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My phone buzzes in the pocket of my jeans. I roll onto my back and, wiping my eyes, take it out.
Kip:Has Charlie gone? How are you doing?
I sigh.
Me:Yes, she’s gone. I’m okay.
I hesitate before I send it. It would be best if I didn’t tell him about our conversation, but it’s at that moment that I realize he’s the closest thing to a best friend that I have, and I miss him, and I want to talk to him.
Me: I just had an argument with Mum. Well, a disagreement, anyway.
Kip: Aw, sweetheart. What about?
Me: I’m sure you can guess.
Kip: Ah. I’m so sorry.
Me: She feels bad, and I don’t know what to say to her. She wants me to have a normal life, and we both know that’s impossible.
Kip: Maybe. Maybe not.
My shoulders sag.
Me: I don’t want to argue with you as well.
Kip: We’re not arguing, we’re discussing. It’s what couples do.
That makes my breath catch in my throat.
Me: We’re not a couple.
Kip: You can deny it all you like. The fact is that I want to be with you and you want to be with me. We just haven’t figured out the logistics yet.
I put my face in my hands. Why is everyone torturing me like this? I’m trying to do the right thing, and everyone seems determined to make it harder.
I struggle to control my tears for a while, ignoring my phone, and therefore it’s not a huge shock when it starts ringing. I wait for a moment, wondering whether to keep ignoring it, then decide that’s childish and answer it.
“Hello?” I whisper, wiping my face.
“Hey, sweetheart.” Just the sound of his husky voice makes me cry even more. “Hey,” he says, obviously realizing as I sniffle and snuffle, “come on. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“I’m okay,” I squeak.
“You’re obviously not. Blow your nose and listen to me for a moment. I’m not going to patronize you and say this isn’t a tricky situation. But there are ways around it, ways that are a lot easier when you have money. The fact is that things are going to get a lot easier for you when Charlie comes home permanently. You’ll be able to share your mum’s care, and that will give you a lot more free time. I don’t know how you plan to work it, but maybe you can consider looking after her for half the week each rather than splitting your days? And that means you could fly down to be with me for half of each week?”
I wipe beneath my eyes. “But Charlie’s not moving home until the end of the year.”
“I know. You’ll be surprised how fast the time will go. In the meantime, you can come down whenever Charlie’s home or when your aunt is available. And otherwise maybe I’ll come up to see you.”
My head is spinning. “You’d wait a whole year for me?”
“Well, it’s nearly February now, and university semesters normally end in November, so it’s not a complete year. But yes, baby, I’ll wait a year for you, I’ll wait as long as you need me to so we can be together.”
His declaration, and the accompanying endearment, make me melt. What girl could turn that down?
“I’m crazy about you,” he continues. “I haven’t told you yet because I didn’t want to freak you out, and I’m aware that we haven’t known each other long, but I’m in love with you. I think it was love at first sight, if I’m honest, the moment I looked up outside the restaurant and saw you standing there. Maybe even from the moment I saw your bio where you described yourself as a shield maiden.”
That makes me laugh. “Yeah, Mr. Twenty-Seven-Percent Rogue.”
