The Friends We Keep Read online

  “I think he’s sexy.” Maggie grinned, pausing from singing the lyrics to a Prefab Sprout song on the cassette player.

  Evvie whirled around. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Maggie winced. “I’m sorry. I’m happy to slightly hate him on your behalf because he’s not very nice to you, but I think he’s really sexy.”

  Evvie shook her head. “Oh my God. We are talking about Evil Ben, right? The most evil bartender ever? The guy who basically spends his life scowling?”

  “I’ve seen him smile and it’s adorable. He has these dimples that come out, and he looks like a completely different person when he smiles. I bet he’s really nice when you get to know him.”

  “Smile? He smiles? When have you seen him smile? Oh, that’s right. When he’s not talking to me.” Evvie sighed. “It’s just me then, isn’t it? He truly hates me. He’s smiley with you, and he hates me. Great.”

  “He wasn’t smiley with me. I’m much too scared to talk to him. I saw him with a bunch of professors, and he was smiley with them. I think he probably just hates all the freshers. And honestly, can you blame him?”

  “Yes, I can blame him. What’s wrong with freshers?”

  “You know he’s a postgrad student, right? He’s doing some two-year program here, and he’s probably just jaded. The fact that he has to work as a bartender and deal with kids is probably what puts him in a bad mood. He can’t tell who’s a dick and who’s not, so maybe he’s just horrible to all the first years. Maybe that’s why I think he’s sexy,” Maggie mused, almost to herself. “There’s something about him that I just find really compelling.”

  Evvie put her hands on her hips. “Objectively, even though I find his widow’s peak hairline distinctive rather than sexy, he is definitely built. He has serious muscles, which is probably why Steve keeps him on the job, because no one will cause problems in the pub as long as he’s there. But, Maggie, honestly? I don’t get how you find him sexy. He’s just super unfriendly, and I have no idea why.”

  “He probably fancies you. That’s why. I wish he’d notice me.”

  Evvie looked Maggie up and down. As beautiful as she was, the boys didn’t seem to be attracted to her in the same way they often were to Evvie. There was something tomboyish about Maggie, a fact she attributed to growing up with three brothers. She was more likely to down pints in a drinking competition with the boys, and had absolutely no idea how to flirt.

  “You don’t want him to notice you. What if you fell in love and then he disappeared off to a job? Find yourself someone your own age. As to whether he fancies me, absolutely no way. On the very rare occasions he deigns to look at me, the only thing I see in his eyes is disdain. Urgh. I swear, I don’t even want this fucking job anymore because of him. I went into the Golden Lion yesterday and they may need someone. They’re letting me know tomorrow.”

  “I think you’re wrong. He fancies you. Why don’t you ask him if there’s something you’ve done?”

  “Because he doesn’t talk to me. But maybe I will. Maybe if I get this job at the Golden Lion I’ll ask him, and maybe I’ll tell him what I really think of him.”

  “Can you also tell him your best friend thinks he’s sexy and he should really take her out for dinner?” Maggie grinned, stretching out her foot suggestively, having just painted her toenails a sparkly gold.

  “No. I will not allow it. If you’re going to date anyone, it has to be someone we all love. Especially me.”

  “He wouldn’t look at me anyway.”

  “You’re not serious about really fancying him, are you?”

  “I’m so sorry.” Maggie made a face. “I think I have a thing for difficult men. It’s really weird because my dad is so friendly and nice. Everyone loves him, but I go into this weird thing with men that are grumpy where I have to try to charm them and make them love me.”

  Evvie started to laugh. “That is weird.”

  “I know. When I was at school I was madly in love with this guy who everybody hated because he was an asshole, especially with girls. I just kept thinking that underneath there had to be this good guy who was covering up and that, duh, I would be the one to bring out the goodness and make him change.”

  “Of course you would think that! So, did you ever date him?”

  “Kind of. We went out briefly, and I realized that if he was covering something up, he was doing a really good job, and I had no idea what it was. He dumped me after three weeks for Isabel van Dolen, this gorgeous blond Dutch girl who had just arrived in the sixth form halfway through the school year.”

  “So he was an asshole after all?”

  “Yup. So I have awful taste in boys, which means that if I think Evil Ben is sexy, which I do, then he’s probably just as evil as you think he is. I’m a terrible judge of people.”

  “Not all people. You knew immediately that we were going to be friends. Topher too.”

  “You’re right. Thank you. That makes me feel better. I still think Evil Ben’s rude because he likes you. Good luck. Maybe he’ll reveal his true feelings for you tonight.”

  “Oh, ha ha.” Evvie slipped her arms into her jacket and grabbed her purse. “Swing by later with Topher. I’ll definitely get you drinks on the house.” And with a wave, she was gone.

  six

  - 1986 -

  It was ten o’clock when the group of rugby players came in. Evvie heard the noise outside the pub, and immediately went on high alert, which was what you did when you grew up in Brooklyn in the seventies and eighties.

  She hadn’t seen them before, this group of boys. They were clearly students, but older than first years, all enormous, and, it seemed, well into their pub crawl. They walked in singing loudly, arms around one another, as Evvie stepped back from the bar. Drunk men made her nervous, made her regress to being a scared child, waiting for something awful to happen.

  She looked across the room to where Maggie and Topher were, tucked into a corner table with a couple of other girls from their hall. Maggie was looking at the boys and slightly shaking her head. She rolled her eyes and went back to her conversation. They would be safe, they weren’t the target, merely other patrons, but Evvie, as the only bartender on this side of the bar, felt the danger, knew that if anything went wrong, it would be directed at her. She steeled herself as they broke into a raucous song.

  It sounded like a rugby song, something about how they used to work in an old department store in Chicago, which led to chickens, which led, inevitably, to something about cocks. Evvie tensed.

  They jeered and cheered, staggering in, the biggest one in the front pausing by a table on the side, where two older men sat quietly having a drink. They were locals who usually came in early during the week before getting back home for dinner, but tonight, a Saturday, they had been in with their wives, who had just left. The men were finishing up their pints before heading home.

  The big student knocked the cap off one of the men, then leaned down, picked up his pint, and drained it, banging it back on the table. Everyone in the pub held their breath, but nobody said anything. The local man wouldn’t meet his eye, just stood up. When the student pushed his body into him, the old man stopped for a few seconds, looking at the carpet, then walked out as the rest of the boys laughed.

  Evvie took a deep breath and told herself not to be scared. This wasn’t her father, about to have a fight with her mother, a fight that may or may not end in something violent. These were strangers, and they were boys, and they couldn’t hurt her. But her thoughts didn’t stop her heart from beating fast, the anxiety making her breath quick and shallow, a buzzing in her ears.

  “Who’s this then?” One of them walked up to the bar, then leaned down and sniffed. “Mmm. Fresh meat. I smell fresh meat.” He turned to his friends, who all laughed before he turned back to Evvie. “Eight pints of lager and a serving of snatch.”

  Evvie pretended not
to hear the last bit. She walked down to the other end of the bar for the pint glasses, aware that her heart was pounding.

  “Oi, Whitney,” he yelled. “I’ll be your greatest love of all if you’ll let me.”

  Evvie forced a small smile, as if she hadn’t heard this a million times before, especially since she moved to England, where every other person seemed to think she was a dead ringer for Whitney Houston.

  “Bring those beers over to us, will you.” He leered as Evvie’s heart sank. At least behind the bar she had some protection.

  “I can’t leave the bar,” she said. “Boss’s orders.”

  “What?” He leaned forward. “I don’t understand you. Say it again.”

  “I said, I can’t leave the bar. Here.” She pushed the drinks toward him. “You can take them with you.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do. I’m telling you what to do. My friends and I will be at that table, and you will be bringing us our beer. Got it?”

  “I’m sorry,” Evvie said, hoping her voice sounded stronger than it felt. “I can’t do that.” She knew that if she walked out, in her miniskirt and Converse sneakers, there would be hell to pay. At best, it would lead to lewd comments. At worst, there would be groping involved.

  The student pushed himself up on his hands and lurched toward her, almost over the bar, as Evvie stepped back, now frightened.

  “Leave her alone.” Suddenly, Maggie was standing next to the goon in all her imperious, angry, redheaded glory.

  “Well, hell-o, ginger. What have we here?” the big one slurred, as his friends laughed.

  “How dare you just walk in here and steal someone’s drink? And now you’re sexually and racially harassing my friend. Leave her alone. I suggest you leave right now.”

  Evvie was impressed by Maggie’s bravery, even while knowing how stupid it was for her to step forward. Maggie had no idea that she was now in the real world, no longer in the protective bubble of her perfect family. She had no idea that people didn’t always do the right thing, that girls like her weren’t necessarily respected or listened to.

  “What the fuck do you know about it, pasty?” said the big one as his friends cheered him on.

  “Fuck, she’s ugly,” another one shouted out. “Don’t even bother talking to her, mate. You might catch something nasty.”

  Maggie turned bright red, but she didn’t back down. “What are your names?” she said.

  “Fucking minger!” someone shouted from the back of the gang as they all laughed.

  “What does that mean?” Topher, who had also come up to the bar, whispered to Evvie.

  “I’m not sure but I think it means ugly.”

  Topher stepped up. “Leave her alone. There’s no need to insult her. And she’s right, you shouldn’t have stolen that man’s drink, and you definitely shouldn’t be threatening the female bartender. You’re all drunk. You need to go home before we call the police.”

  The rugby players paused, their faces lighting up. “Well, well. This just gets better, doesn’t it,” said the leader. “Not only is he a nonce, he’s a bleedin’ American one as well.” At that, the big drunk one stepped right up to Topher and got in his face, intimidating him with a glare before using his body to push him against the wall.

  Topher flinched, but only for a second before regaining his composure and sighing. “God, this is all very tiresome. Do you want to just hit me? It’s totally fine if you do, because I will file an assault report with the police immediately. Not only that, I will also bring a civil case against you. I hope Mummy and Daddy have money, because we Americans love nothing more than a court case. We love suing people, it’s like a national pastime with us, and I have enough money and power to wipe the floor with your entire family. So go on. Please. Do us all a favor and hit me.” He turned a cheek. “How about this one?”

  The rugby players were faltering, the ringleader not knowing how much of what Topher had just said was true. One thing was certain, Topher wasn’t scared, and they weren’t used to people not being scared.

  “Not the left side? I understand. It’s actually not my best side anyway. Give me a good blow on the right side. I’m very delicate. I’ll almost certainly have a huge black eye within minutes, and the police will definitely want it to look as bad as possible. I have high cheekbones, so if you can break one, that would be great. It makes for a much better story in the press.” Topher craned his neck as the rugby player stood, seemingly trying to figure out what to do next without screwing himself over one way or the other.

  “You fucking pansy,” he said eventually, putting his fists down. “You’re not worth my time. I might catch something nasty.”

  “He’s probably got AIDS,” called one of his mates as both Evvie and Maggie took a sharp intake of breath.

  “You know you can catch AIDS by having someone infected breathe on you,” said Topher. “You didn’t know that? Oh my God, how close were you standing to me?”

  “What the fuck is going on in here?”

  The crowd parted as Evil Ben walked into the room from next door, going straight up to the ringleader. “Pete Jesperson, isn’t it? What are you up to?”

  Suddenly the ringleader glanced away, embarrassed, as Evil Ben looked around at them. “Damien Scanlon. Oliver Franklin. Ryan McDonald.” The rugby players seemed to shrink in front of their eyes, mumbling and looking at the ground.

  “You know who I am, and you know that your coach is one of my best mates. I’m going to phone him tonight and tell him exactly what I’ve seen here. First of all, I want an apology to these freshers. Secondly, I want you to pony up some money so I can pay back my regular who you stole a drink from. I don’t ever want to see or hear of any of this kind of behavior again. You’re all leaving right now and going back home. Is that understood?”

  The boys mumbled, and nodded.

  Pete didn’t meet any of them in the eye, but he handed Ben a fiver and then glanced at Topher with a mumble under his breath. “Really sorry I was rude.”

  “You weren’t just rude,” said Ben. “You need to apologize for being a real asshole.”

  “Really sorry I was an asshole,” muttered Pete.

  “And to Evvie.” Maggie stepped forward. “They were all sexually and racially offensive to her.”

  “I’m really sorry I was sexually and racially offensive,” the big one said, not meeting Evvie’s eye.

  “And to me,” said Maggie.

  “Really sorry we called you a minger.”

  Evil Ben shook his head in disgust. “Go on. Get out of here.”

  The boys left, and the entire pub exhaled in relief, the whole place having been holding its breath since the moment they walked in.

  “Are you all okay?” Evil Ben looked at Evvie, then at Maggie and Topher.

  “Oh my God, thank you so much,” said Maggie. “My heart’s still beating like a lunatic. I got really scared for a minute there. I don’t know if they would have backed down, although, Topher, you were amazing.”

  “I need a drink,” said Topher, not looking quite so brave now that it was all over. He held out his hand, which was shaking like a leaf, his face as white as a sheet.

  “Are you okay?” Maggie asked.

  “I just . . . That was frightening. When he pushed me I was . . .” He blinked back tears, and Maggie shot a look at Evvie, unsure what to do.

  “Do you need a hug?” asked Evvie.

  Topher shook his head, taking a deep breath that seemed to help him recover not only his composure, but his humor. “I swear to God.” His voice was a little less shaky. “I would have fucking killed them if they’d broken my cheekbone. Thank God I’m studying theater, is all I can say. I think I deserve an Oscar for that particular performance.”

  “What about you?” Evil Ben looked at Evvie. “You all right? You should have come to get me as soon as they c
ame in.”

  I should have, thought Evvie, even though Evil Ben was the absolute last person she would ever turn to for help.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “And thank you.”

  “It’s my job,” he said, turning to leave, without so much as a smile. Evvie looked at Maggie, who seemed sad as they watched him go back into the other room.

  “He hates me,” said Evvie. “And you know what? We didn’t even need him. Topher, you were amazing and they were already backing off. I’m not giving that asshole Evil Ben a second of the glory here. This was you, Topher. All you.”

  “Mostly me,” Topher said. “Although I have to be really honest. I didn’t get what Maggie was talking about before, but . . .” He shrugged regretfully. “That Ben is sexy. He’s not very friendly, but he’s got that whole taking-care-of-you thing going on.”

  “He did not take care of us. You took care of us.”

  “I don’t know. I felt safe as soon as he appeared,” Topher said.

  “I know, right?” Maggie’s eyes were alight. “I think I may love him. He’s our knight in shining armor. And I think he may be my perfect man.”

  “Oh for God’s sake.” Evvie shook her head. “That’s just because you’ve got brothers and you like being taken care of. You’re both ridiculous. And I don’t want to work here anymore. If the Golden Lion can’t take me, I’ll find something else. I can’t stand him, and I don’t want to be in the same room as him ever again.”

  seven

  - 1986 -

  We’ve brought you both something! Charlie, run out to the car and get the bags, will you?”

  Maggie’s mother was tall and jolly. She must have looked just like Maggie when young, and had matured into a handsome, strong woman, her face makeup-free and full of character, weathered from the outdoorsy life. She hadn’t met Evvie before, but as soon as she walked into the room, she gave her a big hug as if she had known her all her life.