Page 128 of A Long Way Back
“When did she start speaking to you again?”
“Very funny. She gave me ten quid so I must have done a good job. Okay. That’s it. Cutting done. Sit still while I mix the dye.”
“Can I check in the mirror?”
“No. It might look better when it’s purple.”
Ink growled. “You’re such a bastard. Read the instructions twice and wear gloves. We don’t want to end up looking like I fell into a container of sprinkles and you held me down.”
It didn’t take long to apply the dye. Ink looked up at him with his foamy hair sticking up all over the place and Tay’s heart leapt with longing.
Tay read the instructions again. “Thirty minutes.”
“Was that thirty minutes from when you started to put the colour on or thirty minutes after you stopped massaging it in?”
“Shit. I don’t know. How long was I massaging it?”
“I don’t know. You got this dreamy look on your face as if you’d finally found your niche in life.”
Tay glowered. “Rinse it off at eleven. It’ll be fine.” He stripped off the plastic gloves. “I need to go and move my car from the garage so the guys can put the stuff from London in there.”
“Get them to carry your cases upstairs. Save us struggling.”
“Stay out of sight once they get here. Just in case.”
Tay shut Dog in the house when he went to the garage. The last time he’d driven his car had been the morning of the day Brad Greene had pushed him from the ladder. His dad had told him he’d taken the car out for a run every so often to keep the battery charged, but Tay was relieved when it started on the first turn of the key. He reversed the mid-sized SUV onto the drive, then moved it to the far side of the front garden. He felt okay. Controlling the car wasn’t an issue and he was relieved.
He left the garage open and had just walked back to the front door when he heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. The van pulled in and a guy jumped out. “Morning.”
“Morning. Good journey?” Tay asked.
“Pretty good. We came up as far as Newcastle yesterday so we can get back today.”
“Can I make you a drink?”
“We’ve just had one, thanks. Where do you want your stuff?”
“If you could stack the beds, boxes and furniture in the garage, please. The suitcases, the black bag and the box marked ‘food’ can come into the house. I’d like the suitcases and black bag upstairs. On the landing is fine. I’ll go and put the dog in the garden.”
Once he was inside, he called up to Ink that the guys had arrived, then let Dog out the back. It didn’t take long for them to finish the unloading and Tay let Dog back in again. He made his way upstairs and headed for the bathroom.
“They’ve gone,” he said. “Can I come in?”
The door opened and Tay’s jaw dropped. “Wow.”
“Is that a good wow or a bad wow?”
Bare-chested Ink was chewing his lip, but his hair looked great. Dark purple and rough cut, sort of wild, but it suited him.
“I’ve done such a good job. I’m so impressed with myself. Forget forensic accounting, I can be a hairdresser.”
Ink smiled. “Do I look different?”
“Yes. Younger. Well, maybe more your actual age. Your eyes are brighter. Did I do that too?”
Ink pulled him forward and kissed him. “Are you going to take credit for everything?”
“Yes.”
