Page 88 of Love ad Lib
She cleared her throat. ‘Henry, think about this. People are going to be coming and going all night. Someone is bound to spot you in your car, and if they don’t, one of the dogs will sniff you out and cause a scene. Look. This bed is huge. If it makes you feel any better, how about we put a wall of pillows down the middle?’
His shoulders slumped. ‘I can sleep on the floor of the bathroom?’
‘No. Sleep on the bed.’
He hesitated. ‘On top of the covers? Fully clothed?’
‘If that would make you feel more comfortable?’
‘It’s not about me. What would makeyoufeel more comfortable?’
‘For you to stop acting like it’s the end of the world and come to bed.’ She froze as soon as the words were out of her mouth.
He abruptly turned his back and picked up a pen, then sat on the floor and started adding notes to the contract.
‘Are you specifying the height of the pillow wall?’ she asked, trying to make a joke.
He glanced up. ‘Do you have a ruler?’
She rolled her eyes. ‘I don’t normally pack one when I go for a long weekend in the country.’ She hopped off the bed. ‘I’m going to clean my teeth and get changed.’
Ten minutes later,Libby re-entered the bedroom to see a line of pillows down the centre of the bed.
Henry was nowhere to be seen.
Getting under the covers, she picked up her phone to send Claire a text.
Libby: Survived the night. Lots to talk about but it can wait. Love you xxx
There was a tentative knock on the door.
‘Yes?’
Henry entered, carrying a washbag. ‘I used the bathroom down the hall.’ He pushed the newly-installed deadbolt across the door. ‘This should be enough, and I want to make it easy for you to leave in a hurry if you need to.’
‘If your killer snoring becomes too much?’ she joked.
He didn’t smile back.
‘Henry! Honestly! It’s okay! Just get onto the bed and try to go to sleep.’
He took off his shoes and lay stiffly on top of the covers.
Her phone pinged.Claire?
Lucas: Looks like you’re living the high life with your new friends…
Lucas: [Screenshot from Summer’s Instagram account, with a picture of Libby, Summer, Estelle and Willow.]
‘Is that Lucas?’
‘Yes.’
‘Should I speak to him to explain what’s happened?’
Lucas: Don’t forget all of us on the other side of the fence.
Lucas: Ring me when you get this x
