Page 26 of Fix Them Up
I could feel my face burn. ‘No.’
Liam’s lips twitched. ‘I’m moving some stuff around. Give me some time.’
‘It’s time-sensitive –’
‘I’ll get it sorted on your schedule. Don’t worry about it.’
‘I –’ I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. ‘How can you be so casual? We need to set a timeline. Some parameters –’
‘I do this every day, remember. It’s no stress.’
We chopped in silence as my mind whirled. I’d been taught that everything needed a plan, even if I screwed it up. Liam seemed way too cavalier about this.
‘Where do you live in London?’ Liam’s voice made me jump out of my busy thoughts.
‘Oh. I share a flat with some people near Camden. But I gave my notice when I moved up here. I miss the location, but living with six people was getting old.’
Liam’s eyes bugged. ‘Six people?’
I shrugged. ‘Not that surprising in London.’
‘I think I’d end up killing someone.’
I chuckled. ‘I’ve been close. Especially when one housemate kept eating my leftovers.’
Liam whistled. ‘Cheeky.’
‘I know, right? Leftover pizza is sacred.’
‘It’s breakfast.’
I grinned. ‘Exactly.’
Liam and I smiled, and then I glanced away, refocusing on the task at hand.
‘I’m moving back. I’ll end up buying somewhere further out. I will miss Camden.’
‘Overrated,’ Liam grumbled.
I raised my eyebrows. ‘London is overrated?’
Liam grunted, and it made me laugh.
‘What’s your beef with London?’
‘Everyone’s miserable.’
I snorted. Oh, the irony.
Liam continued, ‘And rude. It’s overpopulated and overpriced. Too many Prets and not enough good pubs.’ He arched an eyebrow at me. ‘I’m sure you noticed the Guinness is shite.’
‘Well, yes,’ I said. I’d had plenty of foamy, expensive pints of Guinness in packed pubs, standing next to finance bros in their quarter zips. ‘But it’s a great city. Sure, there are downsides, but there’s always something exciting to do. Somewhere amazing to eat. Great theatres and art galleries.’ I sighed. ‘I love the galleries.’
‘We have all of that here, too,’ Liam said, a stubborn edge to his jaw.
I snorted. ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’
Liam turned to me. ‘Is that a challenge, Red?’
