Chapter Thirty
‘I’m so sorry,’ I insist as I help Adam out of the taxi. That’s half my babysitting money gone already – easy come, easy go.
‘Leah, you’ve said that five thousand times now, and it’s not your fault,’ Adam insists. ‘It’s only a black eye, I’ll be fine.’
I’ll say it ten thousand times if I have to because I feel awful. He was only there because of me, and if I’d handled bathtime a bit better…
Adam pulls me close for a hug. We stand there at the bottom of his drive with our arms around each other for several minutes, neither of us making a move to let go. I’m hugging him because I feel bad, because he’s hurt, because it’s making me feel better, but most of all because whenever we touch my body tingles from head to toe.
As we’re standing face to face, I gently brush my thumb across his bruised cheek. There’s a small cut there, which thankfully didn’t bleed for very long, but he’s right, he’s definitely going to have a black eye.
‘Let’s get inside,’ Adam suggests. ‘I think I do need ice.’
‘Hopefully it’s gone before the festival,’ I say. ‘If not, at least I can get Mel to put some cover-up make-up on you.’
‘Given what I’ve heard about her beauty treatments, that might result in me getting another black eye,’ he jokes.
Once we’re inside I dump my bag down in the hall and head to the freezer to grab some ice. Adam takes a seat on the sofa as I return with a bag of frozen peas.
‘Here,’ I say as I sit down and hold the bag in place over his cheek for him.
‘This isn’t very dignified, is it?’ Adam says. ‘Getting my arse kicked by an old bloke.’
‘What are you talking about?’ I reply. ‘I’ll bet his hand hurts more than your face does.’
Adam laughs, but winces with pain as he does so.
‘Oh, well, that makes me feel better,’ he jokes. ‘And he did think I was a fornicator, which is cool.’
I laugh.
‘Technically we did shower together, in a way,’ I point out. ‘And we were topless.’
‘I guess next time we’ll just have to remember to put our clothes back on,’ he jokes. ‘Without my boyish good looks, I’m nothing.’
‘Don’t worry, Rocky. He’ll think twice before he does that again.’
We’re just starting to relax a little – honestly, my heart has only just stopped pounding – when Si walks into the room. He’s wearing pyjamas and his hair is messy – he looks like he’s just woken up.
‘What the hell is going on?’ he shouts. ‘It’s coming up to 2 am and I’ve got work tomorrow – you’ve got work tomorrow.’
I’m not sure if he’s talking to Adam or to us both.
Si flicks the light on and paces the floor in front of us. It’s only a matter of seconds before he notices Adam’s face.
‘What the hell happened?’ he shouts.
‘We got attacked,’ I explain. ‘By a bloke with a dog.’
‘Why did a bloke with a dog attack you?’ Si asks in disbelief.
‘Because… we were topless on his street?’ Adam offers up with a chuckle.
‘We were babysitting Angie’s kids,’ I quickly add. ‘And we were waiting for our dry clothes – they got wet, during bathtime.’
‘You were half naked, and you got into a fight?’ Si checks with Adam.
‘Well, it’s going to sound bad, if you say it like that,’ Adam says, still laughing.
‘You’re like a damn school kid getting into fights,’ Si rants.
‘Only I didn’t get into a single fight at school,’ Adam corrects him. ‘That was more your thing.’
‘Okay, this is getting weird,’ I point out. ‘Look, I’m going to go stay at my parents’ house tonight, I think, give you guys some space.’
‘Don’t go,’ they both say at the same time.
Si turns to Adam and gives him a filthy look.
‘Yeah, no, honestly, I want to go and see them anyway,’ I point out. I turn to Adam. ‘I hope it feels better soon, and thanks again.’
I notice Si stiffen up.
The best thing I can do is leave them to talk – I feel like I’m watching my parents right now, and I could do that at home while someone cooks for me, so…
Time to call another taxi. There goes the rest of my babysitting money.