Chapter Eight
Olivier – Wentworth Street, Brighton
Olivier stood outside on the terrace of the bar with Ashleigh and Romesh, wrapped up in their coats against the bitter wind blowing across at them from the sea, all staring at the Christmas tree.
It was a seven-foot-tall, pre-decorated, artificial pine with white dusted tips, and they’d just won it in the quiz for coming second.
‘One of you two should take it,’ Romesh said, tossing the end of his scarf over his shoulder and looking at Ashleigh. ‘James and I already bought a new one this year.’
‘We have one at home too,’ Ashleigh said, pulling on a thick, grey cable-knitted hat. Once it was firmly down over her ears, she untucked her long hair from her collar and smoothed it over one shoulder.
She did that a lot, Olivier had noticed through the course of the evening. It kept drawing his attention to her neck and the graceful slope as it curved into her slender shoulder. Andthatkept reminding him of how he’d pressed his lips there when they’d danced together the last Christmas he was here. Romesh had insisted they have a drink between each of the four rounds of the quiz, and it had made Olivier’s mind – and his eyes – wander to very distracting places. It was a wonder they’d answered any questions correctly, let alone come second.
‘That stunted little thing?’ Romesh snorted. ‘It’s more like a shrub.Andit’s ancient. You could really do with an upgrade. If Olivier doesn’t want it, that is?’
He shook his head. ‘Maman likes to buy a real one.’
‘Looks like it’s all yours, angel.’ Romesh grinned and clapped his hands together.
Ashleigh frowned at it while chewing her lip. She shook her head as she appeared to come to a decision. ‘Okay. Okay. You’re right, Ro, wecouldreally do with a new one. How am I going to get it back though? I don’t think it’ll fit in the back of a cab.’
‘We could carry it between us. It’s not too far is it?’ Olivier suggested.
‘I’d love to stay and help with that, but I have work in the morning unlike you two layabouts, so good luck.’ Romesh laughed and started backing away. ‘I’ll be in touch about the ice-skating. Bye, lovelies.’ And with that he disappeared down the steps from the terrace and off along the seafront in the opposite direction.
‘Iknewhe’d do something like this,’ Ashleigh muttered, watching his retreat with narrowed eyes. When she caught Olivier watching her she shook her head and smiled. ‘I mean, this quiz was all his idea, but since he didn’t get those Marks and Spencer vouchers for first prize, he’s done a runner.’
Olivier laughed. ‘Shall I grab hold of the base then and you guide me from the tip?’ Was it just him or did that sound like thinly veiled innuendo? Judging by how her blue eyes had widened at him, maybe itwasn’tjust him. ‘Erm, top. I meant top.’
‘Right, so we just pick it up and start walking?’
He breathed out a sigh of relief when she carried on as though she wasn’t bothered by the comment. As the evening had progressed she’d relaxed much more around him, but he remembered that she hadn’t looked very pleased to see him at first. He didn’t want to put his foot in it and end up with things being awkward again.
‘I can’t think of any other way at the moment.’ He crouched and got a grip on two of the legs of the stand, the metal cold against his fingers. ‘Ready?’ he asked as her boots moved closer on the other side.
‘As I’ll ever be.’
He stood lifting it up and backwards, while she wrapped her arm around the thinner top section, facing away from him. ‘Let’s go.’
They negotiated the steps down to the pavement and headed for the corner of the road to turn up Wentworth Street.
‘Heavier than it looks eh?’ She puffed from the front.
‘It might be easier to rest it on your shoulder.’
‘Is that what you’re going to do?’
‘If I do that, I won’t be able to see – it’s so wide.’
‘Don’t trust me to lead you?’ she teased.
‘Ordinarily, oui, but you are weaving a lot.’
‘That’s not because I’m drunk. I’m just dodging the dog poo.’
‘Charming. Now Ireallywant to walk along blind.’
She laughed, then paused at the top of the street, lifting the tree so it was propped on her shoulder like he’d suggested. The whole thing rustled and jingled and hearing a chink, she turned, spinning him out in the opposite direction towards the road, so they could watch a shiny red sphere that had fallen off gathering speed as it went downhill.
