“What’s up?”
Roe answered quickly which probably meant he was still working. He’d have helped with the fence today but he was on an urgent job – no other details given, which suggested it was something to do with a bad guy and the dark web.
“I need relationship advice.”
Laughter. “From me?”
“I know. Ironic. You’ve had the grand total of one relationship – with your wife.” Which begged the question why I was calling him.
“So you want advice about you. Can I have some more context – in fact, give me five minutes and I’ll call you back.” He hung up without an agreement.
I opened the doors from my bedroom onto the balcony that ran outside, the air cooling after an unseasonably warm day. These doors would need child locks on them or I’d need to have the balcony modified before our kid was old enough to get out here.
I was considering what else needed to be done when my phone rang. Roe had been exactly five minutes, which was no surprise.
“You’re in deep with Iris, eh?” There was laughter in his voice. “The heartbreaker has fallen.”
“Fuck off and be helpful.” I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “What do I do? I want more – I want everything – but I don’t want her to choose that because we’re having a baby together.”
“I don’t think it’s that simple to separate it.” Roe went quiet, probably thinking. “For either of you. My advice, Gulliver, is just do what you’d usually do. Be yourself.”
“That’s what I’d say to Joe.”
“Your detective?” he chuckled. Roe told me he’d never read any of my books. He was clearly lying. “Yeah, well, follow your own advice. Flirt. Do that thing that has women falling over themselves to get to you, but only do it with her. Obviously.”
“I don’t want to look at anyone else.”
“I figured. Hence your dating history over the last couple of years with these short terms relationships that were never going to go anywhere. It makes sense now.” He was still laughing to himself. “Freya called it. She said you were hung up on someone else, and then she got all these hearts in her eyes and started acting all soppy.”
“I bet you loved that.” My twin was the least romantic person I’d ever met and I pitied Freya.
“It had its perks.”
I heard Calla in the background, asking for daddy.
“I’ve got to go. More important things to do. A couple of tips first though – say hi to Uncle Gull.” Calla’s baby voice came on the phone, her giggles still one of the best things I got to hear.
“Okay, don’t go all over the top, which you can do and it’s really unattractive. No declaring your undying love. Show not tell. Make her want you.” Roe was rushing his words now, clearly keen to do whatever Calla wanted to play at. “Slow it down. Laters.” He hung up.
Five minutes later I received a selfie from him, his face covered with lipstick and bows stuck in his hair.
I did what any good brother would do and sent it to everyone I knew before posting it to my social media account.
He’d have expected nothing less.
That evening, Iris and I sat together in front of the TV, binge watching a detective series that was actually better than the books it was based on. She was wearing sweatpants again and one of my hoodies that had somehow found its way out of my drawers and on her. We’d eaten fish fresh from sea that morning and veggies from Roman’s granddad, who grew a lot of his own and dropped a veg box off once a week. I stretched my legs out on the stool, my leg brushing against hers. My arm stretched out around her shoulders.
My skin heated up; my pulse increased. I kept my focus on the TV, although I’d just missed a crucial plot point.
It didn’t matter. I could read a review and catch up, if I could be bothered.
Iris leaned a little into me. She was watching the show, but I was pretty sure she was taking in about as much as me.
“Want anything?” I asked, making the question as innocuous as possible.
She turned her head to see me. “I’m good.” She eased a little closer, reangling herself so she was resting against me.
I left it like that, content in being a human cushion for the next hour or so until she was tired and headed off to bed.
