‘No. Not a thing. Much to his disgust, I might add.’
‘And to my relief.’
‘And I only saw you from the back really, anyway. Mostly.’ Charlie bent and pulled me towards him in a hug. ‘Are we good?’
‘Yes. I suppose so.’
‘Come on, then, sit down. I’ve got something a bit stronger than apple juice in the fridge. I think we could both do with a glass now. Phew!’ He picked up a magazine and fanned himself with it.
I looked under my lashes at him, trying to glare but not pulling it off.
‘I think that might be the beginnings of a smile…’ He tilted his head, as if studying me.
‘I hope you have some big glasses.’
‘They’re normal-sized champagne glasses but feel free to top up as often as you feel necessary.’
‘I really wish I wasn’t so bad at drinking.’
11
Charlie reappeared a few minutes later with a bottle of champagne in one hand, two glasses in the other and a couple of bags of nibbly things clutched between his teeth. I got up as he came in and relieved him of the snacks.
‘Thanks.’
We sat back on the sofa and he twisted the bottle’s cork until it made a satisfying pop.
‘I should have known there’d be no flamboyant flying of corks with you.’
His mouth twitched. ‘No. Flamboyant isn’t really my style.’
‘I didn’t mean it like that. Besides, Dad always says you lose half the bottle doing that anyway.’
‘He’s right. You can.’
Charlie poured me a glass and handed it over. I watched the golden bubbles chase each other up the glass, escaping and exploding as they reached the surface.
‘What shall we drink to?’
‘I wouldn’t mind going with “unexpected waves” but I’m sensing you’ll probably veto that one.’
‘I’m going to veto you in a minute. Behave.’
‘OK, OK,’ he said, chuckling.
‘How about to friendship?’
He paused for a moment and then nodded. ‘To friendship.’
We clinked glasses and drank, neither of us really savouring the taste, instead just enjoying the fortifying hit of alcohol.
Several hours later, Charlie had finished the accounting stuff I’d brought him to look at and together we’d finished off the first bottle of champagne and started on a second. He’d also rung for a takeaway, which was now hopefully soaking up some of the champers. I was, however, in my world, rather hammered.
‘You all right?’ Charlie asked, as we sat out on the patio in his courtyard garden, the heat of earlier now reflected back at us as the paving and planters became outdoor storage heaters, surrounding us with warmth.
‘Yep!’
‘Can Matt come and pick you up?’
