Page 161 of How To Not Need You

“The talented kind.”

Jesus Christ.

Before I can ask any questions I probably don't want answers to, Megan comes over to say goodbye to Tilly.

Tilly dumps the balloons at her feet, hugs her, then spends several minutes explaining every single animal while Megan nods along despite clearly having no idea which one is supposed to be the giraffe either.

Eventually she kisses the top of Tilly's head. “Love you.”

“Love you too.”

“See you Wednesday.”

“Okay.”

Megan straightens and looks at us. “Have a good night.”

“You too,” I say.

“Bye,” Liv says. Megan waves. Liv waves back.

Tilly waits until her mum is halfway across the lawn before turning to Liv. “Can we get ice cream?”

Liv looks at me.

“Why are you asking her?”

“Because you'll say no.”

“I'm standing right here.”

“I know.”

Liv bites her lip to hold back a grin that I can see her fighting.

“Don't encourage her.”

“I haven't said anything.”

“Your face has.” For fuck's sake now I am saying ‘your face’ as though it explains everything. “Ready to go home?”

Liv looks at me. “Yours or mine?”

“Mine?” She pretends to think it over for about it for half a second.

“Tilly wants pancakes tomorrow.”

“I can make pancakes.”

“You absolutely cannot.” Then she starts walking towards the car. Apparently that's a yes. I adjust the bags in my hands and follow her.

I realise how engrained she is in our lives she has become. Yesterday I opened the fridge and found the yoghurt she likes lined up beside Tilly's. I may have bought it. Didn't even think about it at the time.

Neither Liv nor Tilly seemed particularly concerned by this development.

Ahead of me, Tilly catches up with Liv. She moves all six balloon animals into one arm and reaches for Liv with the other. Liv takes her hand automatically. Neither of them even looks down. They just keep walking.

“Ben's giraffe is weird,” Tilly announces.