‘Sis!’ He puffed. At five foot three, I was eight inches shorter than him, but where he was still wiry, I’d gained curves that made me far harder to swing about than when I’d been a skinny teenager. ‘This is so good. It’s perfect. I’ve even cleaned your room.’
‘Thanks Isaac, but maybe you could put me down, now?’
He dropped me with an oomph, followed by a laugh, and stepped back so we could size each other up properly. Isaac looked amazing, despite his navy trousers being dotted with stains and damp patches. The sleeves rolled up on his white shirt revealed toned forearms, and he’d changed his hair since I’d seen him at our aunt’s house on New Year’s Day. The shorter cut, coupled with the businessman style, suited him.
‘Look at you, all sleek and handsome. I bet the brides love you.’
He pulled a face. ‘Not so much when I’m covered in drain water. But occasionally bridesmaids can get overfriendly. And once they’ve had a few drinks, the mothers can be worse.’ His eyes crinkled in a smile. ‘You’re looking well yourself. I was worried after hearing about Seb disappearing.’
‘You’re always worried,’ I brushed him off. ‘And Seb didn’t disappear; he’s taking a much-needed holiday. He knows I’m a big girl; I’ll cope perfectly fine without him for a couple of months.’
‘I need a shower. Nice to see you, Jessie.’ Elliot offered a crooked smile as he walked past me into the corridor, Penny trotting after him, and the second he’d gone, I pawed through the carrier bags for the bottle of wine Dad had bought as a housewarming gift, pouring two glasses while Isaac chatted.
‘You should have told me this was Elliot’s house,’ I said once we’d sat at the table. I tried to act casual, but my knuckles were white where they gripped the stem of my glass.
Isaac took a large sip. ‘I guess in our twice-yearly text conversations, it never came up.’
That was an exaggeration. I replied to his texts at least every other month, and I’d seen him at New Year and our traditional birthday meet-up in August.
‘Why, is it a problem? You two always got on.’
‘No… but I would have appreciated knowing it was his house before I decided to live here.’
He shrugged. ‘I don’t see that it makes much difference.’
I took a long gulp of wine. ‘When did he move back?’
‘You know his parents relocated to be near the rehab centre?’
I nodded. I’d picked that much up in the nightmare summer following the prom.
‘He moved in with them after he left rehab, but it wasn’t exactly easy. He’s a lot better now, but that’s partly because he has his own space. He used the accident pay-out to buy this place as soon as he could.’ He stopped abruptly, eyes narrowing. ‘That isn’t why you have an issue with him living here, because of his disability?’
‘No! No. Isaac. Of course not! I don’t have an issue. It just made me jump when he appeared in the kitchen.’
‘Good. Okay. Some people can be… ignorant.’
‘Hello, am I an ignorant person?’
Isaac grinned and took another drink.
‘So the notes are to help him remember stuff? He said he knew who I was, but had forgotten I was moving in today.’
Isaac nodded. ‘We barely notice it most of the time, but he still struggles with a change in routine, or remembering appointments, that kind of thing. The notes are mostly just precautionary these days. I’m impressed he remembered you, though. When I first moved in there was a note saying, “the housemate with black hair is Isaac, he’s still a waster, ignore everything he says”.’
I arched one eyebrow, pointing at a shelf by the kettle. ‘I had spottedthatone.’
The note read:
If there’s a woman you don’t recognise, she’s with Isaac
He shifted on his chair. ‘That’s out of date.’
‘What, so you’ve ended your womanising ways? Or is there just one woman now?’
His shoulder twitched.
‘Hey, you know I’m not about to judge anybody for their relationship choices. Or lack of.’
