Chapter 63
Chapter sixty-three
Saint dropped them back at Sloan’s. Two suitcases and a box they’d cadged from the shop downstairs, plus a couple of carrier bags full, and Matty’s skates were now piled in the hallway.
“All my worldly possessions,” Matty said, staring at the haul. “Pretty embarrassing for a thirty-five-year-old woman.”
Sloan slid an arm round Matty’s shoulders. “Just means less to carry upstairs.”
“What if we put Gloria on the lift and stuck a box on her lap?”
“Oi, I heard that,” Gloria shouted from the lounge. “Cup of tea would be nice.”
“I thought you were all independent now?” Sloan hollered back, and Matty giggled at the pair of them. “Come on. Let’s get this sorted. I thought we could run everything through the wash so you’ve got a whole wardrobe of clean clothes.”
“I’d like that. Goodness knows whose hands have been all over my things.” Matty shivered at the thought.
“Maybe we can go shopping one afternoon and pick you up some new things?” Sloan added.
Matty pulled one of the cases towards the kitchen, then through to the washing machine. “I think I’ll be putting all my money towards getting a deposit together and getting out of your hair.”
Sloan followed.
When they were both in front of the machine, Sloan took Matty’s hand and turned her back around to face her.
“I want you to stay.”
“Sloan, it’s too early for moving in together.”
“Is it?” Sloan stroked Matty’s cheek. “I don’t agree. Time is just… I don’t care about time. I know.”
“You know what?” Matty’s gaze softened as she looked at Sloan.
“I know that I love you,” Sloan admitted. “And I know that if you moved in, it would work.”
“Wow. That’s… I wasn’t expecting that.”
Sloan looked away. “I mean, it’s fine if you’re not there yet. I…I think it’s best to say how we feel, when we feel—”
Matty cut her off with a kiss that was slow and deep, and it was answer enough. When they broke apart, Matty whispered, “I love you too. I just… It’s a bit scary how quickly that happened.”
“Then we can be scared together.”
“Won’t it be awkward, though?” Matty asked, threading her arms up and around Sloan’s neck.
“How so?”
“You pay me to be here, and then I come and sleep in your bed?”
Sloan smiled. “I’ve got a few ideas about that.”
“Oh?”
“It would mean sacking you, though.” Sloan’s smile shifted. “I need to check with Mum and run things by her, but I think…like her, you need your life back too.”
Matty grinned. “How much rent do I have to pay… Now I’m unemployed?”
“I guess we can find a way for you to pay it off.”
“Like maybe later, if I let you watch me?”
“Something like that.” Sloan’s lips grazed Matty’s. “I like to watch.”
“Tea!” Gloria shouted.
“We’ll pick this up later, when she’s gone to bed,” Sloan said, stealing another quick kiss. “I’ll do the tea. You get that lot into the machine.”
***
Gloria sipped her tea, watching them over the rim of the mug. “What are you two up to?”
“We’re not up to anything,” Sloan said. “But I do want to talk to you about something.”
“Oh, God. Have you got her pregnant?” Gloria said, straight-faced.
“What? No, that—”
“Oh, Sloan, give over.” Gloria giggled. Matty did too.
“Can you just be serious for five minutes?”
“I suppose so. Go on, then. Out with it.”
Sloan sat up straighter. “Right. First—Matty’s moving in.”
Gloria looked at her like she’d said something stupid. “Right. Because that wasn’t obvious already. I said she could have the spare room.”
“She’s not moving into the spare room,” Sloan said.
“Oh.” Gloria’s brows lifted. “What else?”
“She’s not going to be working for us anymore.”
“I should think not. She’s family now—works for free.” Gloria cackled.
“She’s going to go and do whatever she wants to do,” Sloan said. “And I thought, seeing as you are more than capable of doing some things, we could work out where we need help and fill in the blanks.”
“Alright. Like what?”
“Well, I thought maybe a cleaner. Two or three hours a week, to help keep on top of the housework.” Sloan kept going, “Someone to come in a couple of times a week and help you with your exercises, and then when you’re stronger…” She took a deep breath. “You can take yourself to a physio in town.”
Gloria drew breath. Sloan continued.
“We can get you up and ready for the day, sort breakfast, and leave lunch made. Then I’ll be home to do dinner.”
“And once I know what I’m doing, we can go into town for lunch,” Matty added, “or just skate round the park.”
“Got it all figured out, haven’t you?” Gloria said.
“Not everything,” Sloan admitted. “But between us, we can iron out any issues as they come up.”
Gloria set her mug down. “Thank you. For finally seeing me and letting me live my own life.”
“Just promise me you won’t do anything dangerous,” Sloan said. “No risk-taking.”
Grinning, Gloria asked, “Now, where is the fun in that?”