Page 127 of Fe
Fen backed off once they were talking and went to get a plate of food. The wordshouse boyhad hurt but he knew it was because he was much younger than Ripley. People thought it was just sex, but it wasn’t. He helped himself to several items and looked for somewhere to sit down. A guy beat him to a gap on the biggest couch and Fen sighed.
“There’s enough room.” The man budged up and Fen sat beside him trying to recall his name.Toby!The one who was going to be proposed to at some point.
“Thanks,” Fen said.
“I hear you made all the food.”
“Almost all.”
“It must have taken you ages. It’s delicious. I love the sausage rolls. I’d ask for the recipe but I can’t cook for shit. Are you a chef?”
“No, I repair and restore antiques.”
“Interesting! My dad loves antiques, particularly anything Japanese.”
“Actually, Japanese ceramics are my speciality.”
“Oh, he’d love you.”
Fen laughed.
“Do you speak Japanese?”
“A bit. I’m learning.”
The woman sitting next to Toby got up and a man dropped into her place with a plate of food. Fen remembered his name too. Christian. The one who wanted Ripley to be his best man when he married Toby.
“The food is fantastic, babes,” Toby said. “If Fen had been a caterer, I’d have asked him to do a party for us but he’s an antiques expert.”
“How do you know Ripley?” Fen asked.
“I was at university with him,” Christian said. “We were both in the Goldie crew for a year.”
“What’s that?” Toby asked.
Fen didn’t know either.
“Reserve rowing crew at Cambridge.”
“Wow,” Fen said. He’d once watched the race on the Thames with his mum.
“I stopped rowing because of a back injury. Ripley stopped when he realised how much time it was taking. He was more interested in getting a First.”
“Did he?” Fen asked.
“He did, I didn’t. I found other interests.” He curled his fingers in Toby’s hair.
“Did not getting a First hold you back?” Fen asked.
“I’m a successful hedge fund manager so I’d say not. Once you’re a few years away from graduation, no one even asks what category of degree you got or what subject or even if you have a degree. Do you have a degree?”
“No.”
“Do you wish you had?” Toby asked.
“If my life had been different, I might have liked to go to university.”
“Having a degree can open doors,” Christian said. “But having the right family can open even more. Excuse me.” He pushed to his feet. “I need a word with Seb.”
