‘Yes please, but Theo’s in my eyeline so I’ll order it. You stay where you are.’
Bang went any opportunity to escape to the bar, even for a moment.
‘So, where were we? Ah yes, Adonis. Never married and no kids?’
‘No, absolutely not.’
‘And exactly how old are we talking?’
‘I’m not sure…’
‘OK, now you’re lying. You might as well tell me, or I’ll just look him up later.’
‘Where’s that drink?’
‘Sof…’
‘Fine. He’s forty-eight.’
‘Interesting. That’s quite old for you.’
‘Rubbish. And it’s still a fourteen-year age gap.’
‘Does that worry you?’
‘What worries me more is that he’s so damn hard to get hold of. It would be virtually impossible to have a relationship with a man like him. Not that I’m looking for one, but he’s a workaholic.’
Sofia hadn’t meant to say any of that out loud. Charlotte had pierced her armour with ease.
Theo put their new drinks down on the table and received a big smile from both of them.
‘They’ve really looked after us well here, haven’t they?’ Sofia took the first sip. ‘I know I was a bit funny about there being no swimming pool at first, but it’s been so relaxing.’
‘OK, stop changing the subject.’
Sofia sighed. She’d tried a few of the tricks in her arsenal to avoid difficult conversations, but there was no getting away from her friend. Charlotte was wasted as an artist.
‘Interesting that you’d like to speak to him more than you do now.’
Sofia held on to the edge of the chair to stop herself fleeing. Why had she handed that piece of ammunition to Charlotte? Bad mistake.
‘But I’ll leave that for another time. I still need an answer to my previous question. I repeat, does the age gap bother you?’
‘Well, it never has before. As you know, I like younger guys. They’re fitter, usually a lot more easygoing, and willing to try new things… and I don’t just mean in the bedroom.’
Charlotte shook her head.
‘No, I get it. While women in their sixties seem to blossom and grow, a lot of men in their sixties, not all, but some, seem to get grumpier, more set in their ways, and one hell of a lot more predictable.’
Sofia could tell that last comment was a lot more personal than general. Maybe this was a way of getting Charlotte to talk about her issues and steering away from her own for a while. She was convinced it was tied up with Doug. But before she could open her mouth, Charlotte waved away the possibility with her hand.
‘But we’re getting off the subject. So, why do you think the age gap is bothering you this time when it hasn’t before?’
‘I’m not sure. But I do know I need the loo.’
Surely Charlotte wouldn’t follow her in there.
‘Wait! Please don’t run away, Sof. We’ll change the subject in a minute. I’m not trying to interrogate you…’
