‘Um, sorry?’ she said, flushing from pink to bright red, her eyes darting to the till.
‘Well, you gave him a cup of tea and didn’t give him any change.’
Oke looked at her with amused eyes, and Carmen wondered with a horrible icy chill if she had perhaps got it wrong.
‘Yes, it’s a suspended cup?’ said the girl, looking terrified.
‘What’s that?’
‘It’s … um … when you buy a cup of tea or coffee along with your normal stuff for someone, like a homeless person, who can’t afford one. Then any time someone can come in and ask for one?’
Carmen felt horribly embarrassed, as if the entire shop was still staring at her, as indeed it was. Oke wasn’t saying anything at all, just staring at the ground, at his wet trainers, in huge contrast to Blair’s shiny wellingtons.
Blair looked up suddenly.
‘Well, that’s an awesome idea,’ he said, completely surprising Carmen, and flashing his toothy grin to the shop. ‘Here, I want ten suspended hot chocolates.’
At this all the focus turned to him, and there was practically applause. Blair beamed his shiny smile again and flashed his gold bank card once more. Oke, normally so chatty, took his tea, smiled briefly at Carmen and left.
‘Wait!’
She felt terrible, absolutely awful. Both at accusing the shop girl – God, could she ever drink their lovely hot chocolate again? – but worse, she had accused Oke of being a rube, of not knowing what he was doing.
She caught up with him in the snowy street, the sound of everything muffled, no cars passing.
‘Oke!’
He turned round. She had forgotten to put her coat on and was shivering.
‘Look at you,’ he said. ‘You’re dressed worse than I am.’
He immediately went to take off his jacket and give it to her.
‘No, I don’t need it … I’m so sorry,’ said Carmen.
‘I don’t know why you’re apologising to me,’ said Oke.
‘Because I made it look as if you didn’t know what you were doing. Sorry.’
He shrugged.
‘Okay. Have you apologised to Dahlia?’
‘Who’s … ? Oh. The waitress.’
He nodded.
‘You slightly accused her of stealing?’
‘Oh God,’ said Carmen. ‘I always do this. I just dive straight in and speak and get myself into so much trouble.’
Oke smiled.
‘Have you ever thought about not doing that?’
‘All the time,’ she said, looking up at him. The snowflakes were settling on his hair. ‘But usually it’s exactly five seconds after I just said the thing that got me into trouble.’
He looked serious.
‘Well. Okay. You’re cold; are you sure you won’t take my coat?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous – you aren’t wearing enough as it is.’
‘Well, I’m glad you care,’ he said.
‘Did they not tell you in Brazil it was going to be cold here? Are Quakers not allowed Christmas, birthdays and weather?’
He laughed. She glanced over her shoulder into the shop. Blair was staring at his phone and frowning and sneaking looks at her.
‘I should go,’ she said. ‘Um, what are you up to?’