Page 38 of Stuck with the Hot Boss
‘Of course,’ said Evie. ‘And beer.’
‘IPA?’ said Leo.
‘Bog standard lager,’ said Evie. ‘Slum it, I dare you.’
They dished up the food in the kitchen and took plates and beer to Leo’s dining nook. It wasn’t made for expansive entertaining. The small circular table could fit three people maximum, four if you didn’t mind clashing elbows. Leo took a chair, Evie the banquette against the wall. The atmosphere between them was still strained, so they ate and drank in silence. Evie had seconds. Leo did not. They loaded the dishwasher, tidied the table and bench, separated the rubbish and recycling. They’d eaten their fill, and the kitchen was back to being immaculate. There were no more distractions to be had.
Normally, Evie wouldn’t think twice before breaking the silence. But it seemed important that Leo did it, so she held back. Andjustas her nerves reached snapping point–
‘So, what’s this idea?’ Leo said. ‘And why couldn’t it wait until tomorrow?’
‘Shall we have a cup of tea and sit down?’ Evie suggested. ‘And I’ll talk you through it?’
Leo gave a wry half-smile. ‘You don’t give up easily, do you?’
‘Some things matter too much,’ she said.
It came out more forcefully than she’d intended. Leo blinked, taken aback. Then his whole expression crumpled into one of rueful shame.
‘I’ve been a total tosser, haven’t I?’ he said to her. ‘So worried about being judged that I run screaming into the hills like a cowardy custard. An IPA-swilling surrender monkey.’
‘That’s – confusing but vivid.’ Evie frowned. ‘Who did you think was going to judge you?’
‘You, of course!’ Leo shouted. ‘Andeveryone!But mainly you …’
‘Judge you forwhat?’ Evie felt she was still missing something.
Leo tilted his head upward and stared at his kitchen’s pristine white ceiling.
‘For not being the hero,’ he said, flatly. ‘When Keith and Kev talked to me this morning, they said that any ideas to help them out-manoeuvre Plumbing Ultra would be very welcome. I realised that they saw me as some marketingwunderkind,who knew all the modern tricks and strategies for being super competitive. They had hope – that I could save their business …’
‘What did you tell them?’ Evie said, softly.
Leo looked at her, his mouth tight with chagrin. ‘That I’d give the problem serious thought. Which was bullshit, of course. I knew I couldn’t come up with an idea to save Double K any more than I could–’
He stopped, stuck for an example.
‘Leave your pillows un-plumped?’ suggested Evie. ‘Wear polyester? Have fluffy dice hanging from the mirror of your Golf?’
‘Fluffy dice are post-post-modern cool now,’ said Leo. ‘Like Crocs.’
‘You’re making jokes again,’ said Evie, with a smile. ‘Feeling a bit better?’
‘No,’ said Leo. ‘I was tosser with you, too. My behaviour today was inexcusably shitty. If I were you, I wouldn’t forgive me.’ He held her gaze. ‘But I hope you will.’
‘Well, now I understand your behaviour,’ said Evie. ‘Ihatedit, just so we’re clear. But it makes sense to me now.’
‘You mean, now you know that I’m a gutless poltroon?’
‘Now I know that you’re human like the rest of us,’ said Evie, firmly. ‘None ofuswould cope with having the responsibility for saving a whole business dumped on us, either!’
‘And yet you’re here with an idea to do just that,’ said Leo, mutinously. ‘Seemsyou’recoping just fine.’
Evie gave him a hard stare. ‘Make the tea, Hurst,’ she ordered. ‘And put your ridiculous insecurity complex in the bin with the tea bags where it belongs.’
‘I use loose leaf,’ said Leo, after a short pause. ‘So, I’ll put everything in the bokashi.’
‘I’ve no idea what that is,’ said Evie. ‘But you do your thing, and I’ll go make myself comfy in your classy living room.’
