“I know. I love him too.”
“I know.”
“Doyoulove me?”
Sophie sighed. “Of course I do—not the same way Rupert does, though. I thought I did for a while after the accident, but I don’t.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you’re the love of my life—for now, at least, and even though I adore Rupert, there was a tiny twat-ish part of me that enjoyed the fact that you forgot about him and loved me all over again. But I was wrong to like that. I feel so much better knowing you and Rupert are working things out. It’s like the stars are aligning.”
Sophie finished her monologue with another sigh, and Jodi wanted to cry. He often forgot that damn-fucking car had hit Sophie too. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, Jodi. Don’t you bloody dare. We’ve had this conversation a hundred times. I want you to be happy. Rupert makes you happy. Just let him.”
“I’m trying,” Jodi said. “I think I’m freaking him out, though. Reckon he’s got too used to me being a wanker.”
“Be patient. He’s waited this long for you. It’s your turn to have a little faith.”
Sophie said goodbye and hung up, leaving Jodi to realise that he was still in the milk aisle. He grabbed a pint of semi-skimmed and some butter. Logic took him to the bread section, where he picked up a sliced loaf. That done, he headed for the checkouts and found queues at every till.
Sod this.Jodi considered ditching the groceries and running for home, but then he pictured the empty bread bin and Rupert trying to have a cup of tea with no milk, and joined the shortest queue. A battle with the thinnest plastic bag in the world ensued, but with a little prompting from the “Rupert Files,” he remembered the PIN for his debit card and made it out of the store with most of his dignity intact.
As ever, he was surprised at how uplifting it was to complete a bonehead task without a babysitter. Energy buzzed in his veins, and he didn’t feel like going home to an empty flat. He didn’t much fancy another supermarket excursion either, though, and shopping aside, he couldn’t think of anything to do or anyone he wanted to see.Wait. That wasn’t true. He wanted to see Rupert. Jodi checked the time. It was nearly five; Rupert would be done in just over an hour. Which meant Jodi had plenty of time to retrace his steps and meet him from work.
It didn’t take much deliberating. Jodi caught the Tube like he’d been doing it all his life, and made his way back toward Camberwell, where the hospital was. He was usually exhausted and dizzy after he’d taken the Tube to the hospital, disoriented from being rocked about for twelve long stops, but today, the surge of energy he’d had on the street outside the supermarket stayed with him, and he emerged in Brixton, a stop before the hospital, feeling like he could take on the world. Whether he’d win or not was another matter, but for now, searching out the fire station would have to do.
Luckily the maps app on his phone took care of that, and before long, Jodi found himself across the street from the listed building that housed Brixton’s fire brigade. He checked the time again. Five to six. Perfect. Or was it? What if Rupert left through the back? Or finished late? What if Jodi had got it wrong and he wasn’t there?
Nerves bubbled in Jodi’s gut. Rupert had asked him for some time, but that was just about sex, right? He hadn’t said he didn’t want to see Jodi at all ... No, of course he hadn’t. He’d told Jodi he loved him and he would see him at home. Except Jodi wasn’t at home. He was camped outside the fire station like a fucking stalker. Damn it. Why was it so hard to be a normal human being? Why couldn’t he just stay at home and cook a pan of pasta like any other stay-at-home—
“What are you thinking so hard about?”
“Pasta.” Jodi turned to face Rupert’s warm grin, and all his worries faded away. “I was thinking I should’ve stayed at home and cooked it for you.”
“You do make the best spag bol. The only thing better to come home to is your beautiful smile.” Rupert’s grin widened.
Jodi laughed. “Did you read that in the lonely hearts ads?”
“Nope. Made it up myself. Shoulda been a poet, eh?”
“Erm ...”
“Don’t answer that.” Rupert brushed Jodi’s hair out of his eyes. “Seriously, though. What brings you here? I thought your appointment was at two. You haven’t been waiting out here all this time, have you?”
“No, I saw Ken, then I went to Sainsbury’s, then I came back.”
“Ah, you bought milk?”
“Yup. And bread and butter. Check me out.”
“Awesome,” Rupert said. “Did you take it home?”
“No, it’s right—” Jodi looked down at his empty hands. “Shit. I left it on the Tube.”
Rupert bit his lip, but it didn’t contain the throaty chuckle that washed away Jodi’s irritation at his own stupidity. “Don’t worry about it. Who needs milk anyway?”
“You do. For your tea.”
