Page 34 of Fix Them Up

I raised my hands. ‘I can’t move out. I’ve got nowhere else to go. Not from here, remember.’

‘Oh, I remember.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ I recoiled.

Liam held his hands up in defence. His eyes danced with humour. ‘It’s hard to forget with that accent you’ve got, that’s all.’

‘Don’t do that.’ I gestured with my finger.

‘What?’ Liam’s eyes widened in mock innocence.

‘Act like I’m going all she-hulk on you. I’m not.’

‘You can go she-hulk on me. I can take it,’ Liam said cockily. My cheeks warmed, and I wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face.

‘Can’t you stay at Lydia’s?’

I shook my head. ‘It’s a tiny one-bed. She also complained about the landlord not sorting the mould in the bathroom. I doubt another person showering would help with the black mould.’

‘She should have told me,’ Liam grumbled. ‘Her landlord is useless.’

I ran my hand through my hair, panic rising. ‘I can’t stay with Lydia, and I can’t afford an Airbnb either. Fuck.’ Liam watched my hands as I ran them through my hair again. ‘This is a disaster.’

‘Brian and Sandra have space.’

The prospect of looking at my uncle’s face every day and being reminded of my dad made me feel a bit sick. Plus, the funeral fiasco was still hanging over my head. Just thinking about it sent my nervous system wild.

No. I couldn’t stay with them. They barely knew me. After two days, they’d get sick of me, and I’d have even less family.

A new idea was growing in my brain, fresh and green.

‘How long?’ I asked.

‘Probably about four weeks, as long as there are no delays.’ Liam shrugged.

I nodded. ‘I’ll figure something out. Don’t worry.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Yep. Just another obstacle, nothing major.’ I smiled.

Liam looked at me for a moment or two, his gaze searching. I did my best to look as neutral as I could.

Finally, his eyes narrowed. ‘You’re up to something, Red.’

‘No, I’m not!’ I protested.

Liam hummed and gestured to his eyes and mine with his two fingers.

I rolled my eyes. ‘Are you usually this dramatic?’

Liam laughed. ‘Me. Dramatic. Funny.’

Then I spotted it. On the remaining plaster. There were some pencil drawings.

‘What’s that?’ I leaned in closer.

‘Must have been written on the plaster when that last person decorated,’ Liam said as he carefully peeled off the wallpaper to reveal more words.