Cadan stubbed his cigarette out and stood up. “All this scintillating conversation is tiring me out. I’m going to bed.”
He shouted goodnight as he left.
“What’s up with him?” Seren asked Felix. “He’s not exactly cheerful this evening.”
“I think he had an argument with Charlie this afternoon.”
“What about?”
He shrugged. “He didn’t say, but he went up to talk to him and came back in a foul mood. I’m guessing he asked for money and his dad told him he needs to start working.”
“What makes you think that?”
He stretched his legs out in front of him. “He asked me for a loan this morning and I turned him down. I’ve given him a place to stay and constant supply of food and alcohol. I’m not giving him money as well. Especially since he still owes me from the last time I lent him money. It’s not as though he can’t find a job, he’s just too idle to work.”
“Can you be quiet for a minute, please?” Rebecca said, her eyes fixed on her phone.
Felix’s lazy smile was full of affection. “What are you doing?” he asked Rebecca.
“Writing a message to invite people to the party.”
“You need silence for that?”
“I need to concentrate while I figure out how to word it.”
Felix’s smile widened. “Perhaps you could do that inside instead of getting annoyed with us for speaking?”
She didn’t reply but wandered inside bent over her phone.
“She’s sweet,” Seren commented after she’d gone.
Felix quirked an eyebrow. “Mum and Dad wrap her in cotton wool. She’s sweet and kind, but she’s also scarily innocent and naive. The only reason I’m here for the summer is because she’s scared of staying in the house on her own.”
Seren looked out over the lawn, which stretched for fifty metres before falling away gradually to a long crescent beach. With no neighbouring properties in view, all that could be seen to either side of the house was heathery moorland.
“It is quite remote,” Seren remarked.
“I suppose so. Anyway, what’s going on with you?”
“How do you mean?”
“You seem sad.”
“I’m okay.” Wine glugged out of the bottle as she topped her glass up.
Felix laughed and the sound annoyed her. “If downing wine like it’s water wasn’t enough of an indication that you’re not in the best headspace, there’s also the fact that you messaged me this evening. That’s a sure sign there’s some serious self-loathing going on.”
A smile tugged at her lips. “I suppose I can’t deny that.”
“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”
“No.”
“You’re just going to sit there and drink yourself into oblivion?”
“That was my plan.”
His eyes were full of sympathy and he’d just opened his mouth to speak when Rebecca reappeared, asking him to read her message before she sent it. Then she hung around discussing who to invite to the party.