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‘Do you want to put a movie on?’ he suggests. ‘I’ll grab some plates.’

‘Okay, sure,’ I call back.

We sit on the sofa, with the pizza on the coffee table next to us, and fire up Netflix.

The living room is dim except for the glow of the TV and the orange fairy lights Angie has looped around the fireplace, which is extremely inconvenient because it makes the whole room feel far more romantic than a babysitting shift has any right to feel.

As we make ourselves comfortable on the sofa, I notice our bodies getting closer again, as we sit side by side.

I wonder if he’s doing it on purpose, because I know I am.

31

‘Wake up… wake up… What’s going on?’

I spring to life, realising it’s Tim’s voice that I can hear, and that I have once again fallen asleep on a man while watching a movie. Maybe I am getting old.

I sit up quickly, practically tearing my face from Adam’s shoulder.

‘Come on, you promised no funny business,’ he says. ‘What if one of the kids came down?’

‘You’re home early,’ I say.

‘No, we’re not,’ Angie replies. ‘How long have you been asleep?’

I have no idea.

‘Sorry, we got soaked, bathtime was a lot,’ Adam tells them.

‘Did you get in the bath?’ Tim asks, his eyes widening.

‘No, no, no,’ I reassure him. ‘They’re just… very splashy kids.’

‘Mummy, Daddy?’ Jake calls out from the top of the stairs.

‘Perhaps you should leave,’ Angie suggests. ‘Given that you’re both topless. But thank you.’

Angie rummages around in her purse before handing us £10 each.

‘Oh, okay, yeah, we can go,’ I reply, standing up. ‘Our tops are in the dryer, I’ll grab them.’

‘I’ll bring them outside to you,’ Tim says. ‘Wait outside.’

‘Wait outside?’ Adam repeats – well, it’s not exactly summer out there, is it?

‘Wait outside,’ Tim confirms.

‘Don’t forget our coats,’ I call after him.

‘At least you’re wearing a vest,’ Adam says as we stand outside the front door.

‘It’s a cropped vest,’ I point out. ‘It’s a glorified bra. At least men are allowed to be shirtless – somehow this looks worse.’

Adam laughs.

At least it’s dry out here. Still, the cool night air immediately grips my bare arms. I cross them over my chest, trying to look casual rather than like I’m slowly freezing to death. I do wish Tim would hurry up, because far worse than it being cold – it’s awkward.

‘I’m not used to stuff like this,’ I say, glancing at Adam.