Page 58 of Little Miss Fortune

‘And a cinema.’

‘And a cinema? How the hell can you afford that?’

‘It’s my uncle’s building.’ He pretends to whisper.

‘Oh.’ I laugh in disbelief. ‘You were waiting to whip that one out, weren’t you?’

‘Oi-oi.’

‘Enough. And I’m allowed to be sad. I was fired.’

‘Please, you’re on temporary leave.’

‘That’s basically being fired.’

‘I promise you it will work itself out.’

‘No, things don’t just work out for me, Tobias.’

‘It’s Toby.’

‘Tobias.’

‘Fukoh,’ Toby blurts out a retort.

‘Oi! That one’s not fair or funny. Yes, it’s a foreign name, and I’m a foreigner. I guess I just don’t belong here.’ My voice rises as I rile myself up for a fight.

‘What?’

Someone already asked me about my accent at this pub.’

‘What accent?’ Toby asks with genuine confusion.

‘My Japanese one.’

‘You do not have an accent, Fuko. You look different from an average Brit, that’s true. But you’re as English as they come. The Irish, the Welsh, and the Scottish will have an adverse reaction to your speech, unfortunately.’

That did manage to sadden me and cheer me up. My determination for a fight withers the longer Toby smiles at me. I smile, but a text from Leon flashes on my phone.

Leon: I am so sorry. I promise it’s not you, but Sashka asked to meet after work and...

The rest of the text is cut off.

‘You’re all right?’

‘Point proven. Things just don’t work out when you are me.’ I show him my screen and ask the barman for another pint. Toby orders one as well.

‘How many have you had?’

‘This will be my fourth one.’ I feel my cheeks flushing red from the alcohol.

‘Then I need to catch up.’ He takes five big gulps and downs his beer. A streak from the corner of his mouth runs down his neck.

It was weirdly hot, but I try not to think about it.

‘I am going to regret this tomorrow morning,’ he says ordering another one.

We spend hours talking about everything. My childhood, his dance classes. Our families. He changed the subject quickly when I asked about his parents. Maybe they are actually spies. I tell him about my gay sister and how I don’t really know what to do. He says that I should probably not do anything and wait for her to come to me. He says his sister is always in some sort of trouble, didn’t even finish uni, can’t keep a stable job or a relationship. That he is worried about her because their parents might give her shit about it.