At four thirty, I decide to call it a day.
‘It’s been lovely to meet you,’ I say. ‘Hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.’
‘You don’t fancy getting drinks or something later, do you?’
Part of me is flattered but there’s a bigger part that wonders whether he’s doing this for a dare. But for the first time on this trip, I’ve been approached by someone seemingly normal, even if I was sixteen when he was born. If Madonna can date someone forty years younger, I can have a cocktail with Jude and his love for geometry.
‘Yeah,’ I reply. ‘Why not. I’m free after dinner.’
I say goodbye and, with a spring in my step, make my way to the lift. With one day to go, I’ve finally met someone. It’s better than nothing.
‘Hey, Sophie.’
I look behind me to Ellis. He’s wearing a white shirt, swimming shorts and holding his towel. His shirt clings to his body. I avert my eyes.
‘Did you just come from the pool? I didn’t see you there.’
‘I was there,’ he replies. ‘I saw you, but I didn’t want to interrupt. You know, cramp your style. You looked deep in conversation. . .’
I grin. ‘He’s from Manchester. He’s nice, but fifteen years younger. I initially thought he was just making conversation. Like a help-the-aged deal. Getting me drinks in case my walker slips on the wet floor.’
He laughs. ‘He didn’t see you like that, trust me. You sell yourself short, Sophie. There are older women and then there areolder women. To him, you’ll absolutely fall into the latter.’
We step into the lift.
‘He wants to meet later,’ I say. ‘For drinks.’
‘See! Good for you! I’m pleased for you!’ His smile seems a tad forced. Maybe he’s bored of me.
‘We’ll see,’ I reply. ‘Can’t hurt to have a drink, right?’
The lift pings at my floor. ‘Nope, can’t hurt. Have a good night, Soapy.’
‘You too,’ I reply, stepping out. The doors close and he disappears.
Soapy. He’s never going to let that go.
Back in my room, I rake through my clothes, trying to find something that doesn’t make me look like Jude’s mother. Trousers and a vest top. That’s not age-specific and the outfit model on the ASOS website looked about twenty anyway.
I feel like I should tell Naomi my news. She’ll be thrilled that someone finally wants to spend longer than one conversation with me.
‘Are you busy?
I hear Naomi tapping on the keyboard. ‘Philip’s taken the boys trampolining. I’m just dealing with some emails. I hate this laptop, it just fucking updates for the fun of it. Thirty minutes this time. Anyway, you good?’
‘I have a date!’
I hear the phone switch to speaker. ‘NO! Who with? Ooh, is it the captain?’
‘No, I told you, he’s completely averse to dating.’
‘That’s a shame. You’ll just have to admire him from afar.’
‘This guy I met by the pool. His name’s Jude.’
‘Get you!’ she exclaims. ‘So, what’s poolside Jude like? I want details.’
‘Hmm, younger,’ I reply, unclipping my trousers from the hanger. ‘He’s from Wales, lives in Manchester. Twenty-nine. He has a six-pack. Big old white teeth.’
