Chapter Fifteen
I really feel like I’ve landed on my feet here.
I sit at the breakfast table, savouring the smell of sausages, bacon, eggs, and beans cooking on the hob.
It’s my first morning in my new home and Si is making breakfast.
‘Don't get used to this,’ he says with a laugh. ‘It's just a welcome breakfast.’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t,’ I reply with a smile.
I moved in yesterday evening and Adam was nowhere to be seen. I keep having these mini panics, thinking this is a terrible idea, but I’m so desperate to have my own space again. It’s just… was moving in with two brothers who I both kinda fancy the best way to get that?
As Si serves up the plates, Adam walks in, looking effortlessly cool for first thing on a morning. His presence rattles me, just a little, but I keep calm.
‘Good morning,’ Adam says casually.
‘Good morning,’ Si and I echo in unison.
Si gestures to an empty chair.
‘I’ve made you some too,’ he tells Adam. ‘I thought you could join us, get to know our Join new housemate a bit better.’
Adam smirks slightly.
‘That's a good idea,’ he says, sitting down at the table.
Oh, so it's like that, is it? He’s committed to acting like he doesn’t know me? Well, fine. Two can play at that game.
‘So, what do you do, Adam?’ I ask, mirroring his smirk.
Si jumps in before Adam can answer.
‘He's a local celebrity,’ he practically sings. ‘He’s a DJ on the local radio.’
I raise my eyebrows.
‘Wow, that’s cool,’ I say genuinely.
So that’s why people know him.
Adam leans back, looking at me with something in his eyes… mischief maybe? Surely he’s not enjoying this?
‘And what about you, Leah? What do you do?’ he asks.
‘I used to plan tours for musicians and festivals, before I left London,’ I explain. ‘Now that I'm back home, I'm looking for a job where my skills might transfer. If not, then any job will do.’
‘Are you single?’ he asks next, which briefly stuns me into silence.
Even Si looks taken aback by the question.
‘Yes, I am,’ I reply simply. ‘Are you?’
Adam nods.
‘Yes.’
‘We were sort of on a date the other night, so, I would hope she was single,’ Si jokes.
Adam just grins.
‘Glad to hear it,’ he says as he eats a piece of toast in what I’m going to call the most flirtatious way possible.
‘I thought we could go out for dinner tonight,’ Si suggests. ‘Officially welcome you to the house.’
‘Sounds great,’ I say.
‘I can’t tonight, I’m busy,’ Adam says.
‘Oh no,’ Si says, with a hint of sarcasm. ‘Just me and you then, Leah. I’ll book somewhere.’
I can't help but feel a pang of something – disappointment? Frustration? I’m not sure.
I’m single, Adam is single, and now I’m sharing a house with him. Things were almost perfect.
Just my luck, eh?