Page 55 of The Reality of Us
Owen smiled tightly. “Fixed the hot water system at my place.” He should’ve done it ages ago.
“How is your place going? The new one,” his dad asked.
“The kitchen’s in and the bathrooms are almost done. There’s been a delay on the tiles I chose so we’re at a bit of a standstill. Hopefully, I’ll be able to move in soon.”
“What will you do with the studio once you’ve moved into the big house?” Lulu asked, looking up from where she’d been sketching a floor plan on a napkin.
“Probably rent it out,” he said as casually as he could manage.
“Really?” His parents exchanged a look. Not so casual, then.
“No sense turning down extra cash while I’m still getting established here. Besides, this guy”—he pointed at Teddy—“pays me peanuts for the flat above the office.”
Teddy flipped him off, earning himself a shoulder smack and a “Theodore!” from Lulu before she said, “You’ve taken on a lot lately, Owen, and you can always come to us if you need anything.”
A bit of beer sloshed over the side of his glass as he set it down. “I know. Things are good. Business is picking up—besides, it was always going to take a while to get settled. It makes sense to recoup as much cash as I can.”
With its rendered grey exterior, concrete floor covered in paint splatters and cream walls, his little studio was totally different from the super-modern apartment in Melbourne he’d lived in for years, but it had finally started to feel like home. He’d figured out most of the flat’s foibles, like how he had to press his body as close as he could to the tiles on the far side of the shower while he waited for the water to warm up. It was that or he’d end up wrapped in the stage five clinger shower curtain. Owen might even be a little bit sad to leave it behind when his new place was finished.
The idea of having a stranger living there made his stomach clench.
At least it was far enough from the main house that he wouldn’t ever cross paths with whoever was living there.
A bit of feedback echoed through the room.
“We’ve got a tie tonight, folks,” the quiz master said. “Can I have a representative from Get Fact”—Alice’s table whooped, his chest tightening when a shy smile blossomed on her face—“and Team James!”
Teddy raised his hands victoriously even though he’d been behind the bar during all the trivia rounds.
“Go on.” Wilbur pushed on Owen’s shoulder. “You go get the prize.”
Owen stood and made his way through the crowd, falling in step behind Alice. She startled as she looked over her shoulder, a red flush creeping up her neck. He snapped his eyes to the back of her head and swallowed.
They stepped up onto the small stage in the corner of the room.
“Given it’s Alice’s first win, I think we should let her have the meat tray tonight. What do you say, folks?” Everyone cheered. Alice’s blush deepened. “You don’t mind if she has your meat, do you, Owen?”
He didn’t, which was fortuitous considering she didn’t seem to want anything from him.
“The light’s so pretty in this one.” Eloise angled her laptop towards Alice, pointing to a picture of her candle range. The background was dusky; the sherbet-coloured sky was streaked with soft pinks and purples. All five candles were lit, the rose gold on their labels shining thanks to the light Alice had held just out of the shot.
“I love them all.” Alice sat on her hands so she didn’t wave them around excitedly. “Thanks again for doing this. I don’t know how you work full-time while studying and moonlighting as a photographer and web designer.”
“I like to be busy.” Eloise dragged and dropped images into the beta version of Alice’s website. “I think you’re ready to send this baby out into the real world. One last check?”
Eloise pushed her laptop towards Alice, stretching back until she was leaning against the sheepskin that covered her chair.
“Oh, no,” Eloise said.
“What?” Alice asked.
Eloise held up her phone. “My dentist appointment tomorrow has changed; now it clashes with my knitting circle at the Somers Gully Nursing Home.”
“I can do it,” Alice volunteered.
“Really?”
“Sure.” Alice shrugged. She needed a break from pouring candles, and she loved to knit. While Eloise rang the nursing home and explained she wouldn’t be there tomorrow, Alice scrolled through the site, checking all the links worked and nothing looked out of place. It was perfect. She’d been teasing The Emancipation of Alice logo for the last few days and would reveal it tonight when most people were likely to be on their phones. Tomorrow, she’d share the launch date. Which was only a few days away. She gulped and tucked her hair behind her ears. She’d written her media plan weeks ago, and now it was almost time to let everyone in on what she’d been up to; she wasn’t sure she wanted to. The thought of sharing herself again, even if she could control how much this time, filled her stomach with butterflies. Who was she kidding? They’d been there ever since she sent Owen away.
