Unmasked Read Free Page B

night.’ She chose a croissant and opened the Nutella.
    ‘Oh, shit. What did I say?’
    ‘You really don’t remember?’ Emma laughed and Sebastian grinned. ‘I think you do,’ she said.
    ‘I haven’t the faintest idea. But if I had to guess …’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Do you always flirt this outrageously with your husband’s friends, Emma?’
    ‘No, sometimes I just fuck them.’ She bit into her chocolate-covered croissant. ‘Weren’texpecting that reply, were you?’ she continued with her mouth full and eyes smiling.
    ‘Said like a woman who has already decided not to fuck someone.’
    ‘Spot on. And not because I’m married, or because I don’t find you attractive, or because this house is a turn-off, or because of what you said last night.’
    ‘Then why?’
    ‘I have my reasons. You can put it down to the coffee you’ve made me. Terrible.’
    ‘I suppose it’s too late to convince you I had no ulterior motives when I asked you in for coffee?’
    ‘No, not when you put Nutella on the table, you old smoothie.’
    Sebastian laughed. ‘This is how you were that first time we met. I mean, not just with me, but with David, with everyone. I remember you because I hadn’t met anyone like you. You don’t remember me because I was just like all of the other men there.’
    ‘But now you’ve had the stuffing kicked out of you.’
    ‘Yes. Now I feel as though I have no time to waste.’
    ‘I’ve always felt that way.’

    ‘I didn’t get that impression last night. You were the very image of a banker’s wife.’
    Emma was silent. She couldn’t deny him that impression and she wasn’t going to tell him the truth.
    ‘To be perfectly honest, I was surprised to find you with David. I didn’t know he had married you. I hadn’t heard. I’ve always travelled a lot. I meet thousands of people every year. I don’t remember many of the people I meet. Few leave an impression. But you did.’
    ‘Because I’m a flirt?’
    ‘Because you have a pulse.’
    ‘That isn’t high praise. I meet many people who have a pulse.’
    ‘I bet you do. I bet you can raise the dead.’
    ‘That’s not what I meant.’
    ‘It’s what I meant. David has a gleam in his eye which would dull as soon as you left him. You have the power to animate people.’
    ‘You don’t know me. Or David. He is –’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I was going to say a barbarian in a suit, but that isn’t strictly true. That’s an impression I had early on. I recognised the power and wrongly assumed it was uncivilised, that it was a brute force. Thetrouble is it is super-civilised. Contained. And always has been.’
    ‘And you love him?’
    ‘Yes, more than anything else in the world.’
    As soon as Emma said this, she knew she meant it. A sudden rain shower could not have changed the mood as quickly as that admission.
    Now there was no reason for either of them to remain seated. Each stood.
    Moments later, Emma found herself out on the street, her beach bag slung over her shoulder, and walking towards her home, determined to rip her husband from the arms of her friend.

FIVE
    ‘Where have you been?’ asked David as she climbed the front stairs. He was on the verandah with a coffee, his face paler than usual. He was wearing sunglasses.
    ‘Sebastian asked me in for a coffee. He saw me coming back from my swim.’
    ‘I bet he did.’ His expression was deadened. There was no playfulness here. He pulled out his cigarettes.
    ‘Why do you say it like that?’
    ‘He was boasting of his recent conquests. Since the tragedy he’s been sailing around the world,fucking as many women as will have him.’ He lit up.
    ‘What tragedy?’
    ‘What? He didn’t tell you? That surprises me. I would have thought he would lead with it. He lost his wife and daughter in a car accident. Since then he’s been in a downward spiral.’
    ‘He didn’t mention it. I mustn’t be his type. He didn’t try it on with me. Wait, now I’m offended. What’s wrong with me?