‘I did!’ he said despairingly. ‘It sold millions – you really have never heard of me, have you?’
‘I totally almost have,’ protested Carmen.
‘It was calledLive Your Happy Authentic Life for a Better, More Confident You.’
‘But you didn’t try it on yourself.’
‘I’m trying it right now,’ he said. ‘I think I might be a bit of a drag.’
‘You’re all right,’ said Carmen.
‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘Could I possibly ask you to forget all of this and not sell it to a newspaper?’
‘How much for?’ said Carmen, then when he looked stricken she had to laugh at his appalled expression.
‘I’m kidding,’ she said. ‘You idiot. But do you just unburden yourself on any random stranger that walks past?’
He gave his card to the waiter.
‘You’re not random … ’
‘Carmen,’ she supplied again.
He glanced at his watch, ignoring his buzzing phone.
‘You know I have a little time before the hospital.’
She looked at him.
‘And my room is just upstairs.’
She sat bolt upright, and almost burst out laughing.
‘Is this you living your authentic life?’
He shrugged.
‘Um … a bit.’
‘Ha. Well, well done, I suppose.’
‘You mean that?’ He got up and grabbed his jacket.
‘No, I mean, well done you for being authentic. I’m patently not coming upstairs with you.’
‘Okay!’ he said, somewhat insultingly. ‘No harm done.’ He asked the waiter to call him a cab, something Carmen hadn’t realised you could actually do.
‘Nice meeting you … ’ he said, back to the low tones he had had before.
‘ … Carmen.’
‘Carmen.’
She got up to leave, shaking her head.
‘Thanks for lunch.’
But he was on the phone, and not even looking at her.
