Page 39 of Love ad Lib
‘What?’
India stumbled out of bed and followed Libby to her room.
‘Jesus!’
The two women stared at the ceiling in horror.
‘I’ll go upstairs,’ said India. ‘You clear your stuff and put down pans to catch the drips.’
India dashed out and Libby ran for the kitchen. She flicked on the light to reveal a room with water pouring through a hole in the ceiling, and broken and damp pieces of plasterboard littering the table and floor.
There was a loud bang, then everything went dark.
A few hours later,Libby buzzed Lucas’s studio, a rucksack on her back, her hands trembling. She was desperately trying not to cry. The upstairs neighbour had been drunk, set a bath running, then passed out in front of the television, at least six hours before Libby woke up. The building that housed the flats was old and the water had turned the ceilings to mushy cardboard. Most of her belongings were ruined and their home was now uninhabitable. Worst of all, a chunk of plaster, wood, and god-knows-what-else had landed in her starter. Serafina was dead.
‘Fuck off.’ Lucas’s voice was a pissed off growl.
‘Lucas! It’s me.’
‘Lib-Lob? Why are you here?’
‘The flat’s trashed. The idiot upstairs got drunk, ran a bath and forgot about it. I’ve got nowhere to stay.’
There was a pause. ‘Hang on, I’m coming down.’
Five minutes later, Lucas stepped out into the street, shut the door behind him and drew her into his arms. The kind gesture was enough for the dam to break and tears spill out.
‘Shhh. It’s okay, Lib-Lob. It’s okay.’
‘I’m sorry, Lucas,’ she sobbed. ‘It’s just been so awful.’
He stroked her back until she stopped crying. She disengaged and pulled out a wad of tissues, blowing her nose.
‘Thank you,’ she said shyly. ‘I knew I could count on you.’
He held his hands out. ‘What can I say? I’ve got that Butler magic.’
She giggled. ‘You have.’ She yawned. ‘I really appreciate this, Lucas. And I promise you won’t know I’m here. Right now, I just need to sleep.’
His smile turned into a look of confusion. ‘What, here?’
She nodded. ‘I’ve got nowhere else to go.’
He pulled at his hair and frowned. ‘Lib-Lob, I’m sorry, but that’s not going to work.’
‘I, I don’t have to share your bed,’ she stammered. ‘I can sleep on the floor.’
He sighed. ‘The show’s on Monday. My work is everywhere. There’s just no room.’
Her throat tightened. ‘Lucas.’ Her voice cracked. ‘I’ve got no money left.’
He nodded. ‘Tell me about it. Look. Go stay at Claire’s, and we can talk after the show.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘You’ve got this, Lib-Lob.’
‘He saidwhat?’Claire paced her living room, carrying Harper over her shoulder and patting her back.
‘He was being sweet,’ Libby replied. ‘Boosting my confidence. He believes in me.’
Harper let out an enormous burp.
