‘Anyway, I’m sure you all will keep this to yourselves,’ I say, moving the conversation on. ‘We’re not magnets or special soulmates or whatever. We’re just mates.’
Will and I do our best fake friendship smile at one another, and we all continue with dinner but there’s a glint in his eye that makes me feel that it might not be entirely false.
As the evening progresses, I feel glad I decided to attend instead of lying on the couch eating chocolate like a podgy recluse. The company is good, the wine is great, and the highlight is the lemon cheesecake with raspberry coulis.
‘I’ll walk back with you,’ Will states.
‘You don’t need to,’ I assure him, scraping the last of my dessert from my plate. ‘It’s only nine fifteen. Pretty sure the maniacs don’t come out until eleven pm. It’s in the handbook.’
‘I know,’ he replies. ‘It’s more for my safety than yours. Allison’s been giving me looks like she wants to deflower me. Besides, you have wine left. The shop closed at nine.’
I eventually agree as I’m a little tipsier than I intended. I’d appreciate the extra pair of hands when I inevitably trip up in these damn heels and fall flat on my face.
Anna thanks us all for coming and tells us she looks forward to seeing us bright and early in the morning. Anna shouldn’t have plied us with booze if that was her endgame.
We collect our coats and merrily exit the main house, greeted by a cool breeze and a black sky full of stars. I stop to admire them.
‘I think this is the only time I will ever admit to there being anything remotely magical about the universe,’ I say to Will.
‘Yeah, they’re spectacular when they’re not hidden by pollution, eh?’
We walk swiftly back towards my cabin, where we agree that Will should light the fire while I get the drinks. There’s only half a bottle of wine left and two emergency cans of G&T in the fridge. I turn on the lights and throw my jacket on the couch. I feel like I’ve had a proper night out. It’s kind of pitiful.
‘Put some music on,’ Will requests as he lights the kindling. ‘Nothing too middle-aged though. If I hear ABBA, I’ll never forgive you.’
I press play and Slipknot blasts out. He raises an eyebrow.
‘Slipknot? You’re listening to Slipknot? You?
‘What?’ I reply, pouring the remainder of the bottle into equal measures. ‘You don’t know me. You don’t know my struggle.’
He laughs. ‘True. I mean I know you liked The Prodigy in your teens, I just wouldn’t have pictured you as a Slipknot fan. Their music is dark. I’d have thought these days you’d be more… Ed Sheeran. Something inoffensive for the school run.’
‘I’ll listen to anything,’ I reply. ‘Including Ed Sheeran. I even know all the words to a Slipknot song. I’m full of surprises. I used to be wild, you know.’
‘Doubt it.’
‘I did!’ I insist. ‘I just never get the chance these days.’
‘Prove it.’
‘Prove what?’
‘That you’re full of surprises.’
‘How? I’m not a Kinder egg, Will.’
‘Skinny-dipping! Ever done it? We have a loch right there.’
I don’t know if he’s serious or not. I sip my wine and look at him suspiciously. ‘It’s about three degrees outside. Also, that massive “no swimming” sign makes me think – hmm, better not.’
He considers this for a second. ‘Hot tub, then.’
‘What?! This is crazy; I’m tipsy and more importantly, there’s no way you’re seeing me naked.’
He rolls his eyes. ‘Yes, that would be awful. I might be forced to break my celibacy rule… Listen, I’m going in regardless. I’m a tad drunk, and it’ll be fun. I guarantee every other person here is in their tub right now. Join me. Wear a swimsuit, wear everything you own, I’m not bothered.’
He takes his glass, opens the patio doors and lifts off the hot tub cover with one hand while I stand there, yelling that I’m not coming in as I watch him strip off and climb in. He’s naked. In my hot tub. Naked! I edge out of the patio doors.
