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“What can I do to help?” Lucy asked as a cup of camomile tea was placed in front of her.

“You can direct operations while you continue growing our child,” Dylan said.

“I’m here to help,” Lucy laughed.

“You can remind me of all the things I’m probably forgetting to pack.”

“I’ll check the fridge and wipe down the kitchen counters,” Lucy offered, wondering why she suddenly felt excited.

“That would actually be really handy, thanks,” Dylan said. “I’ll pack my stuff upstairs. I won’t be long.”

He went up the stairs to the second floor, taking them two steps at a time.

Lucy got down from the stool and wandered around to the kitchen sink. There was a single mug and teaspoon in the sink which she washed up and put away before checking the fridge for food. There wasn’t a lot in there, but then he’d been having most of his meals with her. She packed what was there into a carrier bag she found in a cupboard and gave the fridge and the counters a quick wipe down. She carefully removed the scan photos from the fridge door.

Dylan came downstairs as she was tidying up the living room area. There didn’t seem to be anything of Dylan’s in there, apart from a few pieces of gym equipment in one corner.

She turned as she heard him coming down the stairs. He had a large holdall with him.

“All done,” he said. He glanced around the room.

“I packed the food from the fridge and freezer. Oh, and here are the scan photos.”

“Thanks.” he took his wallet out of the back pocket of his jeans and slipped the photos in, the corner of his mouth turning up as he did so. “I’ll give the keys back to Mary then. Are you absolutely sure about this?” he asked, gently, meeting her gaze.

“Yeah, it makes sense,” said Lucy as lightly as she could manage. She definitely felt some nerves in her stomach, but . . . excitement rather than any sort of fear or trepidation.

“Cool, let’s get back to yours then, and I can get started on making some dinner.”

“There was chicken in the fridge.”

“I’ll cook you chicken then. Come on. I can manage the bags, if you can just grab the doors. And don’t argue. You’re not carrying anything.”

“I can carry a bag, you know!”

“Well, yes, but I don’t trust you with my stuff,” Dylan retorted, making her laugh.

Mary couldn’t hide her smile when Lucy and Dylan came back downstairs and he returned the flat’s key to her. “Sorry for the lack of notice, but I’m all paid up until the end of the week.”

“No problem at all,” Mary said, grinning. “It’ll be much easier for you to look after Lucy properly with you living together.”

Lucy went to protest that she didn’t need looking after and that this was only a temporary solution, but Dylan answered. “It certainly will.” And guided her out of the shop.

* * *

What on earth had happened to her life? Lucy wondered half an hour later when Dylan was taking a shower and the reality that they were actually going to be living together began to sink in.

Just a few months ago, she went out of her way to keep away from Dylan, who she had considered a shameless flirt who thought far too much of himself. Here she was with him as her business partner, which had seemed like such a big deal at the time, but which paled in comparison to discovering she was expecting his baby. And now she was somehow living with him!

She decided to put something on the television to relax like she usually would before bed, if she didn’t have anything to do for the coffee shop. Like it wasn’t weird that Dylan was wandering around in the spare bedroom. At least partially naked. Something comforting and soothing for her frayed nerves. She searched through Netflix: Downton Abbey. Perfect. She’d watched it with her mum years ago.

She got comfy and started the first episode. She was only a few minutes in, when Dylan wandered into the sitting room, his hair wet and brushed back.

“Hey, what are you watching?”

“Downton Abbey,” she replied, feeling self-conscious. Would he think she was really boring watching something like that?

“Oh, cool. I’ve never seen it, but I know Ellen and Mary rave about it. Mind if I join you?” he asked, already taking a seat at the other end of the sofa.