Alphabet Weekends - Elizabeth Noble [60]
The others were engrossed.
‘But he rang me at the beginning of January, and we did spend a day together – on Bondi Beach, actually. A great day. It was hot as hell, and really crowded, and we just had – I don’t know – one of those golden days, you know? Perfect days. The kind you’d like to bottle…’ Marianne’s voice trailed off.
Sasha prodded her elbow, and she started talking again: ‘And that night – although I didn’t know this at the time – he changed his flight home, so that he would be on the same plane as me. He hadn’t been due to fly out for another couple of days.’
‘He must have been smitten.’
She smiled shyly. ‘I guess so.’
‘And?’
Marianne giggled. She sounded about fifteen. ‘Well, let’s just say it isn’t entirely urban myth.’ Uproar. ‘You have to be the right heights… and quite quick – and a hell of a lot more brazen than I am now!’
‘I cannot believe you!’
‘I cannot believe I’ve just told you that. Alec would kill me. He’s coming in, in a minute. I got a sitter – he’s going to take me to the cinema. Don’t you dare let on!’
‘I shall look at him in an entirely new light.’ The others were still laughing excitedly.
‘Oh, come on – it isn’t that risqué, is it?’ Marianne looked at them in turn. ‘Don’t tell me none of you has ever done stuff like that? Sasha? Didn’t you guys ever do it on the boardroom table when you thought everyone else had gone home?’
‘Certainly not!’
‘Really?’
‘We tried it on the beach once, but Steve got sand in a very sore place, which knocked it on the head, if you’ll pardon the phrase.’ Lorna giggled.
More laughter.
Sasha was trying desperately to think of something to add. ‘We did it in the car once.’
‘Well done, Sash. Ten points. You’d have got more if the car had been on a cross-Channel ferry at the time or parked outside a supermarket.’
‘You’re disgusting, the lot of you.’
‘Were disgusting, you mean. It’s been a while since Steve and I did it anywhere other than bed. And I mean beds on holiday, by the way.’
Marianne laughed. ‘You’re exaggerating, surely?’
‘Only a bit.’
Lucy tried to read Marianne’s expression. They never normally talked about this sort of thing. She hadn’t even known how they’d met. She tried to interpret Marianne’s raised eyebrow.
‘What about you, Lucy?’
‘Yes. You’re being very quiet.’
‘Do you mean have I done it in an aeroplane loo? No.’
‘Not that. You and Patrick. How did you two get together?’
‘No way – I can’t follow Marianne’s story.’
‘Rubbish. I’ve heard this – it’s lovely.’
‘How had you heard it?’ Lucy didn’t mean to sound so sharp.
‘Patrick told me,’ Marianne answered, ‘a long time ago.’
‘Well, his story might not quite stack up with mine.’
Marianne’s face was quizzical. Lucy knew she sounded fed up, and saw Marianne make up her mind to rescue her, even if she didn’t know why.
But she didn’t have to. The wide oak door to the bar swung open and Alec came in, his eyes scanning the room for them.
Lucy had a sudden mental image of him, trousers round his ankles, hammering into Marianne in an aeroplane loo. It made her feel turned on, jealous and angry. What the fuck was wrong with her?
Sasha couldn’t resist a snort when she said hello.
‘Having a nice time, ladies?’
‘Illuminating,’ Lorna said.
Marianne stood up and kissed him. ‘And a little bit drunken, if the truth be known, love.’
‘On a Monday night, too!’ His eyes were sparkling with amusement. He bent to kiss Lucy on both cheeks, his hand on the back of her neck with just a little too much pressure. He smelt wonderful – wood and smoke. Familiar and forbidden.
‘What are you guys going to see?’
‘That new Keanu Reeves film, the one that opened on Friday,’ Marianne told them.
‘Chick-flick, I’m afraid.