‘Stop stalling.’ He threw my earlier accusation back at me, his eyes showing that he wasn’t as serious as his tone made him sound.
‘OK. It’s just that I’ve been around you when women are sparking left, right and centre. I was at risk of flash burn that day in London what with Miss Cleavage on the train and the Any Time Receptionist.’
Charlie was shaking his head.
‘I just find it a bit hard to believe, that’s all.’
‘Sometimes it’s just not right, Libby. We’re still friends. She actually rents an apartment I own in London.’
‘Oh. Well, that’s good. I mean, about you still being friends. Not about it being not right.’
He smiled. ‘Yeah, I know. And yes, it is.’
‘OK, password is set up. It’s “champagne” at the moment but you can just change it to whatever you want.’
‘Ooh no, that’s good! I’m keeping that!’
‘OK. Is the finances file on here?’
‘Should be. Tilly said she’d labelled a folder “Charlie” within the main finances folder so it was easier for you to find. Although, bless her, with the wedding coming up, her mind has been a bit all over the place at the moment, so let me know if you can’t find it.’
I got up and wandered over to the window, looking out onto the garden below.
‘Can I ask something else?’
‘I have a feeling you’re going to anyway,’ Charlie said, without looking up, his concentration on the screen as he tapped keys and drew his finger across the trackpad.
‘Is it difficult being here? I mean, bearing in mind your ex had so much input into this place and now you’re not… together any more.’
‘Nope. It was always my house, Libby. Like you said, I had the final say on things. We weren’t especially serious. It’s not like we went and picked stuff out together. She didn’t break my heart and I didn’t break hers. It was fun while it lasted, but that’s all.’
‘OK.’
‘She needed someone a bit more…’
‘A bit more what?’
He lifted his head and looked at me. ‘I remember a time when my Saturday afternoons were peaceful and not competing to be part of the Spanish Inquisition.’
‘I’m just making conversation.’
‘As is your wont.’
‘Fine. We can sit here in silence, then, if you prefer.’
He laughed. ‘Yes, right. Like that’s going to happen.’
I narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled and looked back down at the laptop.
‘She needed someone more like you.’
‘Female?’
‘No. Chatty. She’s pretty quiet. I’m not exactly known for my extrovert personality. She needed someone to bring her out of herself more. Whom she’s now found, I’m pleased to add.’
‘You’re not a total introvert. You just take a little longer to get to know people.’
‘No, I know. But sometimes people need a bit of… va-va-voom to help them along, you know?’
