Page 39 of Fix Them Up
‘What do you mean?’ I frowned, pulling my arm away.
Liam sighed. ‘I’m fine. I’m tired.’
Guilt thrummed through me, ‘I know I said I’d sort it’ – I rubbed my face, searching for the words to explain – ‘but I just… I just can’t ask them. And I can’t afford an Airbnb, even with you not charging me for labour. It’s so expensive as it is. I can’t believe how naive I was about the costs.’
When Liam sent over a quote for materials for the project, I had to sit down. I hadn’t realised how the prices had increased massively since the pandemic, and it sent me into another spiral of self-hatred. I was so incredibly unprepared and naive about this project. Luckily, the money from my dad’s estate barely covered it. I was betting I would make some profit on this house.
It both thrilled and scared the shit out of me.
I lowered my hands. Peeking at Liam, I prayed I saw some semblance of understanding on his face. Iliterallycouldn’t afford to scare him off.
‘Okay.’ Liam let out a harsh breath. ‘I’ve got somewhere you can stay. You can’t camp outside for weeks. We’re due rain for the rest of February. And March.’
I swear, the rain bombarding the van was a paid actor.
‘You can stay at mine. Don’t argue with me until I’m finished. I have an annexe in my garden. I built it for my dad during the pandemic. He had a health scare, and I wanted somewhere for him to stay. But he is as stubborn as you, so he has never used it. It has a little kitchen to make food, and you can have the privacy you want.’
My mouth hung open. This was incredibly generous and would resolve my problem, but the thought of seeing Liam every day made me feel a bit… funny. I had pins and needles running downmy back and guilt thrumming under my ribcage. I would be a burden. I would be messy. I would probably accidentally break the shower or smash his collection of vintage Charles and Diana mugs from 1996.
‘People will talk,’ I said.
‘Talk about what?’
‘Me and you.’
Liam’s eyes were laser-focused on me. ‘And what would they say?’
‘You know – that you and I…’ I gestured between us.
‘That you and I what?’ he asked, his brows furrowed.
‘That you and I are, like, together.’
‘Together like sat in this van?’ he asked.
I made a frustrated noise. ‘No, like having S-E-X.’
‘S-E –’ His eyes widened, and he gasped. ‘Sex!’
The penny dropped. He was mocking me. I rolled my eyes as a wide grin took over his face.
‘You’re taking the piss.’
Liam’s laugh filled the van. ‘You make it so easy.’
‘I’m serious, Liam.’ I couldn’t help the smile pulling at my lips. ‘You said people are nosy.’
‘No one is going to care.’ Liam paused and stared ahead, like he was imagining the conversations he would be having at the social club. ‘Well, some people might care. A beautiful woman moving into my house isn’t particularly normal.’
My eyes widened. Liam turned to look at me, his eyes slightly wide.
‘Did you just call me beautiful?’ I laughed. ‘Does that line usually work?’
‘It wasn’t a line.’
‘Okay.’
‘I’m serious. I don’t make a habit of hitting on women I’masking to move in with me.’ Liam ran his hand through his hair. ‘Nothing like that is going to happen. You’ll be safe living in the annexe. I won’t… you know. Try it on.’
