Page 20 of On Circus Lane

“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I think I was worrying unnecessarily. I get on really well with Sal, and Georgina is lovely. Willyoube okay?” she whispers. “You said the worst thing that could happen would be to share an apartment with Tom.” She pauses. “Although, a zombie apocalypse is actually the worst thingIcould think of.”

“I think I’d be pretty useful to have around in that scenario.”

“Only if the zombies had maths problems.”

Tom glances at me as we all crowd around Sal to get our key cards. “Are the apartment arrangements okay with you?” he asks. “My sister is extremely bossy and never sees anyone else’s point of view.”

“Oi, I heard that,” Sal calls with no rancour at all.

“You were meant to,” he shoots back. He turns back to me and Ivy. “If you two want to be together, I can always kip on the sofa in our apartment, and Freddy can sleep in Ivy’s room at the other one. Then Ivy can have our room.”

Ivy says, “That’s so kind of you, Tom.”

I agree. It’s become so obvious that my first impression of him was all wrong. And now I feel slightly off balance, because I’m miffed at myself for being judgemental and a little worried about how I can make it up to him. There’s a brief silence and I realise they’re both waiting for me to say something.

“I think there’s no need for that, if Ivy is okay,” I murmur, taking the card that Sal hands me. “I’m easy.”

Ivy goes to grab her card. “I’m sure Ted Jared Alfred from last night would agree.”

I snort. “He certainly would.” We grin at each other.

Sal says, “Are we ready? Let’s get unpacked.”

The lift takes us to the third floor. Steven lets us into the apartment, and we find ourselves in a small foyer with doors opening off it. A big vase of flowers gives off a sweet scent that mixes pleasantly with the smell of furniture polish.

Leaving my case in the foyer, I push the nearest door open and walk into an open-plan lounge that shares space with a modern kitchen.

“Wow.” I look around and whistle. The room is modern and luxurious, with wooden floors and cream-coloured walls. There are two huge and cushiony sofas—one in an off-white linen and the other in a heavy, chocolate-brown tweed—along with three armchairs that look just the right size to curl up on.

Two sets of double glass doors open onto Juliet balconies. I drift over and look down on cobbled streets filled with little cafés and bars. The gabled buildings, with their light stone colour and turrets, give the place a fairytale atmosphere.

“There are three bedrooms, one with the en suite. Obviously, Jack and I will have that,” Steven announces. “And it will get us away from Freddy’s constant profanity. It’s the symbol of a weak mind, don’t you agree, Jack?” He pauses. “Are you listening to me?” he says a little shrilly.

Jack looks up from his phone. “Sorry, I was texting Arlo pictures of the flat.”

“Oh joy, it feels like he’s here with us.”

“Is Arlo Tom’s brother?” I ask.

Jack’s smile is wide and warm and very sweet. “Yes, he couldn’t come on the trip because he’s a teacher and term doesn’t finish until Friday, but usually he’d be with us.”

“Well, rather the small children than us,” Steven mutters.

“I beg your pardon?” Jack says.

My eyes widen at Jack’s uncharacteristically steely tone.

“Oh, nothing,” Steven says quickly. “It’s just such a nice time at school with the run-up to Christmas, isn’t it? He’ll be having fun with his class.” Jack relaxes a little, and Steven presses his advantage. “And I do think we should have the en suite bedroom because we’re a couple.”

“So were Bonnie and Clyde,” Tom says, coming through the door with Freddy hot on his heels.

Freddy wanders over to the window and whistles. “Fuck me, that’s a lovely bollocking view.” He gives Steven a side-eye.

Steven’s lips tighten, and I turn away to hide my smile. Freddy catches my eye and winks.

Steven turns to Tom and repeats, “We want the room with the en suite.”

“Is that the royal we?” Tom asks. “I don’t hear Jack demanding anything.”

---