Page 46 of Hot to Go

‘Oh, so it turns out she’s not a French bird called Aurelie. She’s a French teacher called Suzie.’

Max opens his mouth to take in the drama. ‘And just out of sheer coincidence, you’re both at the same school?’ I nod slowly so we can all take that in. ‘But didn’t you give her a fake name too? You’ll love this…’ he tells the younger two. ‘He told her his name was Carlos.’

I need say nothing ever again to my two youngest siblings because that rouses enough hilarity in this room to last them for a whole year. ‘Breathe, Brooke…’ I tell her as she struggles for breath.

‘But why?’ she asks.

‘I have no idea anymore. We’d been speaking Spanish, and when she asked if I was Spanish I…I think I thought I was being mysterious, protecting myself, maybe?’

‘Carlos?’ Sam says in a thick Spanish accent, so we can get more laughs out of the situation. ‘That’s a better gift than the AirPods. So what are you going to do? You gonna carry on shagging?’

Brooke gives him a dirty look again. ‘Samuel!’

I wince, remembering how everything transpired today. ‘I don’t think she was too happy to see me. We’ll see how it goes.’

They all look at each other curiously. Yes, it’s another instalment in the adventures of my love life, where the path of true love darts in many different directions. Did I ever dream of bumping into Aurelie/Suzie again? Of course. Maybe not in those circumstances, where I was ambushed on my first day in a new job. I imagined it might be on a random beach somewhere, perhaps a stylish café where my hair looked good. Now, I just get a sense of embarrassment and shock from her, to the point where I don’t really know what to do.

‘I need a mental image here,’ Brooke says. ‘Who does she look like?’

‘Your girl, Sofia, fromOuter Banks,’ I suggest. Just more beautiful?

Brooke’s jaw drops. ‘That’s quite hot, and kudos for theOuter Banksreference.’ I had to bond with you somehow, little sister. ‘So really this is quite cute, no? It’s giving romance,’ she says, whirling her hands around in front of her.

Sam pretends to retch whilst Max laughs in between sips of beer.

‘No, hear me out. Maybe this is the universe’s way of giving your little hookup a second chance? What were the odds of the two of you Londoners meeting up in Mallorca in the way that you did? And then meeting again. Both of you having applied for jobs in the same department, in the same school. I know I only got a 6 in Maths but the odds are pretty mega.’

That thought may have crossed my mind. What indeed are the chances of this being serendipity at work? The energy between the two of us being so strong that we were brought together again, like human magnets. The stars aligning, the universe screaming that we belong together. Perhaps. But then I’ve seen too much of real life to know that’s not how it always works.

‘You watch too much shite on Netflix,’ Max tells her. ‘Maybe Charlie will realise they’re meant to be and he’ll chase her across town and they’ll declare their love for each other.’

‘At the airport,’ Sam adds.

‘In the rain,’ Max jokes. ‘While a flash mob dances in the background.’

Brooke sits there sullen. ‘Well then I’ll have to teach Charlie the moves, you cynical twats,’ she says. ‘I just want our brother to be happy.’

I smile at her and nod my beer bottle in her direction. I am happy, kiddo.

‘CHARLIE!’ a voice suddenly interrupts from across the restaurant and the owner, Enzo, appears in his trademark whiteshirt, black trousers and shiny black loafers, coming over to say hello. I stand up to give him a hug while he pats my back hard, the sort of slap you’d use to release catarrh. ‘Sammy, fifteen? I want to see some ID, young man.’

‘I don’t have any. I’m only fifteen,’ he mumbles.

‘I am JOKING!’ he roars. ‘How is everything? Have you ordered? I’ll send someone over. Love you, kids. You have a nice evening, yes?’ We all smile at the familiar volume and nature of his cheer but as he walks away, I slide away from the table to follow him to the bar.

‘Enzo,’ I call to him.

‘Yes, Charlie. You are looking so smart? Are you still doing the teaching?’

‘I am, started a new job today,’ I tell him.

‘Then it is a double celebration. I will send more beer to the table. How can I help, my boy?’ he says, putting an arm around me.

‘Did Max bring the cake?’ I ask him.

‘He did, it’s around the back. I’ll bring it through with the desserts?’ he asks.

‘As per usual,’ I say. ‘Thank you.’

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