Page 6 of Wish You Weren't Here
‘Yes,’ Ethan replies without hesitation, and just like that, we’ve got ourselves a table.
We settle in, our Zombie cocktails in hand (well, hands technically), and I take a sip. It’s strong, but surprisingly good.The alcohol hits me right away, warming me from the inside out, making me kind of dizzy. Yeah, okay, wow, these are strong.
‘Oh, boy,’ Ethan says. ‘You could clean the bar with this stuff.’
‘Where are you from?’ I ask, noticing a hint of an accent that isn’t local.
‘London,’ he replies. ‘But I’m up here for work. I’m living with my parents at the moment and they’re on my case about when I’m going to get my life together, so that’s fun.’
I feel a pang of sympathy.
‘I get that,’ I tell him. ‘My parents – well, my dad and my stepmum – are exactly the same. They’re always banging on at me about getting a real job – whatever that is – settling down, getting married, having kids – and I only turned twenty-eight a couple of weeks ago.’
‘I just turned thirty,’ he tells me, widening his eyes for effect. ‘As far as my parents are concerned, the best years of my life are over.’
‘And how old are they?’ I ask, stating the obvious.
‘A thousand,’ he replies dramatically.
I laugh, relieved to find someone who understands.
‘Mine think I’m some kind of wild child, because I don’t want to settle down yet,’ I tell him. ‘And of fucking course I have a perfect little sister who is doing everything they want. But I just like to have a good time, and honestly, I’m happy with my job right now – well, in theory. I’m not exactly loving working for Jennifer. I’m tempted to get on maternity leave just to avoid her.’
Ethan chuckles, shaking his head.
‘It’s fine to be a wild child, and it’s fine not to want to settle down yet – or ever,’ he reassures me.
‘Yeah, except they think I’m smoking crack and having orgies every night,’ I tell him. ‘When in reality I only do that every other night – I’d be shattered.’
Ethan laughs at my joke, which gives me the flutters, but before I can continue my stand-up set I notice one of the men has returned to the table. He looks back and forth between us, clearly trying to figure something out.
‘You two together?’ he asks bluntly.
Ethan hesitates only for a second before replying, ‘Yes.’
Ah, the game. Of course. Silly me.
The man’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
‘You in an open relationship then?’ he asks. ‘Just, with the, er, the orgies…’
Again, Ethan nods.
‘Yes.’
The man smirks, leaning in closer.
‘Fancy a third person joining you tonight?’ he suggests. ‘Me, I mean, obviously. I’ve always wanted to try something like that.’
Oh, boy. I’m about to politely decline his offer when I catch Ethan’s look – a subtle reminder of the game we’re playing. I roll my eyes but play along.
‘Yes?’ I tell him, my voice shooting up at the end of the word, like my lips can’t quite believe I’m making them say it.
‘Fucking ace,’ the man says, slurring his words a little. ‘I’m going to get another drink – can I get you guys another?’
‘Yes,’ Ethan replies without missing a beat.
‘Are they Zombies?’ the man checks, noticing the drinks in front of us – he doesn’t even acknowledge that they’re not empty. ‘Two more Zombies?’
