Page 40 of Just a Number

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Thank you,” he says quietly.

Chapter sixteen

Alex

Late the next afternoon, I pull up in the driveway at Mel and Zack’s place.

I’m exhausted, bone tired. Everything that happened with Mel and then with the prick at the apartment, followed by a Saturday night shift at the pub. Then to top it all off, trying to sleep on the floor in Laura’s cramped little flat last night and listening to her companion for the evening snoring while I tossed and turned, before heading to the studio first thing for the kiln firing. At least that all looked okay. I had a sneaky peek before leaving and it looked like a clean firing with little to no breakages. I’ll have to properly check tomorrow once it’s cooled down enough to unpack.

The last thing I want to do is be social with Zack and lug furniture around, but the thought of having a place I can call my own, even for a short time, sounds amazing. Let’s hope I can get away with moving the sofa bed and then crashing on it for some much needed sleep.

I texted Zack to tell him I was on my way and he must hear the bike pull up because he opens the front door to the house, pulling on some trainers.

“Hey, you okay?” he asks.

“Good, thanks, mate. Thanks for this. I appreciate it.”

“No worries. It was Mum who suggested it. She had me moving some boxes out of there today and taking some stuff up for you. We’ve just got to move the sofa bed. It’s quite heavy.” He gives a wince.

“Let’s do that first then and get it out the way.” I go into the house and drop my rucksack in the corner before following him upstairs and into his room. There’s a navy blue couch near the door.

“I, uh, cleared it off and stuff, but it’ll need the two of us to get it down these stairs and up the ones by the garage.”

There’s no sign of Mel as we go past her room, but the smell of her honeysuckle perfume permeates the air. Zack suggests we take it out the front door and round so we don’t have to clear as many doorframes. And pretty soon we are heaving it up the stairs at the side of the garage. I keep hold of the end while Zack undoes the door.

It’s my first look at the space and even if I wasn’t desperate for somewhere to live, I know I’d be stoked with this place.

We heave the couch over to the wall opposite the door and ease it down before pushing it against the wall. Zack sits on it to catch his breath while I go and grab my bag.

When I get back, I head over to the kitchen space and see a note on the counter.

Alex,

I hope this is okay. We can sort out a day or two each week for you to do laundry at the house, as there are no facilities here. The wifi should stretch this far (get Zack to give you the details if you don’t already have them.) But any problems - let me know and we can get an extender. This place is yours as long as you need it.

Mel

Wow, admittedly I hadn’t seen this place before, but everything is so clean and tidy that Mel must have been busy getting it ready for me. The same perfume I smelt by her bedroom delicately fragrances the air.

“Anything else you need?” Zack asks.

“Nah, this is amazing. Thanks. I guess I should go get some groceries, so I have some food for breakfast.”

“Mum bought some stuff for you. I think it’s in the fridge and one of the cupboards.” I take a look and see milk, eggs, butter, and cheese in the fridge. And then bread and some cans and crisps in the cupboard.

“She really didn't need to do all of this.” But I’m so glad she did. Perhaps all is not lost.

“She said if it was me, she’d hope someone would do it for me. So I guess she wanted you to be comfortable. Want me to show you how to pull the couch out?”

I look over at it with a frown. “I think we had one like that at home. I should be fine, but thanks.”

“Wanna come back to the house and hang out? I’ve got some beers.”

I grip the back of my neck. “Mind if I take a rain check tonight, Zack? I’m knackered, and even though I hardly have any stuff, I want to get it all sorted.”

“No worries, man. Text if you need anything. Or just come in the back door and holler. It’s usually unlocked unless Mum’s gone to bed.” I frown at that. It wouldn’t be that hard for someone to come round from the front and just walk in.

“Thanks, Zack. I’ll see you soon.” I walk over to the door as he opens it to step out.

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