Page 29 of Midnight in Paris

‘Yes. I’m just calling it a night.’

‘Right. Tom not with you?’

She shook her head.

‘Typical Tom.’ Will seemed annoyed. ‘I’ll find him for you if you want.’

‘No! No,’ she said. ‘Please don’t. He’s having a good time. And it’s not as if… We’re not together or anything. I was just…’ She felt her shoulders slump. ‘I just want to get out of here to be honest.’

He laughed. ‘That bad?’

She nodded, trying to keep the tears at bay. Because of course she wanted Tom to be there. Only his friend shouldn’t need to drag him out for her. He should be here anyway. Whether they were together or not.

He looked at her. ‘Shit,’ he said. ‘That bad. Come on.’

With Will’s large frame alongside her she was able to make her way more easily through the last of the people and finally burst through the gate onto the lamp-lit street. It wasn’t empty, there were people walking home, taxis making their way to the rank. The club along the street was throbbing with the beat of music. But she was out. In familiar territory.

‘Thanks,’ she said, turning to him.

‘It’s OK. Let me walk you home?’

‘I’m good. Honestly. I…’

‘Soph. I’m walking you home,’ he said firmly.

He was right of course, she thought as she nodded. She liked to think that the streets were hers at night, that the familiarity of them somehow kept her safe. She’d walked them hundreds of times – probably – by now at all times of the day and night. But in that dress, on darkened streets, she wasn’t safe, not really.

She hated that fact, but it was what it was. She was a woman; she had to risk-assess even a walk home.

It wasn’t far. They started out, their footsteps echoing on the pavement. The sound of the ball – its music, its chatter, the busyness of it – faded as they walked and she entertained herself with thoughts of Tom running up after them, full ofconsternation and apologies. But there was nothing. She felt her shoulders stiffen.

‘So, what’s next for you then?’ Will said. ‘Tom told me you’re doing a course?’

‘Oh, yes. Teaching.’

‘Noble profession, so they say.’

She snorted. ‘Maybe.’

‘Well, look. Good luck. Are you on Facebook?’

‘No.’ She’d resolved never to go Facebook, to make her life public.

‘Well, if you do go on… I’m on there, now. Not posting a lot.’

‘OK.’

‘Or get my email off Tom. Stay in touch,’ he said. ‘It’s weird leaving everything, everyone behind.’

‘It is.’

They fell into companionable silence, their bodies close but not touching as they moved side by side.

‘I’ll tell him,’ Will said as they reached her road at last. ‘Tom. That you’ve gone.’

‘Thanks,’ she said. Although she doubted he’d be bothered either way. ‘And thanks, Will. You really… well, saved me.’

‘Anyone else would have done the same,’ he said.

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