“Hello,” the redhead says. “Do you mind if we sit?” She gestures at the sofa across from mine. “We’re waiting for our table.”
“Please,” I say.
“I’m Carly,” she says. “And this is Amanda. We’re here from Toronto on our honeymoon.”
“Congratulations,” I say.
“Are you here celebrating something?” Amanda asks.
“Stranded, actually,” I say.
She inclines her head. “Stranded?”
I tell them about missing the ship. They’re agreeably riveted by my tale of misfortune.
“You deserve a stroke of good luck, Felix,” Carly says.
“By the way, are you with that woman?” asks Amanda. She’s pointing at Hope, who is now walking toward the front doors.
“Uh, sort of. We’re—”
She is now walkingoutof the doors.
“Sorry. One second.”
I get up and rush after her.
“Hope!” I say as I step outside. She’s waving expectantly at a taxi pulling into the drive.
“Oh, hey,” she says affably. “This place is kind of stuffy. That guy I was dancing with told me about a great jazz club, so I’m going to check it out.”
“You were going to leave without telling me?”
“No, of course not. You seemed occupied so I sent you a text.”
I grope in my pocket for my phone and see she has in fact texted me.
Hope:I’m going out on the town. Don’t wait up.
“Did it occur to you I don’t have a key to the room?” I ask.
“Get one at the desk.” She opens the door to the taxi, then pauses to give me a radiant smile. “Enjoy dinner! The food looked great!”
And with that, she climbs in and shuts the door.
Unbelievable.
I stand there watching the car drive away, marveling that shereallyjust did that. It’s almost heroic in its childish dickishness.
“Mr. Segrave?” the host asks, stepping outside.
“Yeah?” I say distractedly.
“Your table is ready.”
“Brilliant.”
I let him escort me back through the lounge to the dining room, where he seats me at a window table sumptuously set for two.
