Kids. I thought I liked this part. And I was under no illusion that this would be easy, but hey. Maybe it was just this easy. This simple. This nice to just walk into the bedroom and drop my clothes. One after another. I kept my boxers on and sank into the mattress, letting Fox cover me up.
“You’re here,” he whispered.
“I am.”
“And it’s far too late for any shenanigans, and I think we’re both too tired.”
“Yup.” Fuck. I was almost delirious here.
“Tomorrow,” he whispered. “We’ll find some time.”
“I need to talk to you about bills, and paying fees for living here, and food…”
“I’ve got it all…in a pamphlet. We’ll sort it out tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
“And…”
“Yes?”
“Sleep, Noah.”
“I love you.”
“I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I am.”
“I love you. And…I’m so excited about all this. So…happy. It seems like a dream.”
“It’s not a dream.”
He just laughed. And that was the last thing I remembered.
I woke up far too late in an empty bed, the building buzzing with activity, sounds of doors slamming and voices and a phone ringing.
Making a mental note that taking on night shifts would be complicated and sleeping in the daytime might be challenging around here, I got up.
Showered and put last night’s clothes back on, made myself a hot drink, surprised that the small fridge was properly stocked this time. Then I opened the door to the corridor, planning to sneak out to my car and start unloading, only to find …Ms Blessing standing outside.
“Mr Fairweather,” she said sternly. “I’ve just come to have a word.”
She walked inside, letting the door close behind her.
“Can I get you a drink?” I said, clumsily motioning to my empty teacup. Like the plonker I was.
“God no, I’ve had enough caffeine this morning to last me a lifetime. Taught a Relationships, Sexual Health and Parenthood for our year seven boys earlier, I’m wrung out, and if I have to hear another teenaged child laugh when I saypenis?”
“I’m a Doctor of Medicine, Ms Blessing. You can safely saypenisaround me.”
“Inappropriate, perhaps.” She laughed. “But honestly. Sit with me for a second.”
We sat.
I cringed.
“Fox Riley is a nice man,” she said.
