‘I just wouldn’t want you to think that … Well, this is very unusual, of course. It’s certainly not something that I’ve ever done before.’
‘Me neither,’ said Achilles, the lie slipping out without any particular effort on his part. ‘Actually, to tell you the truth, I’m a bit nervous too.’
‘Well, please let me say from the outset,’ said Jeremy, ‘that if you feel uncomfortable at any time, then you must leave. I don’t want you to think that I’m keeping you here against your will.’
‘Of course. You’re a Guinness man, I see,’ he said, nodding at Jeremy’s pint.
‘I’m not much of a drinker at the best of times, to be honest. But tonight, well, I thought it might take the edge off.’
‘I like my rum and Cokes,’ said Achilles. ‘Sometimes a few tequilas go down well. A beer on a warm day. I’ll drink whatever’s given to me, I’m not fussy. My mum used to put vodka in my bottle when I was a baby to shut me up, or so the story goes.’
‘I remember when I was your age, my father took me to a pub like this for my first drink. He said, “Jeremy, you’ll never forget this moment.” And he was right. I never did.’
Achilles stared at him, waiting for the punchline, but none came.
‘So, have you been using that site for long?’ he asked when the silence between them started to become uncomfortable.
‘Not long, no,’ said Jeremy. ‘Actually, you’re the first person I’ve met from it. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I signed up.’
‘Me neither,’ replied Achilles. ‘I got loads of messages from creeps. Yours was the only decent one.’
‘Oh, I’m glad,’ said Jeremy, looking relieved. ‘Not that you got loads of messages from creeps, I mean. But that I came across differently.’
‘Completely differently.’
‘Obviously, it’s not the ideal way to meet someone.’
‘Well, I don’t know,’ said Achilles with a shrug. ‘It’s 2021. People are so busy with their lives that where else can you meet people other than online? I’m sure if I just randomly walked up to you in a bar and started talking, you’d think I was some crazy kid, punching above my weight.’
‘And I’m sure you’d never just randomly walk up to me in a bar. I’m old enough to be … well, your much older brother anyway.’
‘How old are you, if you don’t mind my asking?’ asked Achilles. ‘Thirty-five? Thirty-six?’ He looked at Jeremy, hoping he wasn’t being too ingratiating. It never did to push things too far too soon.
‘A little older than that,’ said Jeremy, looking down at the table. ‘I’m fifty. I might as well be upfront about that right now. No point in starting off with a lie.’
‘You don’t look it,’ replied Achilles. ‘You’re in great shape for fifty. It’s good to see that you take such good care of yourself.’
‘Thank you, yes,’ said Jeremy, who was aware that he was in anything but great shape. ‘And you? Have you met many people?’
‘Oh no,’ said Achilles, shaking his head. ‘I only went on the site for a laugh, and then you messaged me, and I thought, this guy seems quite cool. I can’t talk to people my own age. They’re all so dumb. And I don’t have a father, you see.’
‘You didn’t know him or he’s dead?’
‘Dead. A couple of years ago now. I miss him. Someone to give me advice and help me out, you know? Someone to keep me on the right track.’
‘Well, it looks like your mum’s done a fine job with you anyway,’ said Jeremy. ‘You seem like a wonderful young man.’
‘Thank you, yeah, I try to be. God, it’s so easy to talk to you. I’m so glad I came.’
‘I am too. It’s funny, but when you’re actually in conversation with someone in real life, the age difference just slips away, doesn’t it? Honestly, Nick, I feel as if you’re just one of my regular friends. Even though you’re not much older than my son and—’
He stopped suddenly and Achilles watched as Jeremy bit his lip. That was a slip-up on his part. The marks never wanted to talk about their own families, especially not their kids. He stepped in for a quick save.
‘In my head, I’m a lot older than my years,’ he said. ‘I’ve been through so much already. I guess I really look up to people your age who’ve achieved something, you know? I’ve achieved nothing so far.’
‘Well, you’re young,’ said Jeremy. ‘It’s all in front of you.’
‘Yeah, but it takes money, doesn’t it? I shouldn’t complain. I do okay. Even though my mum’s a single mum and works every hour she can to put food on the table, she’s always put me first. One day, when I’m rich and famous, I’m going to buy our flat from the council and give it to her as a present.’ He breathed in and did that trick with his tongue at the back of his throat that always made tears come to his eyes, before taking a tissue from his pocket and wiping them away. ‘Shit, what’s wrong with me?’ he asked, laughing a little. ‘Proper little cry-baby, aren’t I? All this fuss over my mum.’
‘It’s wonderful to see,’ said Jeremy, leaning forward and touching Achilles’ hand for a moment. ‘So many young people these days don’t think about their parents at all.’
‘Just a son you have, is it?’ asked Achilles, and he watched as the man struggled for an answer.
‘Yes,’ said Jeremy. ‘I’m … well, I’m a widower.’
‘Oh,’ said Achilles, feeling an unexpected stab of guilt. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Thank you. It was a few years ago now. So I’ve been alone with my son ever since. And, not so long ago, my sister and her husband broke up, which has left my niece in a very troubled place, so I’ve been doing my best to look after her too. But that’s the modern world, isn’t it? Nothing lasts for ever, it seems. But look, let’s not talk about them. You don’t want to be bored senseless by my problems.’
‘I don’t mind.’
‘Well, I do. Will you have another drink?’
‘If you’re having one, yes. I don’t want to keep you, though, if you have plans.’
‘I don’t have any plans,’ said Jeremy with a smile. ‘I’m all yours.’
Achilles broke into a wide grin, a flash of white teeth dazzling the older man. ‘Then I’m all yours too, Jeremy. Same again, please. And this time, tell Peggy Mitchell there’s two ingredients in a rum and Coke, yeah? Not just one. Cheers, ears.’
@TRUTHISASWORD
In her bedroom, Elizabeth made her way along the bookshelves, convinced that she would find innumerable works of poetry there that she could take downstairs to prove to her father just how wrong he had been. Running her finger along the spines, though, all she discovered was the first three volumes of the Harry Potter series, the first two of His Dark Materials, a complete collection of Mallory Towers and a hardback series of classic nineteenth-century novels, not one of which had ever been opened. Next to them were eight works of fiction and non-fiction by Katie Price, each one well thumbed and much loved.