But that leaves Nicki free to have children with Timo...
Would she? Maybe Timo doesn’t want children...
This is a total headfuck, that’s what this is.
But at least I have some direction now.
Charlie and I end up on the field, watching the sunset again once April is fast asleep in my bed. This time he brought the monitor, so we go only as far up as the signal allows. I’ve brought a picnic rug to sit on. The grass is too prickly when I’m wearing shorts.
‘Justin and Julia are nice, aren’t they?’ I say.
‘Yeah, they’re great,’ he replies.
They came and joined us for a pizza earlier. They’re such a warm, friendly couple. I like how relaxed Charlie is with them.
‘Have you ever met Jocelyn’s husband?’ I ask.
‘Edward? Yeah.’
‘What’s he like?’
‘He’s all right. A bit strait-laced. Why do you ask?’
‘You don’t have many friends with kids. I just wonder if it might help to have guys you can talk kid stuff to.’
He shrugs. ‘Maybe. So are you going to tell me your idea?’
He’ssupposedto be overseeing the writing of Nicki’s sequel, but he barely ever asks me about my work.
‘Do you want to know?’ I lean back on my palms, my legs stretched out in front of me.
‘Yeah,’ he replies, looping one arm around his knee.
I’m on edge as I talk him through it. He doesn’t show much emotion on his face, but he’s taking it all in, his eyes set steadfastly on the sun drifting lower behind the silhouetted trees. I feel thoroughly unnerved by his silence.
‘What do you think?’ I ask eventually.
‘I think it sounds good,’ he replies, taking a swig of his beer.
‘Really?’ My voice is uncertain.
He glances at me. ‘Yeah. The readers will like it.’ He looks away again. ‘I’m not too keen on the cheating, but, hey, it seems to sell.’
‘Yeah, I guess it does.’
We watch silently as the sun disappears, leaving behind a pinky orange glow that flames back up through the black spindly branches and climbs higher into the sky.
‘There it is,’ I say as the first star appears, twinkling prettily in the darkening night.
‘You up for another?’ Charlie asks me, nodding at my bottle.
‘Why not?’
‘Back in a bit. I’ll just check on April.’
‘Can you grab a blanket? I can’t be bothered to go and put my jeans on.’
His eyes skim over my legs. ‘Sure,’ he says, turning around and setting off down the hill. I watch him go.
