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He was giving her the look she remembered from the first night they met. She’d been out in a bar and he’d smiled at her across the room. Such a cliche now she thought about it, but he’d given her the same lazy, come-to-bed smile he was giving her now. The only difference was back then it had sent her weak at the knees, now her legs were immune and leading her out of the room.
“Come back,” called Alex.
“Just fixing us some breakfast.” Kate called back.
Maddie came into the kitchen while the eggs were boiling looking worse than the day she arrived.
“Fancy some eggs? I’m just making us breakfast.”
“Alex stayed in your room last night?”
“Yes, but nothing happened. We are thinking of giving things another try though.”
Maddie’s face drained from cream to grey and she leant against the kitchen worktop.
“Are you OK?”
“Yes, just didn’t sleep well at all last night.”
“Oh, I’m sorry you weren’t comfortable.”
“It had nothing to do with the bed. I’ve got a lot on my mind. Look, Kate, I think we need to talk about Alex…”
“Did someone mention my name?” Alex walked through to the kitchen, hands tucked into the waist band of his pyjama bottoms, muscular chest on display.
“Urgh, put some clothes on,” said Maddie, scowling at Alex.
“That’s not what the ladies usually say.”
“For fuck’s sake,” said Maddie, storming out of the kitchen.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her at the moment. Do you have any ideas?”
“Not a clue.” Alex ran his hands through his cropped hair and avoided Kate’s eye.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. How would I know what’s going on with her?”
“Because I saw you arguing yesterday after you’d been out to the shop, and you were comforting her earlier in the day when she was upset.”
“God Kate, you’re so paranoid. Firstly, she was pissed off with me because I’d got us lost on the way to the garage. Secondly, I was trying to have a nap but could hear her bawling upstairs. Would you rather I’d left her to deal with it alone?”
“No, of course not, but are you seriously telling me you have no idea why she was upset?”
“She told me it’s something to do with work, and I believed her. Now can we please drop it?”
“OK, sorry.”
Alex pulled Kate into a hug and she ran her hands up and down the firm skin on his back. “Perhaps I was a bit hasty getting out of bed…”
“I’m off.”
“Maddie?” Kate let go of Alex and stared at her friend. Maddie had her coat on and a rucksack slung over her shoulder.
“I thought you were staying for a couple of days?”
“I was, but I’m shit company and it seems like you two could do with some space. I’ll call you.”
