Page 62 of One Day Like This (Excess All Areas 1)

Nan reached for the tea towel to wipe her hands. “Matt?”

“Yeah?”

“I know it’s none of my business, but ... you and Izabel. I wondered if there was something between the two of you on the tram the other day. It’s ... just ... I noticed. Whether you meant me to or not.”

His gut hit the ground and bounced back up. “There’s nothing to notice. We’re just friends.”

Nan nodded thoughtfully. The pause felt like it lasted hours. “Whatever you say, lad. Just ... be careful. There’s a lot at stake, for all of you.”

And her words reverberated through him the whole way home.

11

Six days later, Izabel looked around Matt’s apartment. Candles flickered on the windowsill and coffee table. The lamp in the corner provided just enough light so they could see each other. The hotpot she’d made was cooking in the oven.

She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. Completely too much for an evening in, but given they weren’t going out on a date anytime soon, she’d wanted to make more of an effort with simply being together.

As much as she loved falling into bed with Matt, she needed something that felt more like a relationship and less like a secret. She’d dug the fitted peach dress and nude heels out of her more casual wardrobe and taken her time styling her hair and putting on a full face of makeup.

And she’d cooked him one of his favourite meals, a hotpot. Sure, it was a simple meat and potatoes and vegetables in a pie, but she’d baked their initials onto the crust, and bought a fresh jar of pickled beetroot to go with it.

Certainly wasn’t going to go down in a culinary hall of fame, but she hoped Matt would appreciate the effort.

It had been an ordeal to organise too. She’d told Matt she needed him to leave his apartment door off the latch so she could head up there as soon as he and Luke left to go to their band rehearsal. She’d lied to Luke and told him she was going out with the girls and would be staying at Gemma’s. Thankfully he’d not asked for specifics, and her best friend was more than willing to cover for her.

At the rattle of the key in the door, excitement flooded through her. She leaned against the back of the chair. No, wait, she should sit on the chair arm, but halfway there, she decided on the stool by the kitchen island. How could there be so many options in a small open-plan apartment?

“Hey, babe,” Matt said from the hallways. “Something smells good.” He walked into the living room. “Holy shit, Iz. This is ... wow.” He took in the candles and the set table.

“We can’t go on a date right now. Like an outside date. But I thought we could do that here. At home.”

Matt reached for her hands, pulled her knuckles to his lips. “You look incredible.” He held her hands out to her sides and stepped back, his eyes pursuing the cut of the dress leisurely. “I appreciate the effort. And I’m sorry we can’t go out. I’ll take you somewhere spectacular in this dress eventually. Some fancy restaurant once we’ve got paid and—”

“We don’t need fancy. Or expensive. Or the future. We can enjoy this, can’t we? A few candles. Some good food. Your nan slipped the wine in my care package. I think it’s her Aldi special, but it’ll taste great. And it was nice to get dressed up, even if you’re the only person to see it.”

Matt pulled her close and kissed her softly. “I like that I’m the only person who gets to see you in it.”

“Neanderthal.”

“Maybe. I love all of this. But one day, I’ll give you the world.” He trailed his fingertips down her arm to her thigh, tickling the skin just beneath the hem.

“Your idea of the world and mine are a bit different. I’m happy with this, if this is all we ever have.”

Matt’s eyes studied hers. “You really mean that?”

Izabel nodded. “I know in your head you want the income and security from your music, but this works just fine. My feelings for you won’t be any different if we live in a bigger house or eat at expensive restaurants. I’ll still be the girl who likes staying in with you and eating home-cooked hotpot with a pie crust instead of potatoes.”

“You made a pie crust?”

“I did.”

“I just died and went to heaven. But honestly, how can you settle? I want it all. I want first-class travel to New York or Vegas. I want to gamble and not worry about losing. I want the luxury of being able to buy whatever trainers and clothes I want.”

“It’s not settling for less. It’s being grateful for what I have. Dad dying, Mum leaving ... feeling displaced had an impact on me. I guess I just want to feel secure.”

Matt tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Do I make you feel secure?”

“Decorator Matt who works an honest week and loves a good pie crust does.”

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