Page 17 of Just a Number

I pour my coffee into a travel mug and fix the lid, giving Alex a smile and a nod as I leave.

I gather up my briefcase from the hallway cupboard and check I’ve got my laptop in there. Time to leave. And I can’t decide if I’ll be sad if Alex isn’t here when I get back or if I’ll be relieved.

Chapter seven

Mel

It’s mid-afternoon and I’m driving home when a call comes through on the Bluetooth. My meetings have finished for the day and I decided to do a few more hours from home rather than head to the office. I’ll get more done without the distractions of my colleagues and all the office politics I’ve been sick and tired of lately.

I glance at the screen; it’s an unknown number. I often get those from potential clients and luckily, the spam calls are few and far between that it’s worth answering, even when I don’t know who it is.

I click the ‘answer call’ button on my steering wheel. “Mel Watson speaking.”

“Hey, it’s Alex.” His gravelly drawl coming through the car speakers has my thighs clenching together. “Zack gave me your number. I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s no problem. Everything okay?”

“I just wanted to check if it’s okay if I stay through to the weekend. My sister is, err, busy and has no space at the moment. She knows someone that I can stay with, but I just need somewhere for the next couple of nights.”

“That’s fine, Alex, it’s no bother.”

“I’ve got a shift at the bar tonight, so I won't get back until late. Zack said to ask you for a spare key, so I don’t disturb you guys when I get in.”

“Are you still at my place now?”

“Yeah, Zack set me up with his laptop so I could look at room listings.”

“I’ll be back in about fifteen minutes. I can find the spare key for you then, if that works?”

“Ah, that would be great, thank you.”

“I’ll see you soon.” I hang up wondering if this might be the worst decision I’ve ever made.

As I let myself in the house, there’s music playing. It’s not overly loud, just enough that I know the place isn’t empty.

I can’t place where it’s coming from, so I take my time, removing my heels and putting them away in the hall cupboard along with my coat. I keep my briefcase with me, to take my laptop and papers upstairs to my office once I’ve sorted Alex out with a key.

I poke my head around the lounge door on the way to the kitchen, but there’s no sign of him. The sounds are a little louder now and I can make out voices as well as the music. I push the door open for the kitchen and see him sitting at the breakfast bar. Zack’s laptop is set in front of him and he appears to be on a video call.

“I can hardly hear you with that music blaring,” he tells the woman at the other end and she laughs at him.

“Oh, Alex, you’re such an old man. How can it be that you’re younger than me?”

I step into the kitchen, not wanting to intrude, but realising it’s probably best to get him the spare key and head upstairs while he’s still on his call, so I don’t disturb him. He glances up and gives me a smile as I head over to the junk drawer near the sink.

“I’ll get you that key,” I mouth just as the girl speaks again.

“Hey, you’re not even listening to me. What’s got you distracted?”

“Uh, nothing. Sorry, what were you saying?”

“Davey says that he knows a guy called Si that has a spare room, but he’s away on business this week. It sounds like you can stay there. It’s quite close to the Arts Centre, so should be good for work.”

“Okay, how much is the rent?”

“Err, that’s what I don’t know. He’s only just started thinking about looking for a roommate and there’s not an ad up yet. But I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

I grab the spare keys from the drawer. There are two—one for the front door and one for the back—attached to a little clog keyring from a long-ago trip to Holland. I place them on the worktop beside Alex and, out of nowhere, his hand covers mine. My pulse thrums as his touch sets me alight.

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