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“That’s where Francis Drake played bowls, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right. He circumnavigated the world, and he was second-in-command when the Spanish Armada was defeated.”
“Should be fun,” he says.
“I hope so. Thank you for coming with me. And I apologize in advance if they tease you at all.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m a big boy.”
“So I’ve heard.”
He gives a short laugh. “Don’t start.”
“Sorry.”
He smiles. “So, tell me about Plymouth. It was bombed during the Second World War, wasn’t it?”
We chat about the city for a while as the Uber winds through the traffic, and it’s close to six thirty by the time we get to the Hoe. I point out the red-and-white-striped Smeaton’s Tower as we pass it, and then the Uber pulls up outside Seagulls Restaurant, and we get out.
It has a great view across Plymouth Sound, which is slowly turning orange as the sun sinks toward the horizon.
“They’re already here,” I say, seeing the cars out the front, and I wave as I spot them through the window. “Come on.”
I surprise myself by feeling nervous as we go in, and I realize it’s because I want them to like Titus. “Hello!” I call out as we approach the table.
“Heidi!” They all smile and stand to greet us. They kiss me on the cheek, but I can see that all they’re interested in is the guy I’m with. “This is Titus Oates,” I tell them.
“Like the Antarctic explorer?” Jack asks as we take our seats.
“Actually,” I say, “that Titus was named after the priest who created the Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles the Second in 1649.”
“Does she drive you mad when she does that?” Ally wants to know as we pick up our menus. “She’s always coming out with historical facts or quoting dates.”
“Not at all,” he says. “I’m learning a lot. By the way, Heidi, I’ve got a historical joke for you. How was the Roman Empire cut in half?”
“Dunno,” I say.
“With a pair of Caesars.” He grins.
I snort, and the others start laughing. “Don’t encourage him,” I tell them.
“He’s going to fit in well,” Ian replies, still chortling, and I meet Titus’s eyes and smile.
It turns out to be an understatement. Titus is relatively quiet and thoughtful, and so I keep forgetting that he runs a company and is used to talking to groups of people. He doesn’t dominate the conversation, and he’s happy to sit and listen as we chat, but he isn’t shy to join in, and his wry sense of humor keeps us laughing throughout the evening as we choose our meals, then sit and chat over a few glasses of wine.
“Another historical joke for you,” he says while we wait for our desserts to arrive. “What’s the most popular kids’ movie about Ancient Greece?”
“Dunno,” we all say.
“Troy Story.”
I giggle, which makes Ally and Donna laugh.
He grins and says, “Excuse me, just going to visit the bathroom,” and he gets up and leaves the table.
I watch him walk away, unable to tear my gaze away from his butt in the tight jeans, then drag my gaze back to the table to see the four of them watching me, smiling.
“What?” I say, embarrassed.
