Page 18 of Bea's Book Wagon
‘I know, I know, and thanks again for bailing me out all those times. I can’t have the room empty, though, and I don’t know anyone who wants to move in with a stranger,’ said Archie.
‘What about Josh or Freddie?’ asked Carol.
‘They’d be awful to live with. Josh is so untidy and Freddie’s constantly hungover. Honestly, Arch, it would be carnage,’ said Bea, shaking her head.
‘True. I’ll have to put an ad on Rightmove or something,’ said Archie.
‘What about me?’ suggested Bea suddenly, her mind whirring.
‘What about you?’ asked Archie, looking confused.
‘How would you feel about me moving in?’ asked Bea.
‘You?’ Archie blinked. ‘Move in with me? In Blossom Heath?’
‘Why not?’ said Bea, shrugging.
‘Erm, you don’t have a job, for one thing. How are you gonna pay the rent?’ asked Archie.
‘Tori’s offered me a job at the Cosy Cat,’ said Bea. ‘Just while I’m getting the business up and running.’
‘Has she?’ said Archie, surprised.
‘Yes, and I’ll be able to afford the same rent I pay to Mum and Dad, which can go towards your mortgage. I need to start getting myself sorted, Arch. Be a grown up. And moving out again would be a step in the right direction.’
‘Us? Live together, though?’ said Archie, blowing out a breath. ‘I don’t know, wouldn’t it be weird?’
‘Why? We’ve lived together most of our lives and at least you know I’m tidier than Josh, even with my boxes of books everywhere,’ said Bea grinning at him.
‘True,’ said Archie, thoughtfully.
‘You’d have more space than you’ve got here too,’ said Carol, ‘Archie’s spare room is twice the size of our box room.’
‘Are you trying to get rid of me?’ said Bea in faux outrage.
‘No, of course not,’ said Carol. ‘But I know you want your independence again.’
‘I’ll miss your cooking, though, Mum,’ said Bea, turning to look at Archie. ‘What do you reckon, then? Can I move in?’
‘As long as you can meet the rent. I can’t afford to sub you, Bea,’ said Archie, seriously.
‘I will,’ said Bea, solemnly. ‘And I’ll give you my staff discount at the Cosy Cat.’
‘Go on, then,’ said Archie, grinning. ‘You’re on!’
‘Yes! I promise you won’t regret it,’ said Bea, throwing her arms around him. ‘Oooh, I’ll be walking distance from Jess.’
‘And Nathan,’ said Carol, pointedly. ‘You’ll be able to see more of him, too.’
‘He’s helping me with the refurb of the horsebox actually—’
‘You know I always hoped the two of you might get back together one day,’ Carol cut in, her eyebrows flicking upwards.
‘We dated at school, Mum, we were just kids,’ said Bea, shaking her head.
‘He’s such a lovely boy, though—’
‘Mum! We’re just friends, that’s all,’ said Bea, folding her arms.
