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‘Si was just telling us he’s renovating a house, doing all the work himself,’ Angie tells Tim.

‘Wow, really?’ Tim replies. ‘How old are you?’

I cringe internally. What is Tim doing? Si doesn’t seem fazed, though.

‘I’m forty-three,’ Si says with a smile.

Tim whistles.

‘Wow, quite a gap there between you and Lia, eh?’ Tim continues.

I frown.

‘It’s not that big of a gap, Tim,’ I point out.

‘Age is just a number,’ Mel agrees. ‘Ignore Tim. He’s just jealous because he looks like he’s in his forties already. Si, you don’t look a day over thirty-five.’

Si laughs.

‘Thanks, Mel. I appreciate that.’

‘I thought you were after, like, a sugar daddy or something,’ Tim continues. ‘Or that maybe you had daddy issues.’

I snort with laughter. Is he serious?

‘Erm, no,’ I tell him quickly. ‘I’m renting a room from him – and paying to do so – and as for daddy issues, well, I have a perfectly normal dad, thanks, and a… mum.’

‘Not a perfectly normal mum?’ Si replies with a laugh.

‘I can’t say that with a straight face, no,’ I joke.

‘Well, I think Lia will make a great tenant,’ Mel says. ‘And, Si, you seem like you’ll be a great landlord.’

‘Thanks for offering, Si,’ I chime in, keen to keep the conversation polite.

He looks at me warmly.

‘No problem. I’m looking forward to having you around,’ he says.

Things are easier when Tim goes back to work and, as the night goes on, I find myself relaxing more and more. Maybe Angie is right. Maybe I shouldn’t let whatever this is with Adam interfere with what could be something great with Si. Besides, Si is right here, right now, making an effort, and Adam, well, he just appeared and then disappeared, without even letting on that he knew me.

I need to forget about him because, let’s face it, he probably isn’t thinking about me.

15

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.’