Page 68 of One Night With You

‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘I wonder what’s been said though?’

He considers it. ‘I mean, we are doing a great job of showing up. You can tell most of the lecturers enjoy us being in the seminars. We do the reading, have interesting things to say …’

‘God, do you think everyone hates us?’

‘Who cares? I’m there for an education, not a popularity contest.’

‘Fair enough.’

‘On that note, actually, I’ll start recording. I know we’re not saying much, but just in case. Maybe we can just go over what’s about to happen, how we’re all feeling? JP, that okay?’

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve left the postcode,’ JP replies, as he rouses from resting his eyes. ‘Paris. Blow me down.’

‘Via London,’ I remind him.

‘Two capitals in one trip,’ he marvels, and he’s on good form now he’s awake. ‘Good job we are getting this on camera. I wouldn’t have believed it all otherwise.’

Harry settles back down, camera in hand.

‘Don’t worry about this.’ He gestures. ‘I’m just going to get you all chatting naturally. We might not even use the sound with the footage, just the images of travelling with other audio overlayed.’

‘Texture,’ JP notes, winking at me. I’ve taught him well.

William goes wide-eyed, and JP laughs.

‘I never pegged you for being camera-shy,’ he says to his grandson.

‘I’ve never been in a position to find out,’ Harry says, and I swear he’s even sweating a bit. When I’m on camera I tell myself that it’s me editing, too, so we don’t have to use anything I don’t like. I guess when it’s all out of your hands it’s harder to relax.

‘Let’s just chat, when it feels natural, like Harry says,’ I suggest. ‘Don’t worry about the camera. Erm … what did everyone get up to this morning?’

Neither JP nor William speaks.

‘Okay,’ I say. ‘Well …’ I want to break the tension. ‘I’ve been so emboldened by your story JP that yesterday I went out on a date with Nic, who as you know I have turned down before, despite having slept with him, because I was keeping my heart in a big old cage and thought that was the best way to protect myself.’

William nods, thankful I’m filling the silence.

‘But doing all this with you has opened my eyes to how seemingly protecting my heart can actually cause more pain. Anyway … Long story short, I took a chance, Nic is incredible, and I’ve been up all night shagging, the end.’

I declare it a success when William laughs and JP shakes his head with a smile. The ice has thawed. Before long we’re chatting and swapping stories and we forget the camera is there at all. We’re a motley crew: JP, small and slight in his wheelchair; William, dressed like he’s about to take the Labrador to the vet’s in the Volvo; big and beardy Harry, tall as a tree and a heart like marshmallow; and then me, wearing Nic’s jumper that I am ninety per cent sure he didn’t leave behind as an accident, and that I immediately commandeered as my own.

The time passes quickly after that.

‘The next station is London Euston. Please make sure youhave all your belongings as you disembark,’ the announcer says over a crackly line to the carriages.

‘Game on,’ says Harry, standing to put on his backpack and film us getting all our stuff together too. It’s like being watched by the paparazzi.

‘I was thinking about getting last-minute tickets for a show tonight,’ Harry tells me as we wait for the wheelchair ramp once the doors are opened. ‘You up for it? Or are you seeing friends or something?’

‘I texted my friend Candice, but she’s not free,’ I tell him, and it’s half the truth. The full truth is that she never replied at all: I’m still in best friend purgatory. Jackson says not to worry, that she just needs time, but I don’t like it. I’m in London without seeing her – it’s just not right.

‘Her loss is my gain.’ Harry smiles and I smile back. I suddenly feel very sad, though.

‘Do you fancy a movie night instead?’ I ask. ‘Conserve our energy? We can hook our laptops up to the TV and bring back a Pret a Manger picnic? Even do it in our PJs?’

‘Movie students having a movie night.’ Harry chuckles. ‘How original.’

‘If it ain’t broke.’ I shrug, and he puts his arm around me with familial love.

---