“Thank you. But I think you’ll like upstairs more. Come with me.”
He leads me up a narrow spiral staircase, carrying my suitcase like it weighs nothing. I’m slightly embarrassed by how much I packed, cramming that thing full of outfits and shoes that Ellenor insisted I borrow. I han’t had a chance to un-Tobify my wardrobe yet.
Still, seeing how nicely Brandon dressed just to collect me from the airport makes me wish I’d bought the daisy dress back in Sydney.
At the top of the stairs, the light shifts. It’s brighter, pouring in through a round port-style window near the tiny landing.
“This is your flat,” Brandon says, holding the door open for me. “You can lock it if you’d like, but I’ll leave my side unlatched. You’re welcome to come down whenever you like.”
“Thanks,” I say as I step inside. The flat is…coastal, yes, with whitewashed walls, blue accents, and linen curtains. But there’s more to it. So much more.
“Oh my gosh…”
A silver chandelier hangs from the living room ceiling, sparkling blue crystals catching the light like water droplets. Built-in bookshelves line one wall, half-filled with a mix of classics and weathered paperbacks.
There’s a kitchenette with a kettle and sandwich toaster, along with the most adorable floral teacups hanging from little brass hooks.
A wide canvas painting of a phoenix dominates the space above a cream couch, upon which sit cushions embroidered with stars.
When Brandon hands me my keys, my eyes widen at the snowy white owl charm dangling from the ring.
“Wait. You didn’t—” I whirl around, spotting a full set ofHarry Potterbooks lined neatly on a high shelf. Beside me, a tree-stump coffee table bears an ornate lantern, and I notice I’m standing on a fluffy rug, the green-and-silver shades suspiciously Slytherin-green.
“Did I get it right?” he asks, hands in his pockets. “I had a navy rug picked out, but Ellenor texted to say it should be green.”
A surprised laugh escapes me. I can’t believe it. He did all this because of some silly, throwaway list Ellenor badgered me to send? She’s going toscreamwhen I tell her that Brandon followed through.
“Yes, you have. But I didn’t really expect you to…” I spin slowly on the spot. “How on earth did you find time to do all this?”
“Most of the renovations were already complete—it was just the bathroom I’d been putting off.”
“Yes, but…the chandelier…the bookshelves!”
He shrugs. “I had help from a good friend of mine who used to be a cabinetmaker.” A faint smile touches his lips. “There’s no rolling ladder, though, I’m afraid. It wasn’t clear from your instructions onwhere, precisely, you would be rolling to.”
“Anywhere,” I say breathlessly. “But it doesn’t matter. This is already incredible.”
Most of the bedroom is taken up by a double bed with pale blue covers. It’s a small space, and I’m relieved to find no pop culture references in here. Less is more, and Brandon’s nailed it.
He shows me to a glass door leading outside, where a metal fire escape runs down the side of the house. “Those stairs lead down to the back garden. And you’ve got the key to the side gate, which takes you back out to the street. That’s your separate entrance, as promised. But you’re welcome to come through the main house anytime.”
He gestures towards a small kitchenette. “This is fine for the basics, but feel free to use my kitchen. You saw the espresso machine?”
“I did, but I wouldn’t know where to start with one. And I’m not much of a cook. However…”—I lift my chin with mock solemnity—“Idomake a mean cheese toasty.”
“Glad to hear it,” he says. This time, his smile lingers longer.
He nudges the bathroom door open, and my stomach drops.
“Are you kidding me? A clawfoot bathtub?”
It sits proudly beneath the window like a centrepiece, deep and porcelain-white, with curved edges and ornate golden feet shaped like lion’s paws.
“Is that real?” I ask, slightly breathless.
“Yes,” he replies dryly. “But it’s docile, I assure you.”
I’m too much in awe to think of a comeback. Brandon sent me photos of the bathroom a couple of weeks ago, but it was only plasterboard then. Now, there are black-and-white chequered tiles underfoot, the pedestal sink has been replaced with a vanity, and a pink glass sconce glows above a mirror, the walls painted—
