‘That’s nice.’
‘I hope she’s proud of me.’ His voice wobbles ever so slightly.
‘Oliver, I am sure she’s proud of you.’
He sniffs. ‘I wish she were here. I’ve lost faith in what I write, Nelly. How can I write romance novels when I’ve stopped believing in love?’
‘I don’t believe in love either.’
He chuckles. ‘This is why we’re two perfectly matched bed sharers.’
I smile.
‘How do you cope working in a bookshop surrounded by romance novels?’ he asks.
His question makes me laugh. ‘It’s bloody hard. I try to spend as little time as possible in the romance section.’
‘I have newfound appreciation for you, Nelly.’
‘Thanks.’ It’s then that I notice the time. I groan. ‘We’d better get some sleep. Oliver James, you are a bad influence on me and my sleep.’
‘This is better – isn’t it?’
‘What is?’
‘Us talking like this.’
I fall asleep with a smile on my face.
In the night, I’m woken by him talking in his sleep. He’s mumbling but I can make out the name Alfie. I close my eyes and go back to sleep.
28
Oliver has been in the bathroom for far too long. I woke up over an hour ago because I wanted to wash my hair before work, but he was already in there.
While I waited for him, I made myself a coffee, prepared some toast, and fed Lenny. I even sat at the kitchen table with Lenny on my lap and reflected on our second night sharing a bed, which was quite pleasant. As I thought back to one of our Coldplay debates, I felt a fluttering sensation in my chest, but I remembered my experiments yesterday and how my curse doesn’t work on Oliver. That put an end to the chest flutters.
I glance at the clock. He might be an oddity, but he is still in the bathroom. My agitation levels are rocketing. Is this his new routine?
I’m now standing with my ear pressed to the door. The shower isn’t on. What is he doing in there?
The bathroom door opens, making me yelp. I leap out of the way and flatten myself against the wall so there’s no way he can touch me.
He steps out in a grey robe. His hair is wet and flops over his face. He beams at me. ‘Morning.’
Half of me wants to forget the time he spent in the shower, while the other half wants to speak up. I am feeling prickly. The latter wins. ‘You were a long time in there.’
He grins. ‘I do my best thinking pre-conditioner.’
I blink a few times. ‘You’ve been in there all this time… thinking?’
He laughs and walks back to his bedroom.
I hope this is not a regular occurrence.
After showering and washing my hair, I get dressed, say goodbye to Lenny and grab my bag from the hallway. Seeing Mum’s vase back in its place on my little table makes me smile.
I hear Oliver shout, ‘Have a good day, Nelly.’ He follows this with, ‘I won’t sit in your chair today as I have my new beanbag.’
