Page 59 of Love Me Till Wednesday

‘Where’s Lisa?’

‘Upstairs, putting some clothes on.’

Pete raised an eyebrow.

‘We got drenched walking back from the all-night cafe.’

‘The lovely Eduardo’s? Having a trip down memory lane? I still nip in there when I fancy a proper fry-up for breakfast. Lisa disapproves.’

‘What don’t I approve of?’ Lisa asked as she walked into the room.

‘My artery-hardening taste in food.’

‘I don’t want you popping your clogs just yet, Peter Anderson. I have plans for you.’

‘You’re not the only one.’ He was grinning from ear to ear now.

‘What’s that meant to mean?’ Lisa asked as she started making herself some tea.

‘I’ll explain later. Right now, I need some sleep before we do that radio interview.’

‘You didn’t get much rest at Andy’s then?’

‘No comment.’ Pete said with a laugh. ‘See you, Nick.’

‘Yeah. See you.’ Nick replied half-heartedly as Pete headed up the steps into the hall. Had he and Lisa got some sort of open relationship?

‘You look confused,’ Lisa said.

‘I guess I didn’t expect you and Pete to be a couple again.’

‘We’re not. He’s my lodger,’ she explained.

Nick was surprised at how relieved he felt to hear that.You’re falling for her again. Stop it!!

‘I think he and Andy might be getting back together again. Andy whisked him away for a drink when we were about to leave the studio. Anyway, I’ve got something you might be interested in,’ she said, heading over to the bookshelf in thecorner. She returned, clutching what looked like a photo album, the type where the photos were printed directly onto the page. ‘I had it made for Jim’s 30th. I thought you could do your homework before you go round his house.’

He looked at the title embossed on the front in gold letters: “James Jones - the first 30 years”. He felt a lump in his throat. He didn’t think he could cope with seeing everything he’d missed in Jim’s life without crying. ‘Can I look at this later? I just want to talk to you,’ he said, smiling at her.

32

Lisa’s phone alarm went off. ‘I’m supposed to wake up now to go to a radio interview.’

Nick looked disappointed. ‘I better go back to my hotel and freshen up,’ Nick said.

‘You can freshen up here if you want. I’ll make us some toast or something,’ Lisa offered, not wanting him to leave. There was still so much to talk about. The last couple of hours catching up with what had happened to them both over the last thirty years had sped by. It was like old times. She got the impression he felt the same.

‘Thanks, but I could do with a change of clothes. I don’t want Jim thinking I don’t care enough to make an effort for him.’

He was determined to go then. Perhaps he hadn’t enjoyed it as much as she had. ‘Shall I call you a taxi? I’d offer to drive you, but Ed will be here soon to pick Pete and me.’

‘It’s fine. I can walk.’

Lisa’s phone got a text notification as Nick stood up to go. It was Jules:

What’s going on? There’s a bunch of photographers outside your house!

‘Shit!’

---