‘Music?’ he asks.
‘Yes, please. Whatever.’ It feels awkward without Soraya and Carol. It was much less intimidating when there was a gang of us, and I could rely on Carol to come out with something if there was ever a moment of silence.
‘How about a bit of Oasis? Good old Manchester band.’
‘Yes, that’d be fabulous.’
To the sound ofWonderwall, we drive down the now-familiar hill and weave through the streets of Monaco as we head back towards the marina whereLady Janeis docked.
‘So, what did you do in Manchester anyway? Not many yachts there?’ I ask as we get stuck at some traffic lights.
Elias laughs and asks me to guess.
‘Oh no. I hate things like this. I’ve no idea.’
‘I’ll give you three guesses and then I’ll tell you,’ he smiles.
I look at his hands on the steering wheel, which indicate he has possibly done some kind of manual work.
‘A plumber.’
‘Haha. No, but being a plumber does involve water and I suppose you could say my previous job did too.’
‘Well, I was going to say an electrician next, but that wouldn’t involve water.’
‘Is that your second guess?’
‘No. Let me try again. Umm, a lifeguard.’
Although, somehow, I can’t imagine him strutting up and down at the local swimming baths in his Speedos, but you never know.
‘No, I can see why you’d think that. I am a good swimmer, though. You have one last guess.’
‘Oh gosh, I really have no clue now, so I’m just going to say you built swimming pools for rich people.’
‘Ha. Now, I wouldn’t have minded doing something like that. I’m quite good with my hands. I’d imagine laying all those mosaic pieces could be therapeutic if you’re patient enough. But no. Do you give up?’
‘Yup. No idea.’
‘Okay, but did I mention there was a booby prize if you didn’t guess?’
‘Yikes. No.’
Elias laughs. ‘You can have another guess if you like. Otherwise, the booby prize might involve me inviting you out for dinner.’
I don’t tell him how nice that sounds.
‘Oh no, well, that sounds terrible. I definitely need another guess in that case.’ We both laugh as we tease each other, and I try to think of any other occupation I can.
‘You were a dentist.’
‘Did you get that completely wrong so you win the booby prize?’
I feel a tingle all over as I look at him.
‘Hmm, maybe.’
We both have big grins.
