Page 34 of Love, Academically
“Don’t you like breakfast TV?” Lila asked, indicating with the remote control.
He glared at her.
“Or perhaps you’re not a morning person,” she said, turning back to the TV. “Or apersonperson.”
Watching Lila Cartwright eat toast was not the best use of his time this morning. He should be in work, he should be charting Henry II’s movements, going over his lecture notes, checking his emails. The hangover from corporate business and the urge to always do more was strong.
“What is it, Rhys? What’s going on in that head of yours?” Lila sighed and sat back on the sofa.
“I’m just used to being in work early. It’s stressing me out not being in work early.”
He ran a hand through his hair and wondered if Lila had a spare toothbrush.
“Why didn’t you say it was stressing you out?” She shoved the rest of the toast in her mouth. “I’ll do my best. I can’t guarantee I’ll be as quick as you want, but I’ll try.”
“Lila, you…” He started to say that she didn’t have to, but he changed his mind. “Thank you.”
What a relief. To know she was making an effort was enough. Well, it would help if she was quick, but he couldn’t expect much more from her.
It took her about half an hour before she called for him to bring her crutches. She was sat on the bottom of the stairs, one flat shoe on, the other foot encased in a fluffy purple sock. The wideemerald green trousers and equally flashy lime-coloured shirt somehow made her eyes bluer. Her crutches were already in the car.
“Rhys, I can walk,” she protested as he scooped her up, although she didn’t protest very hard, and settled her arms around his neck.
“It’s quicker. You have everything?” Rhys didn’t really care as he bundled her out of the door and into his car.
He settled in the driver’s seat and cranked up the heated seats, because despite the sun shining, it was firmly autumn.
“Too hot?”
“Not as hot as you,” Lila replied and he looked at her, just to check that she was teasing, and she flashed him a smile, before digging in her handbag for something.
Was that an embarrassed pink flush creeping up her neck? Perhaps he should just joke about the whole winding himself around her?
“Because I’m ‘like a radiator’?” He popped a wry smile on his lips.
“Yes, that’s exactly it.” Lila retrieved a lip balm and pulled down the sun visor to apply. “Now, Jeeves. To work please.”
Yes, madam.
“I need to stop at the Sainsbury’s on the way, get some new underwear and a shirt. They’re not brilliant shirts, but they’ll have to do.”
“Oh, yeah, fine.”
He caught her smile out of the corner of his eye. It must be her default setting.
“Yeah, just so people don’t think I spent the night with you.” He glanced at her. “As in,spent the nightwith you.”
“I get it, Rhys.”
“No, no, I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant,” she said, her lips in a tight smile.
He was making this worse.
“Lila, you’d be a catch for anyone.”
“Just not you, yeah?”
