Page 42 of Strictly Friends
Griffin took a long swallow of his lager and settled back in his chair to listen to the impromptu jazz performance, his fingers tapping on the table in time to the music. He looked so delighted that Ruby couldn’t help smiling. Despite his outsize inheritance, Griffin was always most at ease in the simplest of surroundings, and Ruby felt a pang of sadness that his mother had never understood that.
The waiter cum pianist broke off to fetch their food, and as he placed the dishes on the table, Griffin leaned in to read his name badge.
‘Hey, Diego, that was fantastic! You play professionally, right?’
Diego grinned. ‘Yes, sir. Waiter by day, and musician by night. If you want to hear some live music and do a little dancing, you folks should come by my cousin’s bar. I play there a few nights a week – everything from reggae to Latin, and even some rock.’
‘I like the sound of that. What’s the place called?’
‘The Marina Beach Bar, sir. It’s close to Sugar Bay. It’s a popular spot for the locals, but tourists are always welcome.’
Griffin pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped in the information and Diego’s number. While the two men continued to chat about music, Ruby let the conversation swirl above her. Tearing pieces of the soft, warm bread rolls, she dived into the hearty broth of freshly caught chunky fish and succulent seafood. Pausing to take a sip of lager, she gazed out of the window at the activity in the harbour, making a mental note to take pictures of the fishermen after lunch.
A little later, and more than a bit tipsy after a second glass of lager, Ruby slumped back in her chair. Diego was back at the piano teasing out a gentle melody that drifted across the room.
Griffin, having made quick work of the skewers of fish and spiced potatoes, drained the lager in his glass. ‘Look at you, all glowing and contented. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?’
Ruby gave him a dazzling smile. ‘I don’t know about the pretty bit, but I’m just feeling happy. Great food, great music, and—’
‘Great company?’
‘Fabulouscompany! I can’t think of anyone I’d rather share this with. Jumping on a plane and coming all this way to bring Jellybean was so over the top, even for you, but I’m really glad you did, because Jake’s right: nothing is ever as much fun without you.’
The music stopped, and suddenly Griffin looked at her with an urgency she had never seen before, and her smile faltered.
‘What?’
This time, there was no sign of his customary cheeky twinkle and he leaned forward until their faces were so close she could count every one of his thick, dark lashes. As she stared into his eyes, it was as if she had seen but never quite appreciated how extraordinary they were. The dark pupils emphasised the clear hazel of the surrounding iris, and despite the air conditioning, a slow flush of heat crawled up into her face. As her breath caught in her chest, all at once it felt like everything around her was shifting.
Just as she thought Griffin was about to speak, he dropped his gaze and a tense silence stretched out between them. Then, he looked up and into her eyes.
‘So, the thing is – well, I’ve been wondering if...’
‘If... if what?’ Ruby stammered, struggling to get the words out of a chest that suddenly seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
‘Rubes... have you honestly never considered—’
‘How are you folks doing?’ Diego appeared without warning, his canvas shoes treading silently on the wood flooring. ‘Can I get you anything else to drink?’
Ruby released the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding and shook her head dumbly. Griffin responded with a polite ‘No’ and then leaned back in his chair with a face that had lost all expression.
As soon as the waiter left, Ruby murmured tentatively, ‘What were you going to ask me?’
Griffin gave a tiny smile and shook his head. ‘Nothing. Forget it. It was only a thought, but I was being daft. If you don’t want anything else, let’s get the bill.’
About to insist, Ruby thought better of it and remained silent as she tried to process what had just happened or – more accurately – not happened. Diego arrived with the bill shortly afterwards and Griffin dropped a generous pile of notes on to the saucer, waving aside Ruby’s offer to split the bill.
Beaming at the size of the tip, Diego shook Griffin’s hand with the warmth of a long-lost friend. ‘I hope you can come by the bar before you leave,’ he said cheerfully as he walked them to the door. ‘You and your wife have yourselves a nice day, sir!’
Ruby and Griffin exchanged looks, but for reasons she couldn’t begin to explain, neither one of them corrected him.
30
‘Jake, for the hundredth time, put your shoes on properly before you ruin the backs!’ Ruby glared at her son in exasperation.
‘But it’s easier to take them off when I wear them this way!’
‘Jake!’
