Chapter 74 Cal
Cal
When I turn up at Aida’s house to collect her for Rafe’s engagement party, it’s with an overnight bag and two VR headsets. It’s less meanness that’s stopped me from leaving the gaming stuff here before for the boys to enjoy than a solid appreciation for how much leverage they represent.
Aida’s all dressed up, looking ravishing in a slinky red dress that matches her lips. I kiss her gently to avoid ruining them and follow her into the kitchen, where Kit and Pip are eating their supper.
‘Hi,’ Pip says, but Kit blurts out, ‘Did you bring the Quests?’
‘That’s very rude,’ Aida scolds. ‘Greet our guest properly, please.’
He sighs. ‘Hi, Cal.’ There’s a brief pause during which I’m pretty sure he’s mentally counting, and then he repeats in a rush, ‘Did you bring the Quests?’
‘Hiya, guys,’ I say. ‘Good to see you. Yeah, I did. They’re in the hallway.’
‘Awesome,’ Kit hisses with a glance in that direction, like he might bolt if he thinks he can get away with it.
I pull out a chair and sit down as Aida pours me a glass of wine. ‘And you can play with them tonight when we’re out, okay? Who’s looking after you?’
‘Ella,’ Pip and Aida say together.
‘She’s a sweet local girl who’s doing her A Levels,’ Aida clarifies.
‘Excellent. Well make sure you share with Ella if she wants a go, okay?’
They agree reluctantly.
I take a sip of my perfectly chilled crisp white and set it down. ‘You know,’ I say thoughtfully, ‘there’s only one problem. I’ll have to come back here later and grab them, because I like playing with them on a Saturday morning.’
Kit groans out loud. Pip screws his face up. Aida stares into her wineglass, because she knows what’s coming.
‘Unless…’ I say, looking around the table. ‘Nah. Forget it.’
‘You could leave one and take one home?’ Kit says hopefully.
‘I could.’ I pretend to think. ‘I had an even better idea, but don’t worry about it.’
‘What?’ Pip asks. His forkful of meatballs and pasta hangs suspended in midair.
‘Well,’ I say slowly. ‘I could come back here for a sleepover, and then we could all play with them in the morning while your mum has a lie-in.’
‘Wow,’ Aida says. ‘I have to say, that sounds amazing. Pipster, that pasta’s gonna fall, honey.’
I wink at her. I’ve got this. ‘I just don’t know where I’d sleep, though,’ I say, pretending to grimace.
‘You could sleep in my room,’ Kit says. ‘I’ve got a sofa bed.’ He shovels a huge forkful of meatballs into his mouth.
‘I’m way too big for that sofa,’ I tell him.
‘But we’ve got a spare room!’ Pip shouts. ‘You could stay there!’
‘I could.’ I frown thoughtfully. ‘There’s only one problem.’
They’re hanging on my every word. Jesus, I’m good at this.
‘What?’ Kit says, mouth hanging open. It’s full of masticated meatballs. Grim.
‘Don’t speak with your mouth full,’ Aida says with the weariness of someone who’s fought this battle a thousand times.
‘It’s a bit embarrassing,’ I say.
‘That’s okay,’ Pip says kindly. ‘This is a judgement-free house, right, Mum?’
Fuck, he’s cute. I glance at Aida, who’s pressing her lips together.
‘Right, honey,’ she says.
‘That’s very kind,’ I say. I feel a bit bad now about stringing them along.
‘Do you wet the bed?’ Kit asks, cocking his head to one side.
No, I do not wet the fucking bed. I shoot him a look of horror. In my peripheral vision, Aida is trying her hardest not to laugh.
‘Absolutely not, mate. I’m in full control of my bladder, thank you.’ I blow out a breath. ‘Okay. Here goes. When I’m not in my own bed, sometimes I have nightmares and cry out for my mummy.’
I let that land. Kit and Pip both look openly torn between amusement and sympathy. Aida gives up the fight and buries her head in her hands. Her shoulders are shaking.
Time to close. ‘So… it’s best if I don’t sleep on my own. I was thinking I could sleep in your mum’s bed with her, because she’s kind of old like a mummy, and she can cuddle me if I get upset in the night.’
Aida lifts her face and gives me her best you’re never getting laid again glare. The boys’ eyes are round as saucers, and I have the feeling a small part of them suspects they’re being played. I maintain my expression of vulnerable sincerity with difficulty.
‘But only daddies sleep in bed with mummies,’ Pip points out.
I am so incredibly proud of myself in this moment for withstanding the solid gold temptation to make a Daddy joke. Happily, Aida saves me.
‘We’ve talked about this, right?’ she asks them. ‘You know that adults can share beds with other people, not just their husbands or wives? It’s okay for them to share beds with friends as long as everyone feels comfortable and respects each other. And I know Cal respects me fully.’
The last sentence is said through gritted teeth.
‘It’s just for a night,’ I say easily. ‘We’ll be home late, we’ll fall asleep, your mummy will cuddle me if I have a bad dream, and then tomorrow morning I’ll slay you little chimps at Gorilla Tag, and you can show me which of your breakfast cereals is the most sugary.’
I sit back with a self-satisfied grin and pick up my wine.
And that, people, is how it’s done.