Page 79 of In at the Deep End

Owen picked up his book and read the same sentence four times.

He didn’t absorb a single word.

He watched as Matt lifted another slab. He tried to read another page.

Failed.

Matt was wrestling another paving slab into the wheelbarrow.

“Bend your knees,” Owen called. “That’s not how you lift.”

Matt grinned. “Have you always been this bossy?”

“I prefer ‘efficient.’” Owen smirked. “Callum has other words for it.”

“I can imagine.” Matt glanced at Owen over his shoulder. “I quite like bossy.”

Owen’s brain immediately supplied an interpretation.

Don’t.

He means organised.

He has to mean organised.

“Is that so?” he managed.

Matt nodded. “It saves me making decisions.”

Owen laughed, a fraction too late.

He can’t possibly know how that sounded—Can he?

A heartbeat later he exhaled. Of course not. Matt was simply talking.

Owen was the one hearing things that weren’t there.

Matt straightened, stretching the small of his back. “I’ve reached a conclusion.”

Owen looked up from the book he wasn’t reading. “Indeed?”

“You own too many heavy things.”

He gave a thoughtful nod. “I’ll make a note of that before my next house move.”

Matt laughed. “You say that as though there’ll be another one.”

“There won’t,” Owen replied in a firm tone.

Matt tilted his head. “You like it here?”

Owen glanced around the garden. “I think I’m going to.”

“Time for a break.” Matt kicked off his trainers and sat on the edge of the pool, a bottle beside him, his feet dangling in the water. “When you bought this place, were you picturing all this as a space for your parties?”

He was quiet for a moment. “No. I bought a house, and slowly, I’m turning it into a home.”

“And reinventing yourself in the process.”