Page 15 of Plot Twist

Friends. I could be friends with a man, of course I could.

But notthisman. I definitely couldn’t stay in a house with him. Definitely not unchaperoned. My whole face flushed. Riley’s grin widened, resuming its cheery welcoming role. I wanted to curl up in a hole and die.

‘God, I know, you’re right, but. . . I just feel. . . this is so stupid.’

‘You can’t go all the way home now. Come on in, at least, for a while. Don’t just rush off.’

I looked up at his green eyes shining earnestly at me. It wasn’t like he’d lured me there under false pretences. It was my mistake. And she’d been so kind to me over messages. He, I meant. Riley. The Man.

‘Come in. I’ve got some wine. You’ve been through a hard time recently, no wonder you weren’t taking everything in. I’m sorry this is such a shock.’

He was apologising to me, for my mistake. Although I wished he wasn’t there so I could furiously scroll back through our interactions to check how much I’d revealed to him. Words flashed through my mind: smear test, pants, periods, maybe even the odd boob reference. All the good stuff. I was pretty sure I’d inadvertently thrown it all at him.

‘Well, OK,’ I found myself saying. ‘I will come in.’

‘You thought my daddy was a lady,’ Ivy giggled. ‘Auntie Ellie said Daddy was mad, inviting a stranger to stay with us. Said you could be a crazy person and that he would write a book about it calledThe Utter Nutter.’

Riley shushed her, but with a small smile.

Maybe Auntie Ellie was right.

‘Right, well, anyway, I’m glad that’s all sorted,’ Riley said. ‘Let’s get you settled.’

We walked towards the cottage.

‘Do you want the wine, or would you prefer some tea?’ Riley asked.

‘Definitely wine!’

He laughed and I relaxed slightly, hoping that this was the end of the whole awkward thing.

Just then, Ivy piped up.

‘Daddy,’ she said. ‘What’s a smear test?’

I groaned and he laughed.

‘I’m sure Becca will tell you all about that. Once she settles in, of course.’

8

Ivy insisted on showing me around their home, as Riley followed a few steps behind. I was completely mesmerised by Bellinder Cottage. Each room had its own individual personality, from the deep blue tones in the living room with its oversized fireplace and mismatched antique furniture, to the bright burnt-orange kitchen with wide windows looking out to the mountains, complete with exposed brick wall beside the rustic oak dining table and corner woodburning stove. The patio doors beside the dining area opened out to the garden, with the grass area seemingly stretching for miles, resting peacefully under the mountains.

‘Everyone prefers everything plain and grey or neutral these days,’ Riley said. ‘We’re not exactly on trend here, but it’s cosy.’

He led the way along the hall and stopped in front of a door near the back of the house, pushing it open to reveal a narrow room with sloping ceilings. I audibly gasped as I glanced around. It was like some sort of writers’ paradise, with a bookcase stacked with novels sitting against one wall and a long, navy desk with wooden worktops, which took up the long space underneath the window, and the most stunning uninterrupted view of the countryside. A tan-coloured leather-look computer chair, with a laptop in front of it, sat at one side, with another black suede computer chair arm’s-width apart. A polka-dot gift bag rested on the wooden surface.

‘So this is where the magic happens.’ He grinned. ‘Or is supposed to, anyway.’

‘Ah, yes, the old writer’s dysfunction,’ I said. ‘Happens to the best of us.’

‘Lucky you’re here to help then. Welcome to my favourite room in the house and official home of our writers’ retreat. Think you could write in here?’

‘Um. . . yes! I could live in here. Just pass me water and bread through every five hours or so. That view is to die for. The mountains are just stunning. And everything just looks so. . . literary. It is literally literary heaven.’

‘Try saying that after a few Guinnesses.’ He grinned. ‘I’m glad you like it. I set up a spot for you so we could, you know, work together here. But no pressure or anything.’

Write here. Together. Riley, the man, and me, within touching distance. I gulped.