‘Do I? No. I don’t do that. Do I?’
‘You do to me. Whenever I ask you about it, you make a quip about procrastinating and move on. Apart from when we weretalking about your dating break and having kids. What’s the real deal here? What do you need in order to get this done on time?’
‘Oh. Well, my editor is expecting me to send her the revised manuscript in two days and…’ I exhaled in a whoosh. ‘I might actually be able to get it done in time. It’s going to need revisions again, but that’s OK, because it’s better now. Or at least, Ithinkit is…’ My brain was a muddle.
Stephen frowned, tugging at the collar of his shirt. ‘You sound like you’re up against it… Where are your family?’
‘What? They’re at the picnic. You said it was the Fourth of July, right?’
He half laughed but his eyes were sober enough. ‘I just mean, why aren’t they helping you out while you’re under this pressure. You could do with someone…er…looking after you while you’re working this intensely.’
‘Last time I checked, I was a grown-up who could look after herself. Who looks after you?’
He straightened back up. ‘It’s different for me.’
‘Of course it is,’ I scoffed.
‘It is, because I don’t have a veritable army of people at my disposal.’
‘They are not at my disposal — they’re busy too.’
‘So, it wasn’t true, what you told me? That it goes both ways?’
I groaned. ‘Yes. No. Look, they would. My mom would be dropping off mac ’n’ cheese every evening and calling me every morning to make sure I’d showered. Then Lucy would come over to pick up my laundry, but of course she’d have to have the baby with her, and I couldn’t ignore the baby and the last thing that woman needs is more laundry. And Tim would call me up and try to give me advice on what to do even though the last time he read a work of fiction was back in college. Sam would want to look into why my laptop was making such a loud whirring sound and… It’s too much. I can’t breathe let alone think when they areall trying to help me at once, and the one thing I really,reallyneed is space.’
He nodded slowly. ‘Do you need me to go?’
‘That wasn’t a hint.’ I chewed my lip. It should have been though. I was barely able to believe he was actually here anyway; I’d spent far too much time on my own, inside my own head with my characters.
He shook his head and smiled. ‘I’ll finish making you coffee and get out of your hair.’
‘I’m sorry, I just—’
‘Elle, you don’t need to apologise. I’m not offended. I wouldn’t think twice about kicking someone out of my office when I was trying to work.’
When he brought a coffee over, I realised I’d been staring at my notes again.
‘Who is that?’ Stephen stepped over to the window.
‘Huh?’ I looked over. Crap, I’d left the blind open. How long had it been like that? ‘Oh, that’s Mr Biggins.’
‘Does he always stare at you?’
‘Only when I leave the blind open.’
I watched Stephen glare across the narrow alleyway at my neighbour until Mr Biggins actually retreated. Seemingly satisfied, he went back into the kitchen and brought out a sandwich. On a clean plate and everything.
‘Oh wow, is that for me?’
‘Uh-huh. Judging by the packets of crisps and chocolate bar wrappers everywhere, I’m guessing you haven’t been eating too well.’
I shrugged. ‘It’s fuel.’
‘It’s terrible fuel.’
‘Don’t judge me, please.’
‘I’m not judging, I’m…’ He paused. ‘I’m speaking from experience. When I got my graduate position at my firm thepressure to work twenty-four/seven was intense; I used to eat terribly. Picking up burgers on my way home before I fell into bed and then a muffin on the way to work. It feels easier but it leaves you sluggish and you don’t work as efficiently.’
