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Rory’s eyes widen as he almost drops his phone into his cereal.

‘You’re what?’ he replies, not giving me the chance to say anything else.

My mum’s face goes pale, and she grips the edge of the table.

‘Lia, it’s too soon to be moving in with a man!’ she tells me.

‘No, no, I’m not moving in with him in that way,’ I quickly insist. ‘I’m renting his spare room.’

My dad looks confused.

‘Can you even afford that?’ he says.

‘Yes,’ I reply. ‘He’s offering me cheap rent to start because he knows I’m trying to get back on my feet.’

My mum’s face twists with worry.

‘But he’ll expect… things in return for cheap rent,’ she points out.

Wow.

Rory cringes.

‘Ew, Mum, gross,’ he says.

My dad shakes his head.

‘Yeah, ew,’ he echoes – I’ve never heard him use that word before.

I just roll my eyes.

‘It’s not like that,’ I tell them. ‘I need my space, and this is a great opportunity.’

Rory sets his phone down, his expression serious.

‘Lia, there’s a reason Si and I aren’t friends any more. You know that, right?’

‘No, I don’t. What reason?’ I ask plainly.

‘Just trust me on this,’ he replies. ‘Si isn’t who you think he is.’

My mum’s voice rises again.

‘It’s too soon, Lia,’ she says again. ‘Just… even to live on your own.’

‘I lived on my own in London,’ I remind her. ‘It’s not that deep. I’m just renting a room. I need my independence, and this is the best option I have right now. Okay?’

My dad crosses his arms.

‘And you really think you can afford this?’ he checks.

‘Yes, Dad,’ I say, my patience wearing thin. ‘We’ve talked about the price and I can afford it. And I’m looking for a job. When I have enough money to get my own place, I will.’

‘But what if he… expects things?’ Mum asks – honestly, the incorrect image she must have in her head, because in my experience men don’t expect (or want) all that much from me.

Rory shudders again.

‘Mum, please stop.’