Page 93 of People Skills

‘He’s not here,’ Ettie says tightly. Hillary shakes her head a little at Graham.

‘And Lana, good to see you and Xavier are patching things up,’ Graham says, stumbling from one faux pas to another.

Hillary shakes her head more aggressively at him.

‘Oh, I’m just here as a friend tonight,’ Lana says, but she’s giving Xavier heart eyes across the table.

‘You and Mum having dinner together two weeks in a row, that must be a record,’ Xavier says.

Now James is the one subtly shaking his head.

‘They’re doing it for their grandchild,’ Ettie says, gently rubbing her belly.

‘We are,’ Hillary says.

‘We’re in a new phase of divorced life,’ Graham says and winks at Hillary.

‘What was that wink, Dad?’ Ettie says sharply.

‘It was nothing,’ Graham says, and he coughs, as if that can somehow undo the wink.

Now Ettie is suspicious, looking between them. ‘Are you two friends again?’ she says.

‘It’s the theme of the night,’ James says. ‘Exes being friends.’

Lana smiles at Xavier, and my heart is in a vice.

‘To friendships renewed,’ Graham says, holding up his glass.

‘And new friendships,’ James says, clinking his glass against mine.

I smile at him, grateful to be included.

Lana holds her glass up for Xavier to clink, and he does, but he’s looking at me and James.

‘Excuse me,’ I say, slipping away from the table.

I go to the bathroom, which is big and beautiful—natural stone floors, arched mirrors and golden taps—and I am tempted to climb into the huge freestanding bath just to see how big it is. I could lie in it all night, read Emma, and never go back to that table. It’s entirely possible no one will notice.

I step out into the hallway and Xavier is standing there. I jump. I’m close enough to smell him, and he still, somehow, smells like the beach.

‘You scared me,’ I say.

‘Sorry,’ he says.

‘Bathroom’s free,’ I say.

‘I was waiting for you,’ he says.

‘Oh. Are you still mad at me?’

‘No. Yes. Is there something going on with you and James?’ he says, brow furrowed.

‘What? No.’ Now I’m mad at him for asking such a ridiculous question.

‘There’s a vibe.’ He folds his arms.

‘No, there’s not.’ I shake my head and go to step around him.