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He eyes me suspiciously. “Expecting company?”
My mum looks at me with a smirk. Yeah, yeah, I know, I mustn’t tell lies. “No.” Yet I still am. “I just wanted to try my hand at something new.”
Nathan stares at me a moment longer before shrugging and turning back to the TV. “I’d love some.”
“Great.” I rush from the room again and bash my head against the fridge a few times.
It’s when I’ve served pudding and I’m sat down that my phone starts going off. Won’t life ever give me a break?
Eric: Hey sweet, are you okay?
Gwen: I’m fine, are you okay?
“This is gorgeous.” My mum comments, dipping her spoon into the small chocolate filled glass.
“Definitely.” Nathan adds with a smile. “Your phone is flashing.”
“Oh.” I pick it up off my thigh and read his message.
Eric: I’m good :-) Are you sure we can’t do something?
Most definitely not.
Gwen: Sorry :-(
“Who’s that?” Mum asks; she’s where I got my curiosity from.
“Umm… it’s Sasha.” Why am I lying?
“Huh.” She shrugs and looks back at the TV. My eyes zoom in on Nathan, who is cringing over another sip of his tea.
“You don’t have to drink it.” I laugh and stand, taking the cup from him. “Mum, next time don’t offer to make tea when you know the person who’s accepting is too polite to decline and has never tasted your version of tea.”
She harrumphs in response and sticks her tongue out at me.
“It’s fine.” Nathan blanches. I’ve made him feel uncomfortable now. “I was enjoying that.”
“Nobody enjoys Mum’s tea. It’s okay. I’ll make you another.” I give him a wink and saunter from the room, cup in hand.
“Well, I like my tea.” I hear Mum mutter and smile in the dark.
Eric: That’s okay, I understand. Your boy comes first. Speaking of which… when do I get to meet him?
Good question.
Gwen: Soon. What are you doing?
Eric: Crying over a lack of carbonara whilst eating a microwaveable spaghetti ready meal that I’m certain has more plastic than edible ingredients.
Giggle.
Gwen: Cook something then!
Eric: No…
Gwen: Why not?
Eric: Because…
Sigh. Yet I’m smiling.
Gwen: Because…?
Eric: I want carbonara and chocolate shots.
Gwen: I’ll make it again for next time.
Eric: But I want it now.
Gwen: Stop being petulant. :-P Text you later xx
Eric: K :-(
“Here.” I hand Nathan his tea and sit beside my mum on the couch. He winks at me and rests his lips against the dark fuzz on Dillan’s head, his eyes on the TV.
“Well, I’m going to retire to my room.” Mum announces around a yawn and stands abruptly. She grabs the tray and her empty cup and leaves the room, only calling goodnight before her footsteps can be heard on the stairs.
Nathan looks at me, almost expectantly.
My eyebrows rise of their own accord. If I had fur, it would be sticking up defensively. “What?”
He grins, a mischievous smile that really suits him, before looking away at the TV. “Nothing.”
I take this moment to make my bed on the couch as he carefully places Dillan back in his swinging chair. He joins me, smoothing the sheet over the seat cushions at the bottom end whilst I handle the top.
“Movies and blankets.” He nods thoughtfully. Sounds like a good night.
“I’m going to get ready for bed.” If we’re watching a movie downstairs, I want to be comfortable.
After pulling on my favourite peach coloured, satin nightgown and pulling my hair from the bun atop my head, I pad downstairs and snuggle under the blanket on the couch. Nathan joins me, sitting only a few inches away. Curling my legs beneath me, I rest my elbow on the arm of the couch and my cheek on my fist.
“What are we watching?” I ask, glancing at my son who’s sleeping in his swinging chair, his mouth suckling at nothing but air every few seconds.
“I’m not sure. How do I get to movie channels on this TV?” He frowns in concentration, pressing numerous buttons on the remote control but coming up with nothing but menu options.
I laugh and snatch it from him. “We don’t have movie channels. Dork. We have Freeview.”
“Oh.” He licks his lower lip. “Shall I go to the shop and rent something?”
“No.” I shake my head, still smiling, and search through my mum’s recorded shows and movies. “We’ll watch this.”
Nathan settles back into the couch and looks at me. “Really?”
“Nothing wrong with ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’.”
“I can think of many things wrong with this movie.”
“Oh stop moaning.” I giggle and nudge his thigh with my foot. He rolls his eyes and shifts closer to me. After another moment he does it again. I eye him curiously through my lashes. Another few minutes pass and he moves again, his thigh now against my foot and rear. “Are you going to yawn, stretch and put your arm around me too?”
“Huh?” He looks genuinely perplexed. Does he think I’m stupid and wouldn’t notice him shuffling closer? Or does he genuinely not realise what he’s done?
