‘Probably not,’ I reply. ‘I like gravity too much.’
I’m not overly hungry after my sushi lunch, so I just order a small portion of ravioli. Unlike Isla and Richie, I believe it would be rude to have nothing.
‘What are we all up to this evening then?’ Cameron asks. ‘There’s a performance ofMamma Mia!at eight thirty.’
‘We’re absolutely doing that,’ Evelyn replies enthusiastically. ‘I loveMamma Mia!. We both know all the songs, don’t we Brian?’
Brian nods, cleaning his glasses on a napkin.
‘We are going to watch stand-up comedy,’ Dieter responds.
‘He likes it very much,’ Mia adds. ‘I’m not so crazy about it. It’s never funny.’
‘What are you doing, Sophie?’ Lucas asks. ‘You’re more than welcome to join us.’
‘That’s kind,’ I reply. ‘But I’ve made plans. Drinks with a friend.’
I see Cameron’s eyebrows shoot up. ‘Sophie! Do you have a date?’
‘Cameron, don’t be so bloody nosy,’ Lucas interjects. ‘It’s none of our business.’
There’s a brief pause before Lucas smirks. ‘You totally have a date, don’t you?’
‘I’m simply being sociable!’ I reply, laughing. ‘It’s just a drink. If I’m bored, I’ll join you forMamma Mia!.’
Cameron starts singing ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme’, and Lucas joins in. It’s funny. I wish they were my friends in real life and not just for the week.
Chapter 45
I meet Jude at the Hanohano tiki bar on the fifth floor. I’ve never been to a tiki bar before. It’s a delight. From a look around the room I see that this is where Hawaiian shirts retire and live their best lives. It’s a warmly lit space with myriad carved wooden tiki statues, LED torches, artificial palm trees and thin flower garlands draped from the ceiling. A woman greets me with an ‘Aloha’, placing a brightly coloured lei around my neck.
I spot Jude at a table near the back of the room. Like every other man here, he’s also wearing a Hawaiian shirt. There are staff wearing grass skirts and dancing the hula kahiko. As usual, I feel underdressed in my black wide-legged trousers and vest top. I didn’t know this was a fun bar. I might have joined in. I could rock a hula skirt if I wanted to.
Jude eagerly waves me over. ‘Glad you could make it. Let me get you a drink. What would you like?’
‘Whatever you’re having,’ I say, trying to balance on a bamboo stool. It’s a challenge. I give it three drinks before I topple off and the date ends. It’s been months since I’ve been on a proper date and I’m relatively relaxed. In my thirties I might have had a pre-game gin or two, babbled a bit when we met and spent far too long surreptitiously checking my teeth for lipstick when he wasn’t looking. My forties? Not so much. I tell myself that either of us could have said no, it’s not that big of a deal, and turn up to the date expecting very little.
He returns with a red and white drink in a large glass. ‘It’s a Lava Flow,’ he says, placing it in front me. ‘It’s like a strawberry piña colada. Really good.’
He’s right. It’s delicious.
‘Been watching any good shows recently? What kind of shows are you into?’ he asks. I can’t tell if he’s nervous or just interested in my TV habits.
‘I watch all kinds,’ I reply. ‘I’m watchingThe Boysat the moment.Slow Horsesis brilliant too. What about—’
‘Loki. It’s fucking awesome. You seen it?’
‘I haven’t,’ I reply.
‘It’s Marvel,’ he continues. ‘It’s set afterAvengers: Endgame. Did you see that?’
‘Superhero films aren’t—’
‘He has to fix the timeline, or he’ll be erased.’
‘Wow,’ I reply. ‘Maybe I’ll give it a go.’
I won’t. I’d rather never watch television again. It’s not an age thing, I’m just not into fantasy or science fiction. I don’t even likeStranger Thingsbut I’m keeping that to myself. I don’t need a Ted Talk on the history of the Upside Down.
