45

Leah unglued her eyelids and waited a moment while her retinas accustomed themselves to the daylight. She craned her neck to the right to peer at her alarm clock. It said eight-thirty. She blinked. It couldn’t be eight-thirty – she’d set the alarm for 7.45 a.m. But then – small doors in her mind started opening, memories emerged – she hadn’t set it last night, had she, because last night she’d …

Her head swivelled to the left.

Amitabh.

In her bed.

She let her head drop back onto her pillow and sighed.

They’d gone to the pub last night. He’d suggested it at Kenwood on Saturday afternoon. ‘It just seems a shame,’ he’d said, ‘not to be friends. We’ve always been such good mates, you and I – and I miss you.’

Given that she missed him, too, she’d agreed to meet up with him on Wednesday night. Ending up in bed with him hadn’t been part of the plan. In fact, ending up in bed with him had been the thing that wasn’t going to happen under any circumstances. But after a few beers it was so easy just to slip back to the flat, order a curry from their favourite takeaway, open a bottle of their favourite wine, look at each other and realize that nothing had changed, that she was still Leah and he was still Amitabh and that neither of them had ever stopped loving each other, not really, and that there was no one else involved and nobody to be hurt and that it felt good to hold someone familiar and warm and it felt good to kiss someone you’ve known for so long and that sex is even better when you’ve been apart for a while and that what happened next wasn’t really important because it was all about the here and now and making each other feel better, just for a night. Just for old times’ sake.

‘Am.’ She shoved his shoulder. ‘Am. Wake up. It’s eight-thirty.’

‘It’s OK. I don’t have to be at work until three,’ he mumbled, his eyes still closed.

‘Yes, well I have to be at work in half an hour, so get moving.’

He groaned and turned onto his side, pulling the duvet up round him.

Leah sighed and pulled herself out of bed. ‘Come on, Am, I’m serious. I need you to get ready.’

‘Oh, Lee, let me sleep. Please. I’ve still got my key. I can let myself out.’

Leah paused for a moment, regarding Amitabh’s slumbering mass, considering the consequences of letting Amitabh stay here without her. ‘OK. But don’t make a mess.’

‘I won’t.’

‘I’m going to have a shower. D’you want a cup of tea?’

‘Mmmm, yes, please. I miss your tea, Leelee. Your tea rocks …’ And then he tucked his hands under his cheek and fell asleep with a very contented smile on his face.

Leah gulped and headed for the kitchen.