Page 75 of Fe
“Limited ninja skills and I left my weapon behind. Ooh, can you hear the sea?”
Ripley could hear the crash and suck of waves and as they turned the corner, he saw the tide was in.
“Wow, look at the water,” Fen said. “If we go too close, we’re going to get wet.”
“How long since you’ve seen the sea?”
“Three years. A day trip to Hastings. This is great.”
“Even though it’s dark and cold?”
“Great,” Fen repeated. “Wild and fierce and loud. And definitely worth a picture. I’d be scared stiff to be out on the sea in weather like this, but to look at it from land… Fantastic!”
They found a pub and after a brief exchange of words, he gave way to Fen buying the drinks. He could see he had to let Fen pay sometimes. It might be Ripley’s money Fen was using, but even so… Ripley picked up the drinks and as he turned to look for somewhere to sit, a spot came free by an open fire. Ripley slipped past Fen to secure the table earning a scowl from a woman heading for the same place.
Fen sat next to him. “Were you the champion at musical chairs?”
“Naturally. Cheers.” He touched his glass to Fen’s.
“Cheers. Would you have let her have the table if I hadn’t been with you?”
What was the right answer? He went with the truth. “Probably.”
“Just as she wouldn’t have given you that look if I’d had my crutch.”
“Probably. But I wanted to sit by the fire.”
When did you last go out with anyone?”
“Two years ago.”
“How long did it last?”
“Nearly three years.”
Fen chewed his lip, then said, “That’s a long time.”
Not as long as Ripley had expected the relationship to last. He took a sip of his gin and tonic. “What about you?”
“I’ve never actually been out with anyone.”
Ripley almost dropped his glass. “What?”
Fen shrugged. “I’m not a…you know what.”
“What?”
Fen glared.
Then Ripley got it. Fen wasn’t a virgin.
“I’ve done…stuff but I’ve never been anyone’s actual boyfriend, well for longer than four dates.”
Ripley didn’t try to hide his shock. “Why not? You must have been asked out.”
“I’m very picky.” Fen’s mouth turned up in a nervous smile.
Do not say anything about paying him.“You told me you didn’t tell people about your BMD.”
