Chapter Fourteen
If there was a way for me to move out of here, and into Si’s spare room, without telling my family then believe me, I would do it. Sadly, I have to tell them, and blurting it out over breakfast is the only way I can think of to do it.
I’ve tried to make things easier, by complimenting mum and dad’s jam, and playing nice with my brother, so all that is left to do now is just come out with it.
‘Mum, Dad, Rory,’ I start, trying to sound confident. ‘I have something to tell you.’
‘Not pregnant?’ Mum quickly checks.
‘Not pregnant,’ I reply, hoping that whatever I say now might not freak her out as much.
They all look up, their attention finally on me. I take a deep breath and continue.
‘I'm moving in with Si.’
Rory's eyes widen, and he nearly drops his phone into his cereal.
‘You're what?’ he replies, not giving me the chance to say anything else.
My mum's face goes pale, and she grips the edge of the table.
‘Leah, it's too soon to be moving in with a man!’ she tells me.
‘No, no, I’m not moving in with him in that way,’ I quickly insist. ‘I’m renting his spare room.’
My dad looks confused.
‘Can you even afford that?’ he says.
‘Yes,’ I reply. ‘He’s offering me cheap rent to start because he knows I’m trying to get back on my feet.’
My mum's face twists with worry.
‘But he'll expect… things in return for cheap rent,’ she points out.
Wow.
Rory cringes.
‘Ew, Mum, gross,’ he says.
My dad shakes his head.
‘Yeah, ew,’ he echoes – I’ve never heard him use that word before.
I just roll my eyes.
‘It's not like that ,’ I tell them. ‘I need my space, and this is a great opportunity.’
Rory sets his phone down, his expression serious.
‘Leah, there's a reason Si and I aren't friends anymore. You know that, right?’
‘No, I don't. What reason?’ I ask plainly.
‘Just trust me on this,’ he replies. ‘Si isn’t who you think he is.’
My mum's voice rises again.
‘It's too soon, Leah,’ she says again. ‘Just… even to live on your own.’
‘I lived on my own in London,’ I remind her. ‘It’s not that deep. I'm just renting a room. I need my independence, and this is the best option I have right now. Okay?’
My dad crosses his arms.
‘And you really think you can afford this?’ he checks.
‘Yes, Dad,’ I say, my patience wearing thin. ‘We’ve talked about the price and I can afford it. And I’m looking for a job. When I have enough money to get my own place, I will.’
‘But what if he... expects things?’ Mum asks – honestly, the incorrect image she must have in her head, because in my experience men don’t expect (or want) all that much from me).
Rory shudders again.
‘Mum, please stop.’
‘I'm an adult. I need my own space, and I'm moving out,’ I say, pretty much repeating myself. ‘You’ll just have to make peace with it.’
They all stare at me, a mixture of shock and worry in their eyes. I’m sure they mean well but come on. But I’m doing this. This is my chance to take control of my life, and I'm not going to let them stop me.