long are you here for?’ he asks.
‘Just a few days in Kyoto, but ten days in Japan,’ I say.
He nods.
‘You?’ I ask.
‘I’m planning on at least two weeks here at the hotel, but I’ll see how I go.’
‘Atleasttwo weeks?’ I ask, a little incredulous. That amount of time must be costing him a fortune, but he’s contemplating staying foreven longer? He must have money to burn. I know his family is wealthy – he went to private school and they have a holiday home in France somewhere – but he never seemed to have a ton of money to spend when we were at uni and had a room in a basic, shared student flat, like the rest of us. I guess ‘business’ is good at the moment.
‘It depends,’ he says, shrugging. ‘I might travel round Japan for a bit as well, but I’m not sure how much I’ll want to do on my own.’
I just blink at him for a second as I live through a bizarre train of thought where the two of us end up travelling around together, exploring all the country has to offer.
Luckily I’m saved from having to make sense of that ridiculous diversion because the server returns with our drinks and puts them carefully onto the table between our two loungers.
‘Thanks,’ Kit says to him, and I smile and thank him as well.
We both pick up our respective drinks at the same time and Kit holds his out towards me. ‘To freedom,’ he says.
‘To freedom,’ I repeat, wishing I meant it.
We clink them together, then both take long sips before returning them to the table.
It’s the weirdest thing, drinking a cocktail by the pool with Kit, instead of Adrian. Like I’ve accidentally tripped into a parallel universe or something.
‘So how do you like your room here?’ Kit asks me, propping his head on the heel of his hand and fixing me with his dark, hooded gaze.
Heat rushes up my spine.
