From whatever my life was now.
5
At the Brasserie, staff were clearing a space by moving chairs and tables out of the way, leaving a few around the edge. I stopped for a moment just to watch, tightening my ponytail hard enough to hurt. I lingered and listened to the voices around me. There was something soothing about the lilt of French speech, even if I didn’t really understand what they were saying.
Then I saw him again. Felix. He was talking to a girl with the kind of brown hair that looked caramel in the evening light. Her hair matched his. I wondered if she was his girlfriend. Or sister maybe. Her limbs were long, graceful and tanned. The kind of girl that Ari would feel the need to point out a million non-existent flaws in just to make herself feel better. I struggled to see any at all. She was gorgeous. I watched them chat easily, moving tables, laughing and eventually hugging, before Felix spotted me and I had to try to pretend I hadn’t been staring at them for the last few minutes.
I turned and walked away, planning to go to the beach again to watch the sun set over the Atlantic, where I could get lost in my thoughts. I shook my head in embarrassment and sped up. Then I heard footsteps behind me.
‘Margot?’
I turned to see Felix standing there.
‘Oh, hi,’ I said with a stupid little wave.
‘You would like to stay for the show?’ He said it like a statement but raised his voice in question at the end. He pushed his hand through his wavy, sandy hair, looking away briefly before meeting my gaze again with soft brown eyes.
‘The show?’ I asked, confused.
‘Yes, some nights, we have a show.’
I looked back at the Brasserie and a load of families with tiny children were walking towards it. A group of children were sitting in a semicircle in front of the cleared space.
‘What kind of show?’ I asked.
‘For the children,’ he replied. And he didn’t look embarrassed or annoyed or anything like it. He actually looked happy.
‘Are you in it?’ I asked. Intrigued.
‘You can wait and see?’ he said and shrugged, smiling.
And I couldn’t think of anything to say.No, I can’t because I’m too busy feeling sorry for myself and would rather go to the beach and be miserable alone.
‘OK,’ I said, telling myself that I’d send a message to Mum and Dad when I’d sat down somewhere to tell them to bring the girls. They’d love this kind of thing.
‘Great!’ He grinned then, like he couldn’t help it. And it felt nice. That something I said provoked a smile like that. There was a flash of Theo then. How, when I used to kiss him, I’d trace his jawline, feeling it move beneath my fingertips. ‘Come,’ he said and nodded his head back towards the restaurant.
‘OK,’ I said again, because it was better than any other option I had.
‘I need to finish the set-up. Sit here. It is the best seat in the house.’ Felix winked, then led me to a little table near the bar, where I could see everybody but not everyone could see me. Perfect.
‘I can get you a drink?’ he said.
I slid my hand into my empty pocket. I’d been in such a mood when I left. ‘I forgot my purse. It’s fine, I’m OK.’
‘I will pay,’ he smiled easily. ‘Red wine?’
‘Ah,merci. Could I maybe try something else?’ I smiled with gratitude. It was such a stark contrast to nights out with Theo, who’d always ‘forget’ his wallet.
‘Avec plaisir,’ he answered, smiling. ‘I will bring you a surprise.’
He left and came back in about five minutes with a champagne flute that was filled with something purple.
‘Kir royale. It iscrème de cassisand champagne.Cassisis blackcurrant.’
I picked it up and took a sip. The sweet, fruity bubbles were delicious.
‘That is so nice,’ I said, smiling.
