Page 29 of Unspoken Words
It wasn’t, and I was now a little embarrassed.
“Boys are slobs.”
“Hey!” I stood up and collected some of the clothes into my arms, not exactly sure what to do with them.
“You are! Especially my brother. Do you know what he does just to annoy me?”
I could’ve hazarded a guess, but I shook my head.
“He eats the Milo out of the tin.”
“Doesn’t everyone do that?”
“But does everyone lick the spoon and leave it in there for next time?”
I shook my head again even though I was prone to some spoon recycling myself, but I wouldn’t admit my sin. Not yet.
Ellie’s attention diverted to her left, to my bed, where my crumpled up boxer shorts lay.
“Everything okay?” I asked, sceptical.
“Yes. But I should get going. I need to be home before Mum finishes work.”
“Oh, okay. Do you want me to walk you?”
“Yes, please.”
I stood up and performed some arm and back stretches, deliberately grunting.
“What are you doing?”
“Preparing myself.”
“For what?”
“Your super heavy backpack.” I waggled my eyebrows and flexed my bicep for her again.
She stepped closer, paused, and then poked it. And I swear I stopped breathing for a second.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft. “I loved the song, and I had a really good time.”
Slinging her backpack over my shoulder, we headed out of the room. “No probs. We should do it again sometime. Well, maybe not the song bit.”
“Why not? I could write you another note and you could make another song.”
“It doesn’t exactly work like that.” We exited the house and walked down my front steps.
“Oh. Well, it was just a suggestion. I mean, I like to write, and you like to play.”
She sounded disappointed, as if I’d somehow failed her or let her down. I didn’t like that feeling so changed my mind. “True. You write; I play. Maybe we should try it again sometime.”
“Really?”
I kicked a rock. “Sure.”
Ellie bounced on the spot and clapped her hands together. “This is so exciting! I have so many things I can write about.” She stopped bouncing and became super serious. “I wonder if Madonna has a notebook for her lyrics?”
I shrugged.
