I’d heard this before. He would’ve heard that Lala had been seeing other people, and someone would’ve mocked him. This was his way of controlling her, for a week or so at best. Then she’d find out he was still sleeping with the woman who’d been his childhood sweetheart – before her – and there’d be an almighty argument with tears and vodka involved. This would happen at least three times before the end of August.
“Tell him to fuck himself.”
“He’s serious this time. We were talking about moving in together last night. Renting a villa together.” She had a dreamy expression on her face, one I’d seen before. One I knew was easily replaced with satanic levels of anger. “We reallytalkedlast night, Jay Jay. He told me about how he wanted to own another restaurant, and a beach side café, and how he wanted to be a young father.” Lara’s eyes had grown misty.
“Carl said this? Did he mention monogamy or was his idea to set up this villa with you and another couple of his girlfriends?” I knew I was poking the bear. Lala couldn’t cope with anything but beaming positivity when she was in this mood.
The noise that erupted from her sounded like a horse whinnying.
“He’s serious, Jay.”
“He’s been serious before and it lasts for about two weeks until he gets bored of fucking the same pussy.” I was deliberately crude.
“He’s not like that. He’s gorgeous and he’s surrounded by girls throwing themselves at him. It isn’t easy for him.”
“So you’re going to have an open relationship? Like Livi and Gav?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“That’s what it will be.”
Her eyes filled with tears and I felt like the bitch I was being. “Just because you’ve never had a proper relationship doesn’t mean you have to be so fucking jealous of what I have. Can’t you just be happy for me? Even if this lasts a week, I can be happy. And so what if these dreams come to nothing, Jay? So fucking what? At least I had them in the first place.”
Unlike me. I knew exactly what she meant, or what she thought.
“I have had a relationship.”
She stared at me. “With who?”
“He was married. But I didn’t know.”
“Did she find out?”
I nodded. “Yes. That’s why I stopped my placement. I worked with him. He was my boss. His wife found his phone and came into the office. She shouted at me in front of everyone and it was horrible. If I’d known, I would never have, you know.” I shrugged.
“I know. I’m sorry Jay Jay. I didn’t mean what I said.”
“You’re kind of right though. Maybe I need to let go a little. Have a summer fling.”
Her face lit up, our row already forgotten. “Monty. You should have a fling with Monty. He likes you, and he’s fun.”
“Maybe.” I saw Tommy again, heading towards one of the market stalls. He looked over at that point, and his eyes met mine.
He’d caught me staring. I pinched my lips together and tried to stop my heart from racing.
“Who are you looking at?”
“No one. Just watching the market setting up.”
“Cool.” She glanced back at her book.
“Back in ten minutes.” I stood up, pushed my chair under the table and gave a nod to the waiter to let him know I still wanted the iced coffee he was about to deliver.
It took about thirty seconds to head across the square to Còctels. I shimmied through the slightly open door into the dark bar, hoping to God there was no one else in there.
There wasn’t. Light streamed through the windows, catching the dancing dust. The bar was military tidy, the floor recently mopped. I sat down on the same bar stool I had the day Tommy made me my cocktail there and waited.
I didn’t wait long.
