“People might think you’re a sucker for dating me when I could be with you for the opportunities you present.”
“And? Are you?”
“Fuck no. Don’t get me wrong, I want to lead on Toad Hall. It’s something new. But that’s not the reason for the other night.”
“I know. I didn’t think you were like that. I’m a shit judge of character but I’ve seen how you are with your daughter.”
“Can I make us breakfast?”
She nodded. “And talk more. Tell me about Robert.”
* * *
The centre wasfull as usual, rammed with people grabbing something that looked like a traditional Sunday roast. I’d cooked fresh today, roast potatoes in fat, broccoli, green beans, parsnips, mash with cabbage mixed in, Colcannon style. The meat had been a treat and I’d managed to make a mushroom loaf for the non-meat eaters, Simone helping after a shift on Friday to invent something. Our job with the food was to make it as nutritious as possible and as tasty. Today we’d done a good job. A patch had been sewn across a broken system.
“I’ll start with the veg.” Simone picked up a bag of carrots that we hadn’t used, ready to turn it into a thick soup. She had a contact at Borough Market who sometimes had kilos of vegetables that hadn’t been sold. A brief phone call had him bring over any waste to the centre to be used up and we were in for a marathon of making and freezing.
Our conversation earlier in the week had resulted in her asking to help. She hadn’t forgiven me, and whatever as happening between us had taken a momentous step back. But neither had she retracted completely either.
“Simone, one of the men at that table said you’re the prettiest thing he’s seen since nineteen ninety-nine.” Lauren appeared at the kitchen door. She was on tidying up duty before Lily’s mother picked her up for a three-night sleep over as it was half term and they were off to their house by the sea in Southend.
“I’d agree.” I caught Simone’s eye and saw a blush begin.
“Dad!” Lauren yelled.
She hadn’t yet become used to the persistent flirting she’d seen me attempt whenever Simone had been around us, which had been a fair amount in the last couple days, although there had been no sleepovers.
“If you’re done with that, grab a peeler and start on those potatoes.” Simone kept her expression neutral.
I laughed, knowing I’d gotten to her. She didn’t know how to react to my flirting, something that made me do it all the more. I enjoyed seeing her squirm and then following it up with something only she could hear.
Her phone vibrated and a stupid ring tone shouted something abusive. I figured Seph, who’d been around to Mount Street at least twice in two days, had managed to alter it.
“Shit.”
I saw the colour drain from her as she checked the message.
“What is it?”
She shook her head. “It’s fine.”
I put down the peeler and strode towards her. “Sim, you’re whiter than the potatoes I’m peeling.”
Her sass and confidence were gone, leaving a woman I’d only seen glimpses of. She hid her vulnerability behind a spine of steel.
“I’ve been getting weird messages.”
That wasn’t what I wanted to hear. I’d never been a fighter, but I’d never backed down from defending someone either, especially if it was someone I cared for.
“You going to elaborate on that or do I have to glare at you for the next three hours?”
There was that head shake, the one I didn’t like because it told me she was trying to bury something into the category of things she thought only she could deal with.
“Simone. Share.”
She looked at me instead of the floor. “What if you ghost me again?”
“What if I don’t? I was a dick, I know. But I know I have to get my head around the whole you’re this incredible business woman and I…”
