Chapter 8
GENIE
Then
I’ve always had a soft spot for Gray’s best mate, Jonesy, because if it wasn’t for him, then Gray and I would never have met.
They first met a secondary school, and Jonesy was studying art at Brighton Polytechnic when he first started coming into the bar where I worked, whereas Gray had just secured his first job in advertising sales in London, so he used to work all week in Soho and then would go and visit Jonesy in Brighton on Friday nights.
They’d be partying all weekend and then Gray would leave on the Sunday to get ready for work on Monday.
It was like being a student, but with money. He’d lived for his weekends.
Jonesy had introduced Gray to The Hidden Snicket, named as such because to get there you had to cut through the narrowest of alleyways and it was fairly off the beaten track of all the normal traditional pubs and cheesy wine bars.
It was on Gray’s first visit to The Hidden Snicket that we first met as I was lucky enough to have been hired by Maura to work there when I first arrived in Brighton, first as a cleaner as I was underage and then when I finally turned eighteen, she trained me up to help out behind the bar.
Gray purposely chose to be served by me, but it was hard back then to even get me to crack a smile.
Since leaving Bournemouth so abruptly, I tended to keep myself to myself, always wondering if my old life was going to catch up with me.
He for some reason thought I was worth persevering with and, obviously, eventually it paid off.
I still remember the first thing he ever said to me.
‘Two Sapporos, please.’ He later told me he had been trying to appear sophisticated with his choice of Japanese beer. ‘And a drink for yourself.’
‘Thanks.’ I’d replied with only a hint of a smile. ‘I’ll have mine later on if that’s ok?’
‘Of course. What time do you finish?’
I remember looking at him as if trying to work out if he was just your normal lecherous Friday night punter or an ok kind of guy. Luckily, I gave him a chance.
‘The bar closes at eleven, but I’ve got a break in five minutes. I might have a drink then.’
‘Fancy some company?’ He’d boldly asked. I just played it cool.
‘If you like.’ I’d gestured with my head towards Jonesy. ‘You’d better give your friend his drink, otherwise he’ll think you’ve ditched him.’
He passed a Sapporo to Jonesy, who was mid-conversation with a couple of Italian girls. It was clear they didn’t have a clue what he was saying with their basic knowledge of English and his lack of Italian, coupled with his strong Welsh accent.
‘Cheers, Gray. This is Carla and Sofia. Did I get that right?’ he’d asked the giggling girls.
‘Si, si.’ they’d both replied, excitedly.
‘I’ll leave you to it, Jonesy.’
‘Please yourself, mate.’ Jonesy had replied as he returned his attention to his newfound friends.
Gray managed to get a seat at the bar, close to where I was, and he patiently waited. After a while, I came around to the other side of the bar with half a lager. I lifted my glass towards him and took a sip.
I remember thanking him and smiling at his kind, handsome face.
He’d made some jokey comment about different blokes trying to buy me drinks every night of the week and I’d replied with an equally jokey comment about just being thirsty.
‘Oh, and I thought I was special.’ He’d replied, pretending to clutch at his imaginary wounded heart.
‘Maybe you are, or maybe you’re not.’ I’d replied trying to come over all mysterious. My idea of flirting was truly atrocious back then, as I really hadn’t a clue, but Gray was already smitten.
‘I’m Gray.’ He’d formally announced, holding out his hand. I remember returning his handshake and introduced myself.
‘Genie.’ As soon as I’d left Bournemouth, I’d changed my name to Genie.
I met a girl on the coach who had asked me my name and I just panicked so I said Genie as I didn’t want to call myself Evie in case my parents came looking for me.
And I had never liked being called by my real name, Genevieve, so Genie seemed like a good compromise. And it obviously stuck.
‘Nice to meet you, Genie.’
‘Good to meet you too, Gray, but I’ve got to get back behind that bar, as we’re really short-staffed at the moment.’ And with that, I took another sip of my drink and returned to my side of the bar.
Gray also says that the rest of the evening went by in a blur.
He’d politely chatted a bit to Jonesy and the Italian girls, who were so Jonesy’s type, but he always says that I had completely turned his head.
Last orders were called, and Jonesy got another round in, served by me.
We chatted a bit and I could tell he really had Gray’s back.
‘Your barmaid wants to get you a drink after closing.’ he’d whispered in Gray’s ear as he handed him yet another beer and returned to his Italian girls.
‘Really?’
‘Really.’
Gray chatted a bit more with Jonesy and the girls until Maura rang the final bell to indicate it was time for everyone to go home.
After what seemed an age and we’d managed to shoo away the last of the Friday night stragglers, including Jonesy and his Italian girls, it was then time for the staff and their chosen friends to enjoy a late-night drink.
‘Another Sapporo?’ I’d asked Gray.
‘Yes please. That would be great.’
I passed him a Sapporo, and this time my drink of choice was a vodka and tonic, with my glass full to the brim with crushed ice. I shyly took Gray’s arm and ushered him to a couple of seats slightly tucked away from the main bar.
We started with some small talk, and he told me all about how he worked in advertising in Soho in the week but came down to visit Jonesy most weekends.
‘I’ve seen your mate in here before. He’s one of our regulars, but I’ve never seen him with the same girl twice. He seems like a bit of a player to me.’ I’d said. I hadn’t been too impressed with Jonesy and his antics back then.
‘He just hasn’t met the right girl yet.’ Gray replied, taking another sip of his beer.
‘How about you? Have you got a nice girl waiting for you back in London?’ I’d asked him cheekily, fiddling with one of the alcohol-soaked beer mats.
‘Me? No such luck. Just me and my black cat Woody.’
‘Woody? Cute name.’ I’d replied and I’d meant it.
‘I thought so. He was a stray.’ he continued. ‘Kept hanging around in my garden, so I started feeding him, and now we’re inseparable.’
‘Who looks after Woody when you’re in Brighton?’
‘Oh, my neighbour Bessie pops in and feeds him. I think she loves him as much as I do.’ He laughed then, a proper hearty laugh.
I paused and took a breath; all the cheekiness had dropped from my face. ‘And what’s this Bessie like?’
‘Oh, she’s adorable. Not only does she look after Woody, but she also even leaves me a loaf of her delicious homemade bread whenever I’ve been away.’ He replied with a big smile.
I’d swirled my drink around the glass, as if I’d suddenly gone off the idea of alcohol. ‘How come you two aren’t dating? She sounds like perfect girlfriend material to me.’
Gray almost spat out a mouthful of his overpriced beer. ‘Maybe because she’s as old as my grandma.’
‘Oh.’ I’d replied, looking somewhat sheepish.
‘Were you imagining some busty blonde with a penchant for home baking?’ Gray had teased.
‘Err, no. Well, possibly.’ I’d stammered as my face flushed cherry red with embarrassment. We’d both looked at each other and just burst out laughing.