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‘Who she moved in with directly from her parents’ house and, from the sound of it, had his house kitted out like a fortress.’
‘She told you all this in the two seconds it took you to turn the boiler on?’
‘Yes, and I stayed to show her how to set it. Then I made sure all the windows were locked and the flat was secure.’
‘Did you now?’ I raise both my eyebrows at him.
‘Yes, I did. She seemed scared, Caleb, and she looked pretty sad.’
‘That’s her default face. Sad. There’s no happy setting.’
‘That’s a nasty thing to say.’ Tim takes a swig of his pint. What is up with him today?
‘Mate, you don’t live with her. She’s a pain in the arse.’
‘I hear that. She cooks for you, does your washing and tries to be kinder than you are to whoever you drag home.’
When Tim says it like that, I do sound like a bit of a bastard.
‘What’s up with you today?’ I ask.
‘You left a young girl that has never lived alone in a flat without a peephole and a chain. You didn’t tell anyone she was there. And I saw your pathetic list of emergency contacts. Nine-nine-nine, one-one-one and my phone number. You didn’t even bother to put Jack’s on there, just in case. You just left her. I turned up for five minutes and I could see she wasn’t doing well. You’re all right though, because you’re in Singapore shagging your—’
‘I need to see this girl,’ Jack demands.
‘Well, it seems Tim here, who apparently doesn’t fancy her, will be returning to put a chain and a peephole on my door. You can be his apprentice,’ I offer drily.
‘I’ll slot it in,’ Tim adds firmly, before we finish up our drinks.
It’s nice to wake up late in my own bed. Being cooped up, surviving on Michelin star-level room service and doing dirty things with Mel is a little bit like Vegas. Loads of fun, but you’re done after a few days. It feels great to knock out some miles running in the brisk air on the Heath. It will set me up for a day wandering around a French Impressionist exhibition Nicole wanted me to see with her. I’m about to leave when she texts to cancel.
Sorry Caleb. I can’t come today. I feel quite ill so I’ll be in bed all day.
You can come over and look after me if you like? Bisous N
Oh no. Sorry to hear that. Feel better. C
I’m not looking after Nicole. It’s not that kind of relationship and I don’t want to catch anything. Time to make alternative plans. I open my dating app; maybe someone wants to meet for a coffee. That’s when I see it.
‘Ariella! Is this you on Swipey?’ I dissolve into laughter as I skip out of my bedroom into the kitchen. ‘What are you doing on there? Good for you.’
‘My friend set a profile up for me.’ She giggles, joining in to laugh at herself.
‘You need to change your pictures. You look like you’re being forced at gunpoint to smile in this one. Also, your bio. This isnotyou.’
‘Oh no. What does it say?’ She looks worried.
‘‘Looking for brains, brawn and a badass body. Be brave, be bold, but don’t bother if you’re only down for a booty-call. Brace yourself, I could be your future babe.’’
Ariella is so horrified she actually drops her wooden spoon.
‘Wow…I amtotallyswiping right.’ And that’s exactly what I do. ‘Have you had many responses?’
She shrugs. There is no way I am going to pass this up. It’s time to check out the competition.
‘Gimme your phone.’
I expect resistance. Instead, she picks the phone out of her back pocket and hands it over.
