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“Did you get it?”
I shook my head, too angry to talk.
“I’m sorry, I’m not up to going out tonight,” I said. He nodded, I could see he was trying to be understanding. “It’s been too long a day and I just want to go home.”
“Of course, let’s have a drink while you wait for the Uber?
I agreed.
The sun was beginning to set but it was overcast and so there wasn’t much of a sunset. It hadn’t been much of a day either. “I opened a bottle of wine,” said Felix, handing me a glass. “It’s a good wine, but I think Tate won’t mind, he owes you.”
I was trying to get a car, but sitting down with a glass of wine in my hand, I suddenly didn’t feel like rushing off.
“It’s my fault,” I said, with a sigh. “I think he was trying to punish me.”
Felix frowned. “Why?”
“He heard me talking on the phone to you earlier.”
“So? He said he was okay with us seeing each other.”
“I don’t think he is, though.”
I finished my glass and had another. So much for not wanting to have a big night. But it felt good sitting with Felix, talking about Tate and how tense our relationship had become. “This does not sound healthy,” Felix said.
Inside, Annika was warming up dinner for Summer.
“I should get going,” I said, making no move to get up though. The sun had gone down but we had some warm blankets to pull over us. Felix told me about his meetings, which he thought had gone well enough but would probably not result in the kind of deal the Americans wanted. “We tend to do things differently in Germany. We’re more careful, risk averse.”
But he didn’t want to go back. “I like it here,” he said, giving me a frank, direct stare. His hand was close to my arm and he lifted a finger, stroking my arm very gently. A little current of electricity ran up my skin. I knew what he was telling me and I what I should tell him, but for the first time that day, I was relaxing and I was enjoying myself.
At that moment, the front door opened, and Tate walked in. He saw us sitting outside and came out. “Well, well, well,” he said with a strange little smile. “This does look cozy.”
Chapter 18
Tate
As soon as I came out onto the patio, Felix moved away from Evie, who was not looking at me. Her mouth was set in a thin line. She was angry with me, had figured out what I was up to, obviously.
“Can I get you some wine?” Felix asked and went in to get a glass.
“About earlier,” I said breezily. “Sorry for all the runaround, turns out I had the bloody laptop all along.”
“Bullshit,” Evie said in an even tone, but there was anger simmering underneath. “You knew you had it, you just liked the idea of making me sweat.”
“You’re right there,” I said, liking the direction this conversation was going.
“I’ve had enough though,” she said, finally looking me in the eye. “I’m quitting, you can play your games with someone else now.”
I considered her for a moment, wondered what kind of play this was.
Felix came out with the wine and I raised the glass. “To your last night.” Felix fetched his glass, touched mine. “Looks like you had a good visit. A very good visit, indeed,” I nodded in Evie’s direction, making it clear what I meant.
Felix looked down, uncomfortable, unsure what to say.
Evie got up. “You know what, I’m going home.” She leaned to kiss Felix’s cheek. “It was lovely to meet you by the way, good luck for everything back home.” Then she looked me in the eye and said, “As for you, fuck you.” She walked past me, into the house, saying something to Summer.
“Tate, what is going on?!” Felix touched my arm but I shook it off.
