my head for some reason. Maybe because I was tired. I shouldn’t even have been driving. I’d had way too much. It was unforgivable of me to put you in a position like that. I’m sorry.”
For a while, Banks said nothing, and Annie could sense her heart pounding under the music. “That’s not really why I came, either,” he said eventually, “though I daresay it has something to do with it.”
“I don’t understand. What, then?”
“You and I have been finished for a long time,” Banks said, “so I won’t deny it came as a shock when you . . . anyway . . . that’s always difficult, that side of whatever we have. I never stopped wanting you, you know, and when you act like that . . . well . . . you were F R I E N D O F T H E D E V I L
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right, I mean, there’s not a lot going on in my life that I can afford to turn down an offer as good as that. But it didn’t feel right. It wouldn’t have been right. At least I thought we were friends, however difficult it seems sometimes. That you’d tell me if anything was bothering you.”
“Like what?”
“Well, it’s not every night you come around drunk and practically jump on me. There must be something wrong.”
“Why must there be something wrong?” Annie said. “I’ve told you I was drunk and overtired. Pressure of work. I’m sorry. There’s no point making a mountain out of a molehill.”
“You said some very odd things.”
“What things?” Annie pushed her hair back. “I’m sorry, I don’t remember.” She remembered perfectly well what she had said to Banks—she hadn’t been as drunk as on that woeful night with Eric—
but she was damned if she was going to let him know that.
“About toyboys.”
Annie put her hand to her mouth. “I didn’t, did I?”
“You did.”
“But that’s terrible of me. I shouldn’t tell tales out of school.”
“What do you mean?”
“Another drink?”
“I’d better not. I’m driving.”
“I think I will.”
“It’s your house.”
Annie hurried into the kitchen and refilled her glass. It also gave her a moment to think and let her heart calm down. The last thing she wanted was Banks messing around in her personal life again like some knight in shining armor. She could handle the Eric situation herself, thank you very much. She didn’t need anyone to go and beat him up for her, or warn him off.
She sat down again and said, “What I said the other night. It was just . . . Look, if you must know, I’d had an argument with my boyfriend and I—”
“I thought you’d been out for dinner with Winsome?”
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P E T E R R O B I N S O N
“Before that. I was angry and upset, that’s all. I said some things I should never have said. I regret them now.”
Banks sipped some wine and Annie could see that he was thinking, the frown line etched in his forehead. “Is that this toyboy you were talking about?” Banks asked. “Your boyfriend?”
“Yes. He’s young. Twenty-two.”
“I see.”
“We had a row, that’s all.”
“I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
“It’s quite recent.”
“And you’re fighting already?”
“Well . . .”
“Maybe it’s the age difference?”
Annie jerked upright in the armchair. “What age difference are you talking about, Alan? The one between me and Eric, or the one between me and you? Don’t be a hypocrite; it doesn’t suit you.”
“Touche,” said Banks, gently putting his wine down on the glass table. There was a good mouthful left, and smooth legs down the side of the glass, Annie noticed. “So you’re not in any trouble?” he went on.
“No. Of course not. What makes you think that?”
“Everything’s okay? Nobody’s bothering you? Stalking you?
Threatening you?”
“No, of course not. Don’t be silly. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. Just because I made one bloody silly mistake before, it doesn’t mean I need a big brother or someone looking out for me. I can manage my own life, thank you
