‘Make sure it is a high wall.’
He chuckles and gets to his feet. ‘Don’t worry, it will be.’
Oh, God, what have I agreed to?
24
Oliver has built an impressive wall of pillows and cushions. He has used all my lounge cushions, my two spare pillows from his cupboard, and a load of new, cheap cushions he bought earlier. I sense he’s been planning this.
‘What do you think?’ he asks, proudly gesturing to the wall.
I nod. ‘Impressive.’
‘Thanks for taking a chance on me.’ He holds my gaze and I can feel an annoying fluttering inside my chest.
‘I need to go out,’ he says softly, and I feel my heart sink. ‘But,’ he says, with a slight smile, ‘I’ll be back in about an hour so we can officially start our bed-sharing.’ There’s something different about his dark eyes. They look brighter and bigger. ‘I promise I’ll be back and there will be no stubbing of toes, bloodied noses, lost keys, the consumption of two and half pints or sad walks in torrential rain.’
I watch him leave and go sit on my chair with Lenny. ‘I believe him,’ I whisper to Lenny. ‘I don’t know why, but I sense he wants to change.’ I pick up Margo Lane’s book and dive into where I left off.
True to his word, he returns after an hour. ‘Nelly,’ he calls out from the hallway after closing the flat door. ‘It’s nearly time to get our pyjamas on.’
We sit in the living room opposite each other. He’s reading a romance book written by one of his author friends. Tonight, he’s wearing a fitted pink shirt and black jeans. His dark hair has been styled and is sporting some beautiful waves. I am trying to focus on Margo’s words about how it feels to be embraced by water, but my annoying mind keeps imagining what it must feel like to be in Oliver’s arms.
I have just been in the bathroom and put on my pink pyjamas which are covered with tiny grey cats. He’s changed in the living room and is wearing a pair of blue pyjamas. As I enter the bedroom feeling anxious, he hands me the rolling pin from the kitchen drawer. ‘Take this.’
‘What?’ I gasp.
‘I know you’re worried about sharing a bed with me, and I want you to feel safe, so take this, stick it under your pillow and feel secure in the knowledge you are armed.’
‘Really?’ I stare at the wooden rolling pin.
‘I wouldn’t dare to enter your side of the bed, but I don’t want you to feel in any danger. Do it,’ he beams.
His wall separates the bed into two parts. If it doesn’t topple over us in the night and we don’t touch, I will be fine.
We pull back the covers of our respective sides of the bed and climb in.
Even though pillows and cushions separate us, I can hear him breathing. My nostrils have detected his Whispering Cedar aftershave.
Anxiety courses through my body. What the hell have I agreed to?
Despite being tired when I got home, I am wide awake now. The prospect of sharing a bed with Oliver has put my body on high alert.
I am lying on my side and facing away from the pillow wall.
‘Nelly? If you’re nervous about this new arrangement, I don’t blame you. Are you impressed by my wall-building skills?’ He sounds like an excited boy scout.
‘It’s the best I’ve ever seen, Oliver. You have a hidden talent.’
He’s rearranging his pillows. ‘I respect you, Nelly, so please don’t worry. This is why I gave you the rolling pin.’
‘I’m not worrying,’ I lie, slipping my hand under the pillow and touching the wooden rolling pin. He better not try anything because I will use the rolling pin.
‘Can you believe we’re sharing a bed?’
‘I blame Gary for this,’ I groan.
‘Gary is an interesting character,’ he says. ‘My thriller author friend would love to meet him.’
