‘Agreed,’ says Mark. ‘Can I get you a drink, mate? We bought some nice whisky.’ Yan nods. ‘Nella?’
‘Maybe I’ll start with a vodka and orange.’
‘Are you sure you don’t want a …’ He looks around. ‘Nah, Theo’s not here. Will have to save that for later.’
We end up putting all the food on the big outdoor table as a buffet and eating on plates on our knees on the sunbeds that we’ve formed into a ring on the enormous patio.
Niki and Mario are here lamenting how quickly the time has gone and making us promise to come back soon.
I make sure I’m sitting next to Pen, and I think she appreciates it. She hasn’t told the others yet, but she will in her own time.
Mark stays in charge of drinks all night, apart from when the desserts come out, and he jumps on thegalatobourekolike he hasn’t eaten all day.
I’ve got my phone with me, and I discreetly check every now and then to see if Rich has replied.
Inevitably, given the amount we’ve all drunk, someone – probably Tig – suggests we play the Yes or No game. The rules are simple. Someone is asked a question, and the rest of us have to guess whether they will answer yes or no. You get a point for every correct guess and the first to fifty is the winner.
Pen gets up to find a pen and paper, but Tig stops her.
‘Forget points. Let’s drink every time we get a question wrong. It’s our last night and I want to get smashed.’
The first few rounds are relatively tame as everyone gets a feel for the game. The first question I have to answer, courtesy of Pen, is: ‘If someone farts next to you on public transport, do you move seats?’
After we’ve warmed up, and more alcohol has been consumed, things get progressively more personal. Tig asks Yan if he’s eversnogged a woman. The boys all guess yes, and the girls no. When he answers yes, I’m surprised and demand to know who.
‘That would be telling,’ he answers coyly.
Over the next hour, we find out that the only time Theo lost his temper at work was when a patient came in with a splinter and wouldn’t leave until a doctor had seen him. And Mark is forced to come clean about whether or not he shagged a teacher at school.
In deference to Vandi, who’d told me the story years ago, I voted ‘yes’, but I was forced to finish my third cocktail when Mark assured us it was a wildly irresponsible rumour started by a friend.
By the time I’m on my fourth drink, I’m doing slightly better.
Theo seems to be on a mission to make Mark look bad and I’m trying not to focus on why that might be.
‘Have you ever said I love you and not meant it?’ he asks Mark, in a slightly pointed way.
‘Easy!’ exclaims Tig.
Everyone guesses yes apart from me and Yan.
The answer is no, much to Theo’s disappointment.
‘I don’t believe you,’ says Tig. ‘All guys do, because they want an easy life.’
‘Why did you guys guess no?’ asks Theo.
‘Well, I haven’t, either,’ says Yan. ‘It’s not so weird.’
Theo turns to me. ‘Nella?’
‘Mark doesn’t give a crap about an easy life, he wouldn’t be going to Venezuela if he did.’ Everyone laughs. I could leave it there, but I feel compelled to defend him. ‘But he cares about being truthful. And I think that’s admirable.’
Mark holds up his whisky as a thank you. Then, still holding my eye asks, ‘Do you believe in love at first sight?’
Everyone guesses yes.
‘Really, guys?’ I ask, shocked. ‘Because I can categorically tell you love at first sight does not exist.’
