I snorted. “She likes to start Christmas early.”
“December first is not early. And this is the only chance we’ve got to go before then.” She stood, then seemed to remember something. “Oh, Jasper, sweetheart, I didn’t think. Do you want to come with us?”
“No. it’s fine.” I tried to keep my voice casual. I didn’t know why it bothered me so much, but it clearly did.
“I know we’ve always got the tree together, but you’re moving in here, and I just thought it might be nice if—”
“Seriously, Mum. It’s okay.” Shame pricked at me for making her doubt herself. I should be happy for her, not feeling put out because she hadn’t asked me. I’d wanted her to treat me like an adult, and I needed to fucking act like one.
“Well, if you’re sure.” Her smile was tentative but at least it was there.
“I am.” I gave her a little shove towards the door and managed to put a little teasing into my voice when I added, “I just hope he knows what he’s in for.”
“Oh, get away, I’m not that bad.”
She was pickier than anyone I knew. “Of course not.”
I saw her to the door, exchanged pleasantries with Clive, then watched them walk down to his shiny new Audi A6 parked in front of my Fiesta. I tried not to feel jealous, or whatever it was swirling in my gut, but failed miserably.
Closing the front door, I took a moment and rested my head against the wood. What the fuck was wrong with me?
“Everything all right?”
“Shit.” I jumped, startled by Finn’s sudden closeness. “Don’t creep up on me, I almost had a heart attack.”
He laughed. “Don’t want that to happen before I get my rent from you.”
“You’re all heart.”
Sobering, he leant against the wall, not boxing me in but encouraging me to stay where I was. “Your mum’s just like I remember.”
That pulled a bark of laughter from me. “You mean a little crazy with no idea of personal boundaries.”
Finn shrugged a shoulder. “I was going to say she’s funny and clearly adores you. But yours works too.”
“Fuck.” I blew out a breath, feeling suddenly out of sorts.
“You want to talk about it?” Finn offered.
I considered it. On the one hand, I probably did need to talk about it at some point, but I wasn’t sure I knew Finn well enough to offload all my baggage on him. At least not on the first day. “Thanks, but maybe another time.” I should really sort out my room.
He nodded. “Fancy a beer then?” He pulled out his phone and checked the time. “Footy’s probably on.”
On the other hand... “Yeah, that sounds good actually.”
My room could wait.
Chapter 3
Finn
Havinganother person living in my house after being on my own for the past few months was... weird.
Not bad... justdifferent.
We’d passed the afternoon watching the footy and having a couple of beers, then ordered pizza for tea.
With another couple of beers.
