‘Thanks.’ Ben drained his glass of whatever he’d been drinking and passed it over. ‘It was our pleasure, especially when we realised it was Beth you were waiting for.’
‘Sorry?’ Stephen crooked an eyebrow as he concentrated on pouring a generous amount into Ben’s glass and passing it over. ‘You know each other?’
‘We went to school together.’ Ben took the glass and pointed between himself, Rachel and I. ‘All three of us. Not seen Beth for a while though. She’s just moved back haven’t you? From London. So, is that where you met?’
‘No. Stephen’s staying at the hotel,’ I offered, just purely to feel like I was actually taking part in this date, even if I didn’t want to be.
‘Oh, I see. You’re here on holiday?’ Ben took a sip and smacked his lips. ‘Still. London’s not so far away is it? Though we didn’t see you much when you lived up there did we?’
‘Ah-hah, so youlivedin London?’ Stephen poured a drink for me and passed it over, a mischievous twinkle in his dark eyes. ‘That might account for the prejudice.’
‘I don’t have a bad opinion of London.’ I wrapped my fingers around the glass. It was a double measure, thank goodness, but I resisted the temptation to knock it straight back. ‘I’m just not keen to go back anytime soon.’
Things went quiet in our corner of the pub. I heard that back and realised how it sounded, given that I was on a date with someone who lived in London. My cheeks started to burn but I couldn’t see any way to dig myself out of thatfaux paswithout lying and making out that I did want to see him in the future.
‘Well, that’s understandable,’ Ben offered, in what I think he imagined was a gallant way. Then he proceeded to throw me under the bus that I’d accidentally stuck my thumb out for. ‘The end of a long-term relationship is hard to get over. But a date with Stephen here is a step in the right direction isn’t it? You must have something special to have enticed Beth out. You’re the first—’
He broke off with a sudden jump and bent to rub his shin, looking over at Rachel with a hurt look on his face. She shook her head at him sternly and I almost laughed. I mean, it was mortifying that he had just spilled most of the tragic story of my love life to Stephen, but at the same time, I’d been intending to tell him anyway so I could make a swift exit. At this rate, Stephen would be making his own excuses and leaving soon.
‘I’m quite tired, Ben,’ she said. ‘Maybe we should start walking home. I could do with an early night.’
‘Right, sure.’ He nodded and downed his second glass of alcohol in the space of ten minutes. That cold night air was going to hit him hard when they stepped outside the pub; I hoped Rachel didn’t end up having to carry him. ‘Well, thanks again for the drink, and Merry Christmas.’
Stephen rose from his seat and shook Ben and Rachel’s hands as they stood up to leave, wishing them Merry Christmas. When I gave them hugs goodbye too, I whispered ‘thank you’ in Rachel’s ear.
We settled back down at the table and I found Stephen watching me with an expression on his face that I couldn’t figure out. Maybe curious, maybe calculating? I didn’t know him well enough to pin it down. A group of people moved in to take the table Ben and Rachel had left and when Stephen looked over between me and them, I leaned forward to stage whisper: ‘It’s okay, I don’t know them. You can relax.’
‘Thank God. Are people around here always so disrespectful of others’ privacy?’
I cocked my head slightly at the incredulity in his tone. As much I hadn’t wanted Ben and Rachel sitting in on our date, he’d asked a favour of them, and they knew me.
‘It’s not like they were a couple of strangers who muscled in on us and demanded a drink. I’ve known them for years and they’re lovely. Everyone around here knows each other – you can’t help it in such a small community.’
He leaned forward, bringing his head in close to mine and gave me another easy smile, oblivious to my defensiveness…or maybe unconcerned. ‘Doesn’t that drive you insane?’
Yes, yes, it did sometimes. But I wasn’t going to tell him that. I gave a one-shouldered shrug and settled back in my seat, getting the distance between us once again. ‘That would presume I wasn’t insane to start with.’
He laughed. ‘But seriously, what made you choose to come back down here, rather than stay in London? Is it too fast-paced for you? Not friendly enough?’
‘I presume you’re referring to the way everybody is always in a hurry because their lives are obviously so much more important than yours?’
‘That’s another way of putting it. Therearea lot of people with important jobs in London, though.’
‘Everybody’s life is important. And even if you are CEO of a multi-national company, ten seconds waiting patiently at the tube barrier, while a tourist figures out how to use their ticket, isn’t going to kill you is it?’
He rolled his eyes. ‘And I suppose nobody ever gets impatient or feels self-important out here in the countryside?’
‘Only if they’re visiting from London.’
He stared at me for a moment, before laughing loudly like he’d made the decision I had to be joking. I gave him a small, sharp smile in return. I didn’treallyhate London. It was a beautiful city, full of culture and interesting, diverse people, and it was amazing to be able to get a latte on the corner of most streets…but his smug London-is-the-centre-of-the-universe attitude got my back up.
I took a large gulp of amber liquid and it slid like nectar down my throat.
‘What d’you think?’ He pointed to my glass.
‘Ben wasn’t kidding. It’s lovely,’ I admitted, trying to smooth down my ruffled feathers.
‘One of my clients owns the distillery. It’s a beautiful process they use to get such a delicate balance of flavours. I got to taste this one before the blend was perfected when I visited them in Scotland.’
