Page 53 of Pillow Talk
‘Nuggets?’ He winked.
Shona laughed.
‘You should be so lucky. That’s reserved for fine dining,’ she joked.
Sen smiled. Genuinely smiled. She gestured for him to follow her to the kitchen and invited him to sit on one of the stools next to the centre island.
‘I’ll cook and we’ll talk,’ she said.
She opened the fridge and took out a beer for him, then began to prepare the food. The truth was, she wanted to have this conversation without having to make eye contact. Cooking and walking around the kitchen allowed her to avoid it.
Sen watched her hesitate at the air-fryer.
‘If you’re trying to impress by cooking lamb chops in the oven instead of the air-fryer, don’t. Lamb chops in the air-fryer are just as good,’ he said kindly.
‘And how do you know?’
‘Sho, I do have to eat. I cook and I love my air-fryer,’ he replied.
‘I just realised that I’ve never been to your apartment,’ she said, after setting the timer on the air-fryer.
‘Really? Actually, you’re right but yours is better.’ He took a sip of his beer.
‘No way. You live in the town’s only high-rise,’ Shona said and winked.
Sen chuckled.
‘Six floors is hardly a high-rise. But I’m serious: your apartment is homely, it reflects who you are. Mine isn’t. My mother is always nagging me about at least putting up a picture. You know how mothers are,’ he said.
Shona shrugged.
‘I’m surprised your parents are cool with you living alone,’ Sen added.
‘I can understand that. My parents appear traditional and maybe even controlling but they’re liberal about a lot of things. What about you? Your parents’ home is massive. You could have stayed there when you moved back to Rally,’ she replied.
Sen shook his head. ‘That would never happen. I spent years at boarding school. I love my parents, but I don’t think I could live with them. Of course, I go home often for a home-cooked meal but haven’t lately.’
‘Because you’ve been here almost every night,’ Shona said.
She sat down opposite him. ‘I think I didn’t want to tell you about me walking out because I was embarrassed.’
Sen was taken aback. ‘Embarrassed? Why?’
Shona bit her bottom lip before answering. ‘Because you have it all together. I’m exactly what you said I am, complicated.’
‘Shona, you’ve had it all together since you were nine years old. You knew what you wanted to do and be long before me,’ he said.
Shona sat back, taking in the full measure of Sen’s words.
Chapter
Ten
Amemory started to play in Sen’s mind. One hot summer’s day when Shona was about nine years old, they were sitting under a tree in his grandfather’s garden eating from bowls of ice cream the housekeeper had given them.
‘I’m going to call my shop The First Look Bridal Shop,’ Shona had announced.
While Sen just groaned, Anni asked Shona why she’d chosen that name.
