‘Why don’t you let her sleep in the bed?’ I suggest, already making it up for her. ‘It’ll be more comfortable and, if she’s good at transferring, you can still take her home in her pram.’ He hesitates. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Absolutely,’ I insist. ‘It’ll be warmer, too.’
‘I don’t know, it’s still pretty nice out here.’
‘Good. Because you and I are going to be sitting outside.’
He smiles at me and waits while I finish making up the bed.
‘I’ll get us a couple more drinks,’ I say, leaving him to settle April on his own.
Chapter 24
When I return, Charlie is sitting in one of the camp chairs.
‘Cheers.’ I chink his bottle as I hand it over.
‘Cheers,’ he replies.
‘Is she asleep?’ I ask.
‘If not, she will be soon. She goes down really well in the evenings.’
‘You’re lucky, from what I’ve heard.’ I have a couple of friends who can natter to each other for hours about baby bedtimes. I don’t know the details because I usually switch off when they start moaning.
‘Do you reckon you and Elliot will have kids?’ he asks casually.
‘Er...’ I hate it when people ask this – especially those who already have children. ‘Who knows?’ I dodge the question. ‘I need to give him a call, actually. Haven’t spoken to him since Ireland.’
‘Haven’t you?’
‘It’s a pain not having any phone reception down here. I don’t always fancy climbing up the hill late at night or first thing in the morning.’
‘You can always ring him from mine,’ he says.
‘Oh, no, I wouldn’t feel right.’
‘Why not?’ he asks with a frown.
‘I’m there to work on Nicki’s book, not chat to my boyfriend.’
‘Jesus, you work so hard. Of course you can take a break to call him.’
‘All right, maybe I will. Thanks.’
‘How is he coping without you?’ he asks, brushing a mosquito off his leg.
‘He’s all right.’ I don’t really want to talk about Elliot.
‘Bet he misses you.’
‘Yeah.’ I pick the label off my drink.
‘Didn’t he want to know how it went with Dillon?’
‘He did try calling.’ I don’t mean to sound defensive. ‘I missed his call and I haven’t really felt like talking the last couple of nights. I emailed him instead.’
‘Oh, right,’ he says, stretching his legs out and crossing them at the ankles.
