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‘It sounds great!’
I walk into the kitchen and shake her bun. I intentionally lightly graze the back of her neck when I drop my hand. She stops. I pretend I have done nothing.
‘I’ll go and get changed.’
I smile inside as I walk into my bedroom and hop in the shower. I plan on keeping her focus squarely on me. There will be no Viking dick for her, not that she would consider going there; but I am dealing with Lara here, so I am not taking any chances. I know every inch of Ariella’s body and I am going to use it.
She’s still in the kitchen when I emerge. I decide we should have beers, for no other reason than to move her away from the front of the fridge. I place my hands lightly on her hips and shift her like I have done hundreds of times before, with a gruff, ‘Move over, Mason.’ I make sure I stroke the base of her back in the process. She stops again and I ignore her like nothing out of the ordinary is happening.
‘Caleb, Lara’s invited me to Oslo this weekend for a couple of gigs. I thought it would be good to get away from everything.’
I can tell she is nervous, anticipating my reaction.
‘Great idea. You haven’t stopped since Zambia fell in your lap, and this sounds like fun. I think it’ll also be good to get some distance from everyone, including me.’
‘It’s nothing to do with you…’
‘Ariella, we decided to go back to last week, remember? Let’s be honest. Yes, you need a break, and one of the things you need a break from is me.’ I put my hand softly under her chin and lift her eyes to mine. ‘Please make sure you enjoy yourself?’ I let go. ‘Wanna eat at the bar or in front of the TV?’
‘I don’t mind. I can pop dinner in bowls if you want to eat and watch.’
‘I’ll get the blanket. Let’s do the TV.’
By the time I return, she has set the coffee table up with our bowls and is grabbing the beers from the counter. I park myself in my space on the couch and, when she joins, she sits at the furthest end of it, practically perched on the arm. I give her a questioning look, nodding at the distance on the couch between us.
‘Come here.’
I reach over, grab her by the waist and pull her towards me. She allows herself to be dragged close.
‘Don’t make this awkward, just because we’re no longer sleeping together, Ariella. I’m not going to bite you. We’ll be all right. I promise.’
‘Okay.’ She nods, trusting me completely.
I feel like shit, but that doesn’t last long. She is leaning comfortably against me in five minutes, and asleep in my arms just as the second episode starts. It’s the best feeling in the world. I am not letting this go without a fight. Normally, I’d wake her up when I drag myself to bed, but this time I get comfortable and leave us on the couch for the rest of the night.
‘Caleb, it’s twenty past five,’ she whispers, stroking my hand awake.
I know this already, because I have had a terrible night’s sleep; but it was worth it, listening to her breathe and feeling her body rise and fall all night. We get off the couch and I ferry our bowls and beers to the kitchen, while she folds the blanket, then follows me with the napkins and cutlery.
‘Did you let the shelter know you won’t be coming this weekend? It’s getting really cold outside.’
The look on her face tells me no.
‘If you put all the fresh stuff together in a box, I’ll run it over in the morning, then they can use it,’ I offer. I may be point-scoring right now but I actually do care about the shelter. It’s impossible not to, after doing so many Saturday runs with her.
‘Brilliant! Thank you, Caleb.’
She takes a couple of steps towards me and stops. I pretend I don’t notice, but I am doing air punches inside.
‘No worries.’ I turn around and head towards my bedroom, leaving her in the kitchen.
‘What are you doing in my house on a Friday night?’ Em asks, opening the door.
‘Caleb!’ Alfie runs past her and flies into my arms. I lift him up.
‘Alfie!’ I match his excitement.
That’s my boy. I drop Alfie’s head so he is dangling upside down. Em gives up and lets me and her giggling son in.
