Page 103 of The Reboot
‘Well, I’m really enjoying work. And I love living with Roly.’ She couldn’t help the smile that spread across her face.
‘Oh my God,’ Hazel gasped, widening her eyes dramatically. ‘You’rein lovewith Roly!’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Um … the fact that you just told me?’
‘I said I love living with him. He has a lovely house,’ Ella said teasingly.
‘Okay, maybe you didn’t say it in so many words. But you should see your face when you mention him, you’re all moony.’
‘I’m thinking about his nice house,’ Ella said, giggling.
‘You’re thinking about his nice body.’ Hazel wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Ella shrugged. ‘Fair cop. He does have a good body. And great hair.’
‘What’s so great about living with him, then?’
‘I dunno. I love just hanging out with him … cooking together … the daft conversations we have, the way we riff off each other. We make each other laugh.’
‘Sleeping with him?’ Hazel raised her eyebrows. ‘Has something happened?’
Ella smiled smugly in reply. ‘Yeah, sleeping with him is actually pretty great – probably even better than cooking with him, if you must know.’
‘That’s great, Ella. I’m so pleased for you. You look really happy.’ She drained her glass and leaned back in her chair. ‘Anyway, I think you’ve answered my question.’
Ella raised her eyebrows questioningly.
‘About the job. I’m taking it that’s a no.’
‘Oh. But I haven’t had a chance to mull it over.’
‘Well, take your time. But I don’t think you need it.’
Ella concentrated hard, trying to imagine herself back in academia — getting stuck into some proper research work. She could smell the wood of the desks in the lecture halls, hear the background hum of muted voices in the library, taste the crisp autumn air she always associated with that world. But she couldn’t conjure up any excitement about it. Once her heart would have raced at the thought of being part of it all again. Now the prospect left her feeling flat and empty.
‘Just one more thing, though, and then I’ll shut up about it,’ Hazel said. ‘About the money – don’t get too used to it so that it stops you going after what you really want. It’ll never be the perfect time to go back to being a student. If that’s what you want, you’ll have to compromise on money at some point.’
‘Andrew said the same thing.’
‘Oh gosh! I forgot – what about Andrew? Weren’t you seeing him again?’
Ella shrugged. ‘Not really. I mean, we’d met up a couple of times, and the idea was there, but we hadn’t actually started anything.’ She was so relieved now that they hadn’t taken it any further. Nonetheless, Ella knew she’d given him the impression she was interested in getting back together, and she’d have to officially tell him that wouldn’t be happening.
‘I’ll see him at the Walking Wounded concert next week. Roly’s singing with them and got him a backstage pass. I’ll talk to him then.’
‘Am I allowed to say I’m glad?’ Hazel said. ‘I never thought he was right for you.’
‘Really?’ Ella was surprised. ‘You never said anything at the time.’
‘Well, you don’t, do you? You might have ended up with him. And it wasn’t that I disliked him particularly. I just didn’t think you were your best self with him.’
‘That’s strange. I always thought the opposite.’
Hazel shook her head. ‘When he was around, you seemed … constrained. Like you were always checking yourself; worrying about his reaction to whatever you did or said.’
‘Wow.’ Ella realised she’d always felt Andrew brought out the best in her because she’d tried to live up to his ideals. Now she saw it in a different light.
