Page 20 of Those That Don't Exist
“Did you really sleep ok?” David asks gently, picking up one of the croissants.
“Huh?” I shake my head to clear it.
“Did you sleep ok? I saw your light on late.”
“Yes,” I lie, “and you must’ve been up just as late if you saw my light on.”
“Busted.” He smiles over a mouthful of croissant. “I was up late finishing a project.”
He pauses chewing as I don’t immediately offer him an explanation for why I was up past midnight.
“I stayed up reading,” I say, not quite meeting his eyes. “A new novel by an author I like came out, it had me hooked.”
It was a half truth. I had been reading a gripping book, but I also hadn’t wanted to sleep because the nightmare still plagued me more nights than not. Between that and being cold, sleep had not come easy.
“As long as you’re ok, it can't have been easy these last few weeks.” He nudges my shoulder with his own. It’s too early for this conversation, I almost want the embarrassing flirting back instead.
“It wasn’t… but it’s getting better. I’m back into the swing of studying. How’s your work going?” I swiftly change the subject.
“Yeah all good. I just finished phase one of the first trial I’m leading on, and it went well. I was finishing the write up last night. If we get good enough results I should be able to publish within a year.” He jumps into telling me the details of the surgical trials he’s involved with.
We manage another few minutes of easy chat, finishing up our breakfast, before Claire’s voice rings through the house. This time it’s my name she’s hollering.
“That’s my cue,” I sigh, starting to get up.
As I swing my leg over the bench seat, however, I catch my foot, losing my balance. David’s hands immediately land on my waist to steady me before I land on top of him. Heat shoots up my skin from his touch and my cheeks blush crimson once more.How have I embarrassed myself twice in one morning?
“Sorry,” I stammer, righting myself and pulling out his grasp.
He looks up at me and our eyes meet for a moment, I feel the imprints of where his hands have just left my body. I can’t read his face but my heart thumps a little harder.
“Anytime,” he says softly.
I hussle, leaving the kitchen on quick feet.
I make it as far as the hall before running into Claire.
“Good, you’re ready to work.” She clearly doesn’t take in the fact I’m still in pyjamas, and thankfully doesn’t notice how flushed I am.
“Here, can you hang these in the lounge? Bree’s done some but we need more.” She hands me a box of decorations before dashing past me.
I get to work, hanging the tapestries Claire gave me as well as returning for my original box, forgetting all about the weird moment in the kitchen with her brother.
A few hourslater we’re admiring our efforts. The downstairs looks fantastic, if I do say so myself. Tapestries depicting portals to the Fae realm hang on the walls, light up star constellations and bats hang from the ceiling. There are fake cobwebs andautumnal garlands galore. We’ve also set the smoke machine on low so a constant mist hides the floor across the main room.
With a couple of hours left before we need to get dressed up, Bree has left for a run. Claire’s busy in the kitchen baking some on theme treats, and mixing what I’m sure is going to be some lethal punch. She insists I will just get in the way so I grab my book from upstairs and wander to their garden room.
Whilst cold outside the underfloor heating has warmed the glass walled space to a cosy temperature. The room is filled with soft sofas, chairs and many plants. It’s my favourite place in their house to hang out. I find David in there too, staring rather intensely at his laptop.
“Oh, sorry. I can go elsewhere, I don’t want to disturb you,” I say as he hears me enter, looking up.
“Unless you’re a loud reader I think you’ll be fine.” He flashes me that grin again as he nods to the book in my hand.
“You look like you’re concentrating rather hard for a weekend.” I take a seat on the plush sofa opposite his, tucking my legs up beneath me.
“Just going through a paper I’ve got to hand in soon, editing has never been my forte and I’ve left it a bit late.” The scowl returns to his face as he looks back at his screen.
I leave him be, opening my book, as we sit in companionable silence for a while. The warmth in the room seeps into me, and before long I’m yawning, getting drowsy. I lay down on the sofa, holding my book above me, but the words are not going in.
