Page 85 of My Year of Saying No
I stood up, handed Jess her shoe and turned to face Tarquin. I refrained from explaining myself as, frankly, it was none of his damn business, and I’d already had about as much conversation as I wanted with this man to last a lifetime.
He made a little movement of his head as if to prompt me to reply, as though he were some university don and I’d been caught walking across a quad despite the ‘keep off the grass’ sign. Smug git.
I tilted my head up in response and remained silent, seeing his jaw harden as I did so. Jess was strapped back into her shoes now and I turned, holding out a hand to haul her up off the lounger.
‘So, you and this Seb bloke a thing then?’
Normally I’d have happily replied, but after his dig earlier and the underlying tone that rippled through his question, I was in no hurry to answer.
Tarquin took my silence as enough of an answer. The sneer curled back onto his lip. ‘Interesting choice. I expect you were always the kid bringing home injured animals too, weren’t you?’
I dug my fingers into my palms and made to step past him. The slightest of movements by him blocked my way.
‘Excuse me.’
‘You don’t know what you’re missing,’ he said, moving a step closer to me. ‘Tell you what, when you’re ready for arealman, give me a call. Maybe I’ll give you a go after all.’
‘Who the hell do you think you are?’ Fury shone in my eyes. ‘Seb Marshall is far more man that you could ever dream of being, and frankly, if you were the last man on earth, I still wouldn’t call you, and now, unless you fancy taking a short walk off this balcony, I suggest you get out of my way.’
Tarquin stared at me for a moment and then laughed.
‘God, you’re a nasty piece of work,’ Jess snapped, coming to stand beside me. ‘You don’t deserve a friend like Harry. I have no idea what he sees in you.’
‘Well,’ he sniped, wheeling on Jess, ‘I could easily say the same, although it’s very evident to everyone what you see in him.’
‘I beg your pardon.’
Tarquin gave a dramatic roll of his eyes. ‘Oh, come on, Jessica. Everyone knows what you’re after and well done you on hooking him, but let me enlighten you. If you think for one moment, even with that rock on your finger, that you’re set for life, then you’re in for a rather nasty surprise. Harry’s got a set type he goes for. You’re…’ he looked her up and down, ‘obviously quite different from that, but that’s your attraction, I suppose. You’re a novelty. And novelties wear off. Harry might be smitten now, but he’s loyal to his family, who we all know aren’t exactly thrilled about welcoming you into the fold. He’s got generations of standards to live up to. He’ll know what to do when the time is right.’
We both stood staring at Tarquin, hurt and astounded by his words. Not only the content but the harsh, vicious delivery of them, carried out with such apparent glee.
I turned to look at Jess, a woman who, as her mum had often despaired during her daughter’s teenage years, would ‘have an answer for the devil if he popped up in front of her’. She was silent. Being mixed race, Jess had heard a lot in her time and rarely let it get to her, but Tarquin’s words had cut her more deeply and more unexpectedly than any others. The boiling rage inside me bubbled up and exploded.
I opened my mouth, set to let loose a vehement tirade, but before I could say a word, Harry’s educated tones cut through the air.
‘Tarquin. I think it would be best if you left now.’
Jess and I looked round to see Harry and Seb standing further down the balcony, having apparently exited from the kitchen doors of the apartment. I had no idea how much of the conversation they’d heard, but, judging by the look on both their faces, my guess was pretty much all of it.
Tarquin looked momentarily surprised and then began to smile. ‘Harry, old chap, you had me going there for a minute.’
Harry didn’t smile.
Tarquin’s face clouded with anger. ‘You’re not actually serious?’
Harry said nothing. It was all the answer needed.
‘So, just let me get this straight? You’re choosing people like this,’ he gave a tilt of his chin towards the three of us, ‘over years of friendship? Over people of your own kind? Your own level?’
‘Like I said, I think it’s time you left.’ Harry’s normally smiling face now held an icy expression.
Tarquin’s eyes narrowed, disbelief mingling with disgust. He turned on an expensive heel and yanked open the door, stalking through. The front door slamming reverberated throughout the room, stilling the conversation for a moment before the level rose again. Out on the balcony, though, everything was still silent.
‘I am so, so sorry,’ Harry said, looking distraught. ‘Jess, my darling,’ he said, cupping her face, and tilting it to his own. ‘You know none of that was true, don’t you? I will never, ever be tired of you. If I am tired of you, I will be tired of life and I have no plans for being either.’ He moved his hands and wrapped them around her, Jess’ own doing the same and holding him close. ‘And to you two, what he said…’
Seb spoke for the first time. ‘Like I said before, not your fault, mate. I’ve heard it all before and Lottie had already decided he was an idiot months ago. No harm done. So long as you two are all right?’
‘We are.’ Harry looked down at Jess, hesitating. ‘Aren’t we?’
