Page 17 of Plot Twist

I settled back into my games with Ivy. Her sweet, lyrical voice drifted in and out of my thoughts, asking me to help her build a fort.

‘Becca?’ Riley called out from the kitchen.

I scrambled to my feet and smoothed down my T-shirt, suddenly feeling self-conscious. I’d thrown on a casual blue T-shirt and black gym leggings for the journey, my hair tied back in a loose, and distinctly messy bun, with a hoodie tied around my waist. If I’d known who I was actually meeting, I’d have made more of an effort.

In fact, if I’d known Riley was a man, I wouldn’t have come at all.

But I was here now. I swallowed.

I left Ivy building the fort, totally engrossed in her own thoughts, and walked into the kitchen where Riley’s ‘famous homemade lasagne’ was almost ready. The smell filled the whole kitchen and I breathed it in.

Normally, I was a ready-meal-for-one kinda gal. I was punching above my culinary weight here.

‘So,’ he said, pulling plates out from the cupboard. ‘Cards on the table. Yup, I am a man. I’m sorry, I genuinely thought you knew. But I really would like you to stay. We can bounce ideas around, do writing sprints and read each other’s work like we planned. I think it’ll really help us both. But it’s your call. The ball’s in your court.’

Riley’s eyes shone earnestly as he spoke. I knew I shouldn’t lethisballs get in the way of the best offer I’d have for the summer, but I wasn’t sure I could commit to spending all this time with Riley. I would be actuallylivingwith him. The phrase ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen’, sprang to mind. Watching his green eyes shining earnestly, I wondered how long I would last here, writing inches away from him. Sleeping yards away. I folded my arms across my chest at the thought, creating my own little mental and physical barrier.

‘OK,’ I nodded. ‘I’ll give it a few days and see how it goes. How does that sound? We both need to see if it’s going to work though. I might really do your head in. Cards on the table. . . I’m used to living by myself so I talk to myself sometimes. Plus, I can’t really cook and I’m not exactly the tidiest.’

Riley sat against the worktop and folded his arms across his chest.

‘I take too long in the shower and my chat is shit. My dad jokes are out of control. Ivy thinks I’m hilarious, but I hear myself talking sometimes and wonder where it all went wrong.’

I let out a long sigh, shaking my head.

‘Shit jokes are a major issue for me.’

‘Oh really?’

‘Oh, Riley.’

‘Yours aren’t the best, either,’ he said, smiling as he arched an eyebrow. ‘I guess we both have a lot to work on.’

‘I guess we do.’ I smiled.

9

Dishes clattered in the sink as Riley whistled to himself in the kitchen. At one point, he broke into a full verse, something about being back in the country, before reducing the tune back to a low whistle and, eventually, just a hum. I vaguely recognised the tune as something my dad played in the car when I was younger.

‘Ivy, this is your five-minute warning before bed,’ he called out during a lull in his song.

‘Don’t worry,’ she whispered to me conspiratorially. ‘He says that but it’s never five minutes. He always forgets and lets me play longer.’

I sat back against the sofa and lifted my glass of wine from the coffee table. Riley was right– he described her as ‘a dote’. Totally adorable.

He had tentatively shown me to the spare room after dinner. My room, he’d said, for as long as I wanted to stay. It was bright yellow with a gorgeous grey and yellow floral bedspread. I looked out at the view, with the sun setting in the distance. If I hadn’t still felt like such an idiot for mistaking him for a her, I’d have been delighted with the whole set-up.

But, yup, I still felt like a dick.

It had all been relaxed as Ivy chattered away, but now her bedtime approached, I was apprehensive all over again. My phone kept beeping with questions from my dad about the trip so far, asking if Riley seemed sane and advising me to keep one eye open at night, just in case. I hadn’t worked up the courage to tell Dad about my big mistake. Instead, I assured him everything was fine and promised to call soon. I’d sent the same to Adam to tell him I’d arrived safely. He seemed to have calmed down after his mini rant and I promised him I’d keep in touch.

‘Right, munchkin, let’s get those teeth brushed.’

‘OK, Daddy,’ she said. ‘Becca, I’m glad you decided to stay with us. Tomorrow my aunts are coming over so you can meet them. They’re ladies in love.’

‘Oh, that sounds lovely,’ I said. ‘Do you mean ladies that lunch?’

‘No, silly! I mean ladies in love with each other. Do you love ladies too or do you love men?’