‘Nothing really,’ I said.
‘Alex calling her babe,’ Amy filled in.
‘You hate people calling you babe,’ Charlie said, and then frowned. ‘Something about a… pig?’
I slapped my hand to my forehead and forked an extra-large piece of cake onto my plate.
24
I was working way past my bedtime when the sound of my mobile’s video-call ringtone caused me to scoot back around the desk, propelling my chair along with my feet until I got to a point I could reach out and snag the phone. Charlie’s picture was on the screen.
‘Hi!’
‘Hello. How are you?’
‘I’m fine. How are you, Mr Jet-Set? What time is it there?’
‘Early evening,’ he replied, smiling at my description of him. ‘I didn’t know if you’d still be up.’
‘Tonnes to do. Working late. Aren’t you out hitting the town?’
‘It’s far too early for that. Those in the know are aware that no one hits the clubs before eleven.’
‘Oh, of course. Silly me!’
‘Actually, I’m sat watching a bad film on HBO.’
‘That sounds more like it.’
‘Thanks.’
‘No! I didn’t mean it like that.’
‘Right. But apparently I can’t fool you into thinking I’m doing something cool even when I’m thousands of miles away.’
‘Don’t be daft. I already know you’re cool.’
‘Of course. Well, I did actually go to a club last night. Which is why I’m knackered and in front of the telly tonight.’
‘You did?’
‘Um hmm,’ he said. The ice cubes in the glass he held clinked as he swirled the drink.
‘Fab! Was that with people you’re working with?’
‘Sort of.’
I waited for an explanation but nothing further came.
‘Did you have a good time?’
‘Yes, actually. I was dreading it. I couldn’t really get out of it when they said they were going but I was amazed at how good a time I had. Paid for it a bit today though.’ He gave his little chuckle.
‘Gosh. Sounds like it suits you over there in the Big Apple.’
‘Yeah, maybe it does.’
There was a beat or two of silence as we both digested that.
