Page 46 of Love Unlocked

When he places the coffee before her, he’s more back to himself but she tries to help him along.

‘Do you know that people pee into kettles in hotel rooms? And they boil their dirty underwear in them.’

‘Let’s see if rental property kettles are the same.’ He sips his coffee and observes her over the rim. ‘Is this the type of chat you have on the podcast?’

‘Pretty much.’

She crunches, thinking about Prunella. ‘She is nice.’

‘Who? Are we back on Prunella again?’

‘We’ve never had a falling-out. Or shared a bad word. But I can’t figure her out. She’s so poised most of the time.’

‘That must bother you.’

‘Her being poised?’ She straightens her posture.

‘Not being able to figure her out. You like to read people.’

‘Yeah. I do,’ she says, realising. ‘I like people to be messy and complicated and normal, and when they’re not I wonder what’s wrong with them.’

‘Well you lucked out with me.’

‘You tick all the boxes. The heartbreak and bitterness is the real draw.’

He smiles and eats half his bowl in one mouthful. He goes around the outside of the bowl, spooning up the oats in a circle, leaving the centre untouched, a sprinkle of blueberries on a porridge island. His alarm woke them both, he didn’t have bad breath, he looked as delicious as last night, but even more so, like a worn, creased, loved teddy bear with the same sleepy eyes he’d had when they first met. It hadn’t been awkward, but they were tired so he showered while she prepared breakfast. It felt normal considering they didn’t even know each other at this time yesterday.

‘What happens when I’m not bitter or heartbroken anymore?’

‘Well then my work here is done. I’ll move on to the next mansel’s bed, like the guardian angel I am.’

He laughs. ‘Have you always loved music?’

‘Always. From a young age I got into synth pop and then dance music. I loved mixing them both. It’s kind of like solving a puzzle; synching rhythms and beats, finding two things that absolutely shouldn’t go together but finding a way to transition one song into the next. There was something about the absolute chaos of it that made me calm.’

‘Were you not calm?’

She shakes her head. ‘I was not a restful teen.’

‘What about now?’

She shrugs. ‘It calms me now too. Performing it for people live is next level. Watching people living their best lives. You’re all just vibrating together on the same frequency.’

‘Nice,’ he nods along. ‘I had that with rowing.’

The sun is coming up and from the sixteenth floor she’s getting a good view of the city.

‘Do you like doing the podcast? It’s not music.’

‘Yes, but it’s different. This is kind of a trial contract. It’s for six months and then we’ll discuss continuing.’

‘When is the six months up?’

‘Soon.’

‘Ooh. Commitment. Your favourite.’

Her skin feels itchy at the thought. Does she want to sign up for longer?