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‘I really wanted to. In fact, I had a plan in motion, but other circumstances came up, things changed rapidly, and…’
‘You didn’t cook her dinner, did you?’ Em has her judgy face on.
‘No.’
‘But you slept with her, didn’t you?’
‘Yes.’
‘Let me guess – now she doesn’t want to sleep with you any more and things are awkward.’
‘A little.’
‘In fact, you’re round here tonight because she’s moved out, and willing to take Alfie because you’re going to be home alone this weekend.’
‘She’s in Norway until Sunday, but that’s not why I’m taking Alfie. I’m taking him because you and Tim might want to get up to no good this weekend. I know you still want a girl.’
‘Tim doesn’t want the additional debt. Wait. Hold on. You’re not moving on to the next available thing? Why?’
‘I’ll kill you if you repeat this, but I’m done. I don’t want anyone else. She’s it for me.’
‘Caleb. You’re smitten?’
‘Yeah, and it’s bloody annoying.’
Em clasps both her hands over her mouth before she flings herself on me. It feels nice. ‘How does she feel about you?’
‘Not the same. She thinks she’s just a shag.’
‘Have you told her any different?’
‘No. She’s still hung up on Jasper.’
‘The super-hot and loaded fiancé? Louisa and I may have drunk-Googled him,’ she titters.
‘You may have drunk-Googled who?’ Tim says, walking into the kitchen.
‘Ariella’s fiancé,’ Em responds jovially.
He looks knackered. ‘Move away from Caleb, Em. Goodness knows what contractible diseases he’s got.’ Tim grabs his wife and kisses her, then pats me on the back.
‘Caleb’s taking Alfie for the weekend. Are you really concerned?’
Tim’s eyebrows shoot up.
‘Where’s Alfie now?’
‘In the bath. I’ve packed for him already. He’s just—’
Tim is gone. Em and I watch on the monitor as Tim coaxes and then lifts Alfie, who gladly complies, out of the bath. Within five minutes, Tim is back downstairs, carrying the weekend bag Em packed and with a pyjama-clad Alfie in tow.
‘I’ve called you boys a car. Two minutes,’ he announces as he all but shoves Alfie and me into the hall.
He taps his foot impatiently while we wait for the car. Em has the grace to look embarrassed. Tim doesn’t care. When the car arrives, we get hustled outside the door.
‘There.’ Tim points vaguely to five random cars sitting in front of the house, before he disappears back inside and slams the door shut.
We hear a particularly loud and delightful yelp from Em as we try to identify the right car. I smile to myself and, for the first time, I realise that is what I want.
