Page 57 of When The Night Falls

‘You can have it back,’ I said and gestured to it.

He shook his head. ‘I’ve no need for it. Besides, it looks better on you.’

My eyebrows arched and my lips parted, forming a disbelieving smile. He was so damn slick.

‘I’m guessing that’s supposed to become a wardrobe,’ he said and jerked his head toward my project. I didn’t fail to notice that he changed the subject before I could insist on giving back his T-shirt. He obviously wanted me to keep it, but why? Was he simply being generous or was it something else?

‘Yeah.’

‘Need any help?’

I sat down within the frame of the wardrobe and gave him a sceptical look. Upper class as he was, I doubted he had ever done similar work.

‘Do you even know how to use a screwdriver?’

From the expression that crossed his face, it was apparent that I had offended him. ‘Of course. It’s not exactly rocket science, is it?’

‘Well, I appreciate the offer, but I’m good, thanks.’

‘All right, then, Bob. I’ll leave you to it. Give me a shout if you get stuck.’

I strangled a laugh. ‘Won’t happen.’

Part of me definitely preferred him gone, but another wished he would stay for ever.

When I heard the characteristic sound of a crowd cheering on their team, I realised he had switched on the TV. Hyperaware of his proximity, I contemplated whether to shut the door between us, but I decided against it. I was desperate to maintain some level of control over his whereabouts so that I might predict a sudden arrival.

On edge, I focused on my labour, but when half an hour had passed, the music that played in the background had swept me away into a state of mindfulness. Activities like these were thoroughly therapeutic. For the first time in weeks, I hadn’t given my exams a single thought within the span of thirty minutes. Even William’s presence had faded into the background.

But my state of relaxation soon transformed into frustration, because apparently, several screws were missing. I searched the floor for the assembly instructions. That was when I noticed a pair of feet in the doorway. Right in front of them, I discovered the document.

My heart missed a beat and I lifted my gaze. How long had he been standing there? Our eyes collided, and I saw humour basking in his.

‘Sounds like you’ve fucked up,’ he said and reached down for the assembly instructions.

Since I wanted to present myself as capable of the task, I said, ‘I haven’t. A few screws are missing.’

He eyed me dubiously, opened the instructions, and skipped a few pages until he located the step I was currently stuck at.

‘Give me that,’ I demanded. ‘Don’t you have a match to watch?’

‘Half-time,’ he said and approached to assess my work. Squatting next to me, he studied the various screws still in the bag and extracted one to compare it with the illustration in the instructions.

‘There are enough screws, all right,’ he said. ‘You’ve merely put them in the wrong holes.’

Mortified, I snatched the document from his grasp. ‘How would you know?’

‘I’ve got an eye for identifying holes,’ he said, looking at me sideways.

Meeting the lecherous gleam in his eyes, I replied, ‘Me too, especially arseholes.’ My quip earned a chuckle.

‘Here’ – he motioned to the screwdriver behind me – ‘pass me the screwdriver.’

I shook my head as I studied the instructions. ‘I’d rather cast it into the fire.’

His eyebrows arched. ‘Is that a Lord of the Rings reference?’

Since it had been exactly that, my lips pursed. ‘Maybe.’

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