“Let’s have a sashimi and sushi selection to begin with,” he suggests. “The lobster tempura or the snow crab are very good as seconds,” he adds as an aside to me. “I would take the lobster.” I assume he’s trying to be nice but those dishes are the most expensive ones on the menu. Before I can object he places the order for everyone. Does he just steamroll everyone? Then the wine is served, the ‘most beautiful burgundy’, as the waiter enthuses. Clearly Cassius and the others don’t regard white wine as the housewife’s drink. And they couldn’t be more different from Ralph and his friends in other ways as well. What would he say if he saw me here with these people? I have to suppress a smile at the thought.
“To Livia,” Rupert exclaims suddenly and I nearly drop my glass. Why? What? “Who kept my sister company on New Year’s Eve.” He clinks his glass to mine and I feel a soft glow in my stomach. Natalie obviously told them that we had a good time together.
“We felt really bad about deserting her,” Will explains and I notice Natalie blushing and looking away. Hm, that couldn’t be true, could it? Is he the one she’s in love with?
“It was really her own fault, so no need to feel guilty,” Rupert grins, “she refused to join us.”
“With good reason, as you know,” she mutters, frowning. Cassius suddenly smiles at her.
“Calm down, you were right, we’ve been morons and should have listened to you.” Natalie looks up, clearly surprised at his words.
“Oh, so now you’re taking a stand all of a sudden?” she whispers, fluttering her lashes. Right, maybe I’m wrong after all and Cassius is the one she wants. But she told me it was someone else. Confused I gnaw on my lip. There are so many undercurrents in this group that I cannot place. But small wonder, I’m with them for the first time; I can’t be an expert already.
“Why didn’t Ruth join us tonight?” Natalie wants to know.
“Who’s Ruth?” I can’t resist asking. Surely not Rupert’s girlfriend! The thought springs unbidden into my mind. He’s so nice, I think I could really like him, I mean really really.
“She’s my sister,” Will explains. “She was in Scotland with us and – um – caught a rather nasty cold there. That’s why she didn’t want to come tonight but I’m sure you’ll meet her very soon.” Really? Does he mean that? They want to meet up with me again? I can’t really understand that because they are all so much more interesting and glamorous than I am. Compared to them I feel even more ordinary and drab than usual.
“Ruth is the interior designer I told you about,” Natalie whispers and rolls her eyes. “She’s incredibly beautiful and hip and sometimes very self-important.” That does sound intimidating, doesn’t it?
“Stop it, Natalie,” Rupert scolds her, his voice cold. “Ruth is a stunningly beautiful and talented girl. Quit picking on her!” Whoa, that doesn’t sound too good either. Could Rupert be in love with this Ruth to defend her so fervently? Hopefully not, he’s the first guy I’m attracted to after Ralph. I notice Will grinning into his wine glass and an amused Cassius raises his eyebrows. “Ruth designs furniture as well as clothes. Have you seen my room and our kitchen? That was her.”
“Yes, I have,” I reply hesitantly. Rupert beams at me.
“And did you like it?” Oh hell, what now? I nod, feeling Natalie’s amused gaze upon me.
“Of course, it’s very…” I rack my brain. Like a fridge is not a good option, neither is ice-cold. “…minimalist and cool.” I feel very proud of myself when Rupert seems pleased with my answer.
“Well, you all seem to have very interesting professions,” I speak up to diffuse the awkward moment. “Ruth’s a designer, you’re a sculptor, Rupert…” My voice trails away.
“Yes, we’ve reached a point where every one of us does what he likes best,” Cassius states. Natalie clears her throat and shoots him a glance that I can’t read.
“Cassius has a horse farm in the Cotswolds and Will is a librarian, well sort of. And I am,” she giggles, “just a lady of leisure.” A horse farm? I wouldn’t have guessed, looking at him in his designer suit. Fortunately the waiter interrupts us with plates of sushi and raw fish slices. I watch and copy what Natalie does with the sauces and side dishes. I’m not even too clumsy with my chopsticks.
“You have to try this as well,” Cassius suddenly leans over the table towards me, with something green that looks like shredded plastic dangling from his chopsticks. I’m surely not supposed to eat this? I eye it doubtfully and I’m not sure what frightens me more, his gesture or the food, if that's what it is. I swallow, shaking my head.
“That’s seaweed, isn’t it?” I whisper hoarsely. I try to take a deep breath but it gets stuck in my throat. Even the thought of eating a plant suffocates me. “I’m sorry, I can’t eat that. It looks like…” I stop and touch my throat. Breathe, Livia, breathe! They stop eating and stare at me. I take a gulp of my wine and finally manage to take in some air. “…like grass, or flowers,” I finish my sentence.
“You’re right” Natalie saves me. “On top of that it tastes like plastic bags, not that I’ve ever tried one. Don’t let Cassius talk you into eating it.” Cassius shrugs and shoves the seaweed into his mouth. My heart rate goes back to normal as I continue eating. I just hope that nobody asks me about this overreaction because I simply could not explain what it is with me and flowers. I haven’t told anyone yet. Again I feel Cassius’ eyes on me. I’m sure he’ll ask the question now, demanding an explanation. I look up and shake my head ever so slightly. Mercifully the waiter approaches to clear our table and takes away the plate with the seaweed.
The rest of the evening is less awkward and my lobster tempura is to die for. It’s already past midnight when we finish the sorbets and I start dreading the bill. My father will kill me if I max out my credit card, not that it has a high limit. I do the sums and turn pale. But when the waiter returns Cassius grabs the small red booklet and shoves his credit card into it without even glancing at the bill. “My turn tonight,” he declares casually. I’m a bit embarrassed but nobody else seems to have any qualms, so I’m just relieved in the end. We say goodbye in front of the hotel.
“See you soon, Livia,” Will smiles, kissing me on both cheeks.
“Yes, it was a pleasure,” adds Rupert but doesn’t kiss me. Pity!
“I hope so too,” I reply and fall headlong into his grey eyes. Suddenly there are butterflies in my stomach and my knees start to shake ever so slightly. I couldn’t be falling in love, could I? When I tear my eyes away from his face I meet Cassius’ gaze.
“Bye!” he says shortly, turns and walks away. Natalie frowns, looking at his retreating back, then she accompanies me to my car which is parked a couple of streets away.
“I hope they didn’t fluster you. They’re really nice when you get to know them better,” she assures me. She must have noticed that I was a bit daunted after all but she doesn’t pry. “How about pizza sometime over the next few days after all this exotic stuff? I'll call you.” I agree and ask her if I should take her home but she just shakes her head. “I have other means of transport.” Of course Rupert would be waiting for her somewhere with a car.