Chapter 5
CJ
She’s not mad at Luis, per se, but it is annoying that after returning from his two-hour-long sojourn with Ashley (two hours!
In the middle of the day!) Luis doesn’t even address what happened before.
CJ doesn’t need him to be on her ‘side’, because she was the one who took it too far, and she can admit that – obviously she’s not like, a bully.
But gliding back into CoLab, sitting at his laptop and not even looking in CJ’s direction?
Weird, and so not how they usually are. It’s not until CJ is ready to leave to collect Jorge from his playdate that they engage with one another, and even then it’s CJ saying, ‘Any big plans for tonight, then?’ It’s a Friday, so there’s no doubt Luis will have a date lined up.
They’re not shy about telling each other these things.
It’s part of their deal. They’re more not a couple than they are a couple.
It really is just friendship and amazing sex, whenever they both need it.
It won’t happen again for weeks now. Luis can date as much as he wants.
CJ is happy for him, in fact – maybe he’ll surprise everyone and actually achieve what he claims he wants and genuinely settle down.
She’d love to see that, in fact, if only for the novelty.
Luis practising monogamy is like a giraffe taking up the flute. Improbable. Yet, intriguing.
‘I’m going to meet some of the others at Valdo Gatti,’ he says, glancing up from his emails. He doesn’t ask after her plans, it’s not hard to notice. Hmmm.
‘Oh. Right,’ CJ replies. ‘Some of the others’ means people staying at CoLab.
Tonight won’t be an official CoLab night out, but it’s not unusual for Luis to join them when he’s able.
He’s a sociable guy, who lives alone, and adores showing off his city.
Of course he’s out with some of the others. ‘Is that Ashley girl going?’
She hates how it sounds because it sounds jealous. She isn’t jealous, to be clear, on account of there being nothing to be jealous about. Luis flirts with everyone. It’s not that getting her riled up. She just … you know. The girl is annoying, is the thing.
‘It’s just Ash,’ Luis says, and CJ can’t place his tone. ‘Not Ashley.’
CJ nods, digesting the unsaid. The spaces between his words feel especially loud.
Subtext is normally against her religion, but what is she missing here?
If she’d thought he’d launch into a joke about almost making Ash(ley) cry or whatever, she’d read it wrong.
Luis seems kind of protective of her – or at the very least, critical of CJ.
‘Are you mad at me?’ CJ asks, bluntly, because life is too short.
‘Why would I be mad at you?’ Luis replies. He looks at her dead on, endless brown eyes sparkling with challenge. CJ cocks her head, eyebrows raised, an invitation to cut the crap.
‘She started it,’ CJ states, assuming this is what he means.
‘This morning. She was obviously jetlagged, and nervous about being here, and picking a fight she thought she could win to feel like she’d regained a semblance of control over her emotions.
I’m happy to be collateral –’ at this CJ holds up her hands, bares her palms. The innocent.
Hiding nothing – ‘but there’s no need for you to be odd about it. You know how these girls get.’
Luis shakes his head. ‘Have some compassion,’ he says, voice taut and firm. ‘You’re the most beautiful woman I know until you start acting ugly like this.’
‘Acting ugly?’ CJ repeats. ‘Fuck off.’ Her banter comes out flat, dead on arrival.
Luis shakes his head, throws up a hand to bear his own palms. He, too, has nothing to hide.
‘Stop,’ he warns. ‘Back off. The sexy, spiky thing works until it doesn’t, minha querida.
’ He might be calling her darling, but CJ doesn’t feel very warmed by the affectionate stamp on his words.
‘She’s a good girl. I like her! She’s friendly, she likes to laugh. Back off.’
‘You want to fuck her.’ It is not a question.
‘CJ,’ Luis sighs. ‘If I do, or if I don’t, she did actually have a point this morning. You cannot be so rude to our guests. If my grandparents were here, you wouldn’t behave that way …’
‘It’s because of me that your grandparents have this business at all,’ CJ counters, hating herself immediately for saying it.
Luis’s grandparents have been good to her.
They gave her a job and CJ has made the most of it: their bet on her has paid off, and CJ is proud of that, not resentful.
She is grateful to them beyond measure, truth told.
‘I didn’t mean that,’ she adds, quietly. They both take a pause.
‘You are a good manager, it is true,’ Luis says, after a minute.
‘And you are one of the family, with the way they treasure you. We treasure you. You have made CoLab profitable, and keep the rooms full. Certainly, you do this better than I ever could. Regardless, Portuguese hospitality is known for being opening and warm – we pride ourselves on welcoming visitors with joy. I know you do not suffer fools, and—’ Luis interrupts himself here as CJ suppresses a smile. ‘What?’
She taught him that. CJ taught him what the phrase doesn’t suffer fools gladly means, and hearing him use it correctly, in context, even if the context is CJ having been a bitch, is a nice feeling, like she has been useful.
Taught him something well. It sounds cute, when he works in an unusual English phrase like that.
‘Nothing,’ CJ says, straightening out her face. Luis narrows his eyes. ‘Sorry. Carry on,’ she insists. ‘I do not suffer fools. Correct.’
‘But to be kind to these people who come here. It is a small ask. It is your job, after all.’
‘I am kind!’ says CJ, affronted. ‘We have stellar reviews! I give so much of myself to this place, in kindness!’
‘Good!’ counters Luis. ‘I look forward to seeing this kindness continue for Ash, then!’
They look at one another, friendly now, but both with questions in their eyes. CJ doesn’t understand how they’re arguing over a stranger. Literally, twenty-four hours ago Ash was a stranger.
‘I’m spending the evening with Jorge and the boys, thanks for asking,’ she says. ‘Miguel is making leit?o. I know it’s your favourite.’
‘Is that an invitation?’
‘See? I am kind.’
‘Hmmmm,’ Luis says.
‘I am! And fine, whatever, I’ll do better. I assume she’s your future wife if you’re making this much of a fuss over her. And to think you only just met her this morning. When you know, you know, I suppose. That’s what all the songs say …’
‘Ash!’ Luis suddenly says her name, and CJ follows his gaze.
Ash is at the bottom of the marble stairs that lead to the second floor, in a creamy calf-length cotton dress, A-line, pinched snugly to show off her immaculate waist, romantic-looking, like she could hop on the back of Gregory Peck’s Vespa back in 1953.
A matching cream sweater is tied across her shoulders, the red manicure on her fingers and toes. She pulls a face.
‘I thought I’d dress up a little,’ she says, and even CJ can admit that her self-consciousness is endearing.
Standing there, looking so radiant and questioning, it makes a person want to look after her, reassure her. CJ shakes the thought from herself: she will be doing no such thing.
‘Is this too much? I know it’s only pizza.’
‘No, Ash, you look sensational,’ Luis tells her, getting up to greet her properly.
Her eyes flicker to CJ and then back to Luis, like she doesn’t even want to acknowledge CJ’s presence.
‘Come, come,’ Luis says. He looks at his watch. ‘I think we have time for an aperitif. Have you had Poncha before? It’s a traditional Madeiran drink made from honey, fresh lemon juice, and a white alcohol from sugar cane. You’ll love it.’
‘Sounds good,’ Ash says, and she flushes as she looks at Luis, smiling goofily.
Jesus, what happened in that two hours this morning? CJ wonders. She’s positively mooning over him. ‘You look nice,’ she offers, stilted. Haltingly.
‘You’re kind to say,’ Ash replies, eyes trained on Luis as he collects his things. She gives a little cough. ‘I’m parched,’ she tells Luis. ‘Let’s get a move on, shall we? If the atmosphere is anything like it was when I got in last night, we shouldn’t waste a moment more of the evening up here.’
And for the second time that day, CJ watches as Luis and Ash leave CoLab together, neither of them saying goodbye.