Page 61 of The Moon Also Rises
“I bet you are.” Luigi reaches for his glass, his lips already tinted purple from the red wine. He has not been holding back on drinking, I’ve noticed. “And I bet you’re glad you got the job you did too, that brought you both together.”
“I certainly am,” I reply easily. Maybe too easily.
“And what were you doing before?” Luigi asks and I’m immediately cursing myself for not seeing that question coming. All the ease I was feeling a heartbeat ago evaporates.
“Oh, the same sort of thing. Events. But out in the US.”
“In LA, no less,” Jake adds.
“Oh, I love Los Angeles,” Luigi says. “I’m there at least once a year for work, if not more. Where did you live?”
“A few places at first, but I eventually bought a place in Santa Monica,” I say, hoping that not deliberately dishing out mistruths will help me navigate this.
“Wow. Business must have been treating you very well. Why come back here?”
“Well, I… I had a bad break-up and needed a fresh start.” I turn to Jake expecting to see the same inquisitive gaze that both Lionel and Luigi are giving me but I am surprised by something else; a furrowed brow, a slightly parted mouth. He looks concerned for me, worried almost.
“I’d also been away from my family for a long time,” I continue, again finding the truth easier to say even if it’s not the whole truth. “I wanted to be closer to them.”
“Lucky for me, eh?” Jake says. It’s instinctive when I slide my hand out of his grip and hold his palm down on my leg. Again, I see Jake startle, his upper body freezing, but a beat later I feel a short squeeze and that makes it easier for me to smile and keep talking.
“I got the job with Jake in the worst way possible. I’m friends with the two owners, Bill and Simeon. But Jake has forgiven my nepotistic ways.”
“Just about,” Jake confirms, and I get another leg squeeze.
“And do you ever actually work together?” Lionel asks.
“Yes, we do,” I answer. In fact, we just got told yesterday that we are going to be working together quite closely on a project.”
“A high-profile wedding for a Premier League footballer. It’s all a bit last minute and very hush-hush, of course. I’m responsible for getting the venue ready, and Rami then has to put on the show itself.”
He squeezes my thigh again, a squeeze that has a slight slide to it, a slide upwards. It’s my turn to freeze.
“Oh, you two… you two are just cuter than candy floss melting on my tongue.” Lionel clasps his hands together and Luigi leans over to kiss the top of his husband’s head.
“Well, we shouldn’t be talking about work like that in front of you,” Jake says removing his hand from my leg and pushing up to stand. I try to ignore how cool my leg feels now his hand is gone. “Let’s clear the plates and maybe have another drink before I serve dessert?”
We all agree and together clear the table in no time at all. After stacking his dishwasher, Jake again tops up his guests’ glasses without anyone noticing, and we return to the table after Luigi and Lionel take turns going to the toilet. I excuse myself to also go to the bathroom, but I stop in the doorway when I hear Lionel ask a very innocent and perfectly normal question.
“Where does Rami live, Jake? Is it far from you?”
“Err, well, not—” Jake begins but I spin on my heel and turn around, interrupting.
“I’m in Hoxton. So, a bit of a trek but not too bad,” I say.
Jake’s eyes widen as they meet mine but they shrink after I smile at him.
“Oh, yes, that is a bit of a distance. But no doubt you’ll probably be living together soon,” Lionel says and there is nothing leading or overbearing in his tone but I can tell Jake feels the same as me; completely out of my depth. Silence falls when we don’t reply.
“Oh, bananas! Did I overstep? I should keep my mouth shut, shouldn’t I?”
“No, no.” Jake leans over the table towards his friend. “It’s not that, it’s more—”
“I’ve asked him,” I say, stepping further into the room. “I’d move in with him tomorrow, but Jake wants to take it slow. He’s right too. It’s early days and no matter what I feel about him, we need to take it slow and enjoy dating first.”
Jake’s hand is still extended across the table towards Lionel but his whole body turns towards me.
“Yes, that’s what I want,” he says in a quiet, airy voice.
