“Really?”
“I can’t wait to come home to…”
Mr Yang’s door opens before Rowan can finish his sentence, and we both jump.
“Mr Yang… good morning…” I say nervously.
Mr Yang looks at me, then at Rowan, then crosses his arms over his chest.
“It’s not what you think,” Rowan says.
Mr Yang gives him a look that says more than a thousand words.
“Don’t mess around,” he says. “There are three children in there who need a home.”
We both nod, then Mr Yang walks past us to disappear down the stairs.
“I don’t think he likes me very much.”
“He’s very protective of all of us. He’s not mad at you.”
He’s just afraid that you’re like everyone else, I think, but I don’t say that to Rowan.
“I’d better go now.” Rowan trails off. “But I meant what I said.”
“Mmm?”
“I can’t wait to come home.”
“I’m working at the club tonight.”
“There’s always bedtime.”
My body reacts immediately to the thought.
“Or maybe I could stop by the club and say hello.”
I bite my lip, already too excited to spend a whole day thinking about him.
“Come whenever you want.”
Rowan laughs. I only realise my double meaning later.
“I’m a mess.”
“A mess I like more and more.”
WHEN I SEE HIM enter the club I immediately spill the two beers I was carrying to a table, and right onto me.
We are off to a great start.
“Hey,” Rowan smiles at me, his amused eyes shining in the club lights. He’s wearing just a shirt and trousers; no jacket and no tie.
“You arrived at one of my best moments,” he says.
He laughs and leans closer to my ear. “I brought someone with me.”
Only then do I realise that Paul and Vanessa are with him.
