‘Like a log,’ Rob said, slotting bread into the toaster. ‘Oh, and I had a shower when I got up. Hope that’s OK?’
‘Course it is,’ Suzie said, amused that he was being so respectful when it was only a matter of weeks since he’d lived here and wouldn’t have thought he needed permission.
‘I’ll tell you what, I’d forgotten how comfy that sofa is,’ Rob went on as he pulled out the grill-tray and turned over the bacon strips that were sizzling on it. ‘It wrecked my back, sleeping on my old bed. But it was better than a bench, I suppose, so I’m not complaining.’
The mention of benches reminded Suzie that he’d intended to sleep on one at the station last night, which also reminded her that he hadn’t told her what time his train was due.
‘Two o’clock,’ he said when she asked. ‘But I want to get there early, so I’ll head off as soon as we’ve eaten.’
‘It’s only quarter past eight,’ she said, glancing up at the clock. ‘You’ve got hours yet.’
‘Yeah, but I told you I’d be gone first thing, and I don’t want you to think I’m taking the piss,’ Rob said, walking over to the fridge to get butter for the toast.
‘You don’t need to rush off on my account,’ Suzie said, admiring the way his muscles rippled beneath the material of his T-shirt as he moved, the gloss of his newly washed hair, the curve of his sexy backside encased in the tight jeans, his masculine thighs . . .
Blushing when Rob turned and looked at her, she dipped her gaze and pulled her phone out of her pocket when it beeped.
‘Something wrong?’ Rob asked, carrying their plates and the cups of tea he’d made to the table and taking the seat facing hers.
‘Message from Holly,’ she said.
‘Oh . . .?’ He raised a questioning eyebrow. ‘Everything all right?’
‘She said her mum seems a bit better, but she doesn’t want to leave her, so she’s asking if I can ring her school and let them know what’s happened.’
‘Why can’t she do it?’
‘She’s got enough on her plate. And I don’t mind.’
‘Hey, I wasn’t trying to tell you what to do,’ Rob said softly. ‘I know what a big heart you’ve got, and I worry about you getting taken advantage of. But it’s your business, not mine, so I’ll butt out.’
Suzie nodded and typed out her reply to Holly. She was glad Rob wasn’t going to keep on at her, because that was what he’d always done in the past whenever she’d tried to help someone out: either guilt-tripping her into seeing things his way or, if that didn’t work, outright accusing her of putting whichever friend it was before him – and God help her if that friend happened to be male. Still, he’d backed off this time – another point in his favour – so, after sending the message, she rang Holly’s school.
‘Oh, hi,’ she said, lowering her tone by an octave when a woman who sounded like the one she’d spoken to the previous day answered. ‘This is Holly Evans’s, um, aunt.’ She felt Rob’s curious gaze on her as the lie slipped out, and she avoided looking at him as she went on: ‘She’s still sick, and her mum got attacked last night, so I’ve had to come over to look after them both. I’ll let you know when she’s ready to come back . . . Thanks, I will do. Bye.’
‘Aunt?’ Rob raised an eyebrow when she’d finished the call.
‘It’s a long story.’ Suzie sighed. ‘Holly’s technically a minor, so when her mum was taken into hospital last night the police were going to hand her over to social services. I told them I was her aunt so she could stay with me instead.’
‘You lied to the police?’ Rob frowned.
‘What was I supposed to do?’ Suzie asked. ‘She didn’t know if her mum was dead or alive, and she was terrified.’
‘I hope you know what you’re doing,’ Rob said. ‘The cops aren’t stupid, and they don’t mess about when it comes to kids.’
‘Well, her mum’s home now, and – hopefully – she’s going to be OK, so it shouldn’t be an issue,’ Suzie murmured, reaching for her fork.
Rob didn’t reply to that, but Suzie could tell from his expression that he thought she was crazy for getting involved. It was understandable, because he didn’t know how close she and Holly had grown. As far as he knew, Holly and Josie were virtual strangers to her, so he was bound to be concerned that she had lied to the police on their behalf. And she couldn’t deny that she was a bit worried about that herself. But it was done now, so there was no point dwelling on it.
A phone started ringing and Suzie automatically reached for hers, which was face-down on the table.
‘I, er, think it’s mine,’ Rob said, smiling sheepishly as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. ‘I changed it to your ringtone, ’cos it reminded me of you.’
Flattered, Suzie lifted a slice of toast to hide her smile as Rob got up and went out into the hall to take the call.
‘Morning, mate,’ his voice carried back to her. ‘I’ll be setting off in a bit. Train’s at two, so I should be with you around . . .’
He tailed off, and Suzie tipped her head to one side when, after a pause, he said, ‘You’re kidding me? Nah, man, that’s bang out of order; you’ve fucked me right up. Forget the ticket, I’ve given up my room, so what the fuck am I supposed to do now?’
Unable to hear any more when he went into the living room and closed the door, Suzie noticed her hands were trembling when she reached for her cup and took a sip of tea. Whatever the caller had said, Rob was clearly furious, and his harsh tone made her wonder if he’d really changed after all.
Rob came back to the kitchen minutes later and Suzie eyed him warily
