Daisy took a sip of her wine and smiled. ‘You’d have tipped it over from trying to be romantic and sending the place up in smoke.’
‘Probably.’
Daisy laughed, sat down and got comfy. ‘What are we having? It smells fantastic, whatever it is.’
‘Roast veg, Brazilian garlic rice with herbs, baked fish with lemon and chocolate cake from the bakery.’
‘Fancy pants. What is Brazilian rice? Yum.’
‘Basically rice cooked with onion and garlic. My mum had a Brazilian friend who used to cook it all the time. Sound good to you?’
Daisy giggled. ‘Anything sounds good to me if it doesn’t involve catering for twins and having to ration tomato sauce.’
‘Ha, well, I am here to wait on you hand and foot this evening, my lady. There will be no mention of tomato sauce and you’ll get a lie-in and breakfast in bed.’
Daisy swooned but pretended she was all banter-ish and cool. She was neither. Mushy and in love, more like. ‘Works for me.’ She raised her eyebrows as she looked around. ‘This flat is really nice. One of my friends from school used to live on this terrace. I like it over here. It has a different feel about it.’
‘It’s nice butverysmall and only really big enough for one let alone two. Not bad for a temporary thing, though, is it?’
Daisy shuddered at the “temporary” bit, and her thoughts about it were evident by the change in her tone. ‘Mmm. How temporary is temporary?’
Miles frowned. ‘What does that mean? Why are you saying it like that? You sound upset.’
Daisy shrugged. ‘I don’t really know. Like, well, come on, let’s get it out in the open. What are your plans?’
Miles blinked rapidly. ‘Where’s this coming from? We’ve discussed this. I’m staying here for a bit until…’
‘Until what, though? Until you’ve had enough? Something like that…’
Miles lookedextremelyconfused. ‘Sorry, have I said something you don’t like or done something? You seem a bit, well, cranky.’
Daisy let out a huge sigh, sipped her wine and decided to come clean. ‘Ahh, sorry, Iambeing temperamental. Someone said something at school.’
‘What? About the girls?’
‘No.’
‘About me?’
‘About us. That it wouldn’t last and that I was stupid for thinking it would. All that sort of stuff…’
Miles didn’t speak.
Daisy wished she hadn’t said anything but continued anyway, digging a big old hole for herself to jump right on in. ‘I know people talk and I know it doesn’t matter, but sometimes I think, maybe they’re right. What if you wake up and realise it’s not what you want? That you didn’t sign up for me. I’m not exactly baggage-free. In case you haven’t noticed, I have twins.’
Miles held his hands up in front of him and raised his eyebrows. ‘I didn’t realise that! You’ve got to be joking, right? Hang on, oh, you have twins. Shit, I’d better leave and quickly.’
‘Funny.’
‘Do you not remember that we actually met by way of Margot chucking ice cream at me? It’s not as if I wasn’t well aware right from the word go.’
‘I know but…’
‘Nup, no buts. I’m here, aren’t I?’
‘For now.’
‘I moved here for a few months. That, umm, speaks for itself in my book. I am getting to know the ins and outs of the fast train very well…’
