There was a brief pause before anyone spoke. ‘It’s me,’ said Cameron in a forlorn voice.

‘Oh. Hi.’ This was unexpected. ‘Come up,’ said Ros, hitting the button. She was instantly worried. Why had he come round rather than calling? Surely there could be only one reason. Someone had found them out and blabbed to her dad. Her heart clenched at the thought and she felt a bit queasy. She’d dreaded this happening. Her logical brain was already telling her ‘I told you so’. She realised she was pacing when there was a tap on the door. She took a deep breath and opened it.

A damp and dishevelled Cameron was standing there with a bicycle hanging off one shoulder and holding a rucksack and bin bag in the other.

‘Whatever’s happened?’ she asked, feeling a little exposed in her PJs.

He took a deep breath. ‘My housemates had a vote and they’ve kicked me out.’

For a moment she was relieved – at least they hadn’t been rumbled. But instantly she realised Cameron was in distress. ‘Come in,’ she said, stepping back as the bicycle wheel tilted in her direction. ‘I don’t think your housemates can do that.’

‘Well, they have.’ Cameron lifted the bicycle off his shoulder and looked around for somewhere to put it down. He propped it against a kitchen cupboard. ‘I got home to find all my stuff outside with a note saying they would let me off the rent as they didn’t need my contribution but they couldn’t live with my moaning anymore.’

Ros hadn’t seen him look down before. His usual smile no longer etched in place, he was a sad sight. She got him a beer from the fridge and joined him on the sofa. She grabbed a cushion and hugged that in an attempt to cover up her pyjamas. ‘Darla said you were tidying up after them a lot.’

‘Cheers. I was. I suppose I did grumble about it though.’

‘That’s understandable. I expect they’ll miss you when they realise they’ve got to tidy up themselves.’

‘They won’t bother.’ He took a swig of his drink and sighed.

‘So what now?’ asked Ros.

Cameron slowly turned to look at her. ‘I was kinda hoping I could stay here for a bit.’

Chapter Nineteen

It had been a long while since Ros had had a man stay in her apartment. She’d felt put on the spot the previous evening but she could hardly turn him away, especially as it was raining and he had a flat tyre. He’d helped her make up the spare bed and had thanked her a number of times.

There had been no sign of him when she’d got ready for work so she began writing a note but everything she put made it sound like she was asking when he was leaving. It was something they hadn’t discussed. She screwed up her third attempt and decided she would text him during the day to ask how everything was going.

As soon as she was outside, she called Darla. It was early but Darla would already be coming to the end of her shift as a cleaner.

Thankfully she picked up straightaway. Unfortunately she also started speaking. ‘Hiya,’ said Darla. ‘If you’ve found the stand for the telly, I’ll love you forever. I can’t get the bloody thing to stand up on anything. At the moment it’s on the floor propped up against the chimney breast at such an odd angle I have to kneel on the sofa to see the screen properly.’

‘Darla, that is a minor issue.’

‘Not to me it’s not. Don’t get me wrong, I am hugely grateful. Even viewing daytime telly like a meerkat will be a bonus. But I’m not sure it’s worth the TV licence. You see—’

Ros was struggling to find a gap. ‘Darla! Please listen.’

‘Sorry. What’s up?’

‘Cameron turned up at mine last night with all his worldly goods. His housemates have evicted him and now he’s staying at mine.’

‘Poor Cameron. They were a right bunch of Hurray Henrys. That’s good of you to put him up.’

‘Little choice really. I felt obliged. But it was also the right thing to do.’ Conflicted didn’t really cover how she felt.

‘I guess he doesn’t have anyone else in the city apart from me,’ mused Darla.

‘He did say he’d considered asking you but seeing as Netley Marsh is quite a way out when he only has a bicycle with a flat tyre as transport, it wasn’t feasible last night.’

‘Also I only have one actual bed. You have two. So definitely the right choice.’

Ros wobbled her head; she wasn’t convinced. ‘You do have three spare bedrooms, even if they’re lacking beds, and you have a large sofa,’ said Ros, thinking out loud.

‘It’s frowned upon to sublet properties while you’re house-sitting,’ said Darla.

‘It would hardly be subletting. A friend sofa surfing wouldn’t get you into trouble, would it?’

‘Are you trying to dump your boyfriend on me?’ Darla laughed.

‘He’s not my boyfriend. He’s a stand-in, as well you know. And not dump exactly. It just feels awkward him being here.’ Although she had to admit she even felt a little like that when Darla stayed. Perhaps Ros had just spent too long living alone.

‘Ahh come on, it’s Cameron. He’s a sweetie. And we know he’s tidy. That’s what’s got him booted out by the rich kids.’

‘But still – sharing your home with a virtual stranger feels weird. I’m hoping he isn’t planning on staying long.’ And by long she meant more than a couple of nights.

‘Don’t be hasty,’ said Darla. ‘He’s not a stranger and the more time you spend together can only help make you seem more authentic as a couple. I reckon he’ll be a great housemate.’

‘But for how long?’ Ros was aware her voice was a few octaves higher than usual.

She heard a noise that sounded like Darla was sucking her teeth. ‘Students usually go home June or July time so he’ll probably get a new house share around then.’

‘But that’s months away!’ Ros’s voice had reached a whole new pitch.

Her dilemma was on Ros’s mind all day and she was aware that she had been a little abrupt with a couple of people, which was against her new policy. As soon as it was noon she fired off a well-composed text to Cameron:

Good afternoon, Cameron. Hope you slept well. How has your day been so far? I hope you are managing to resolve your issues. Ros

There was no immediate response so she went to get her lunch from the office fridge. Berlinda was stirring a Pot Noodle.

‘Hello, Berlinda,’ said Ros, before rummaging in the fridge. ‘I was thinking of getting out a plate, or should I stick with my Tupperware?’

Berlinda snorted a laugh. ‘I don’t know how that happened. But no hard feelings. Yeah?’

‘Indeed,’ said Ros, thinking murderous thoughts, which was technically different.

‘How’s that cute boyfriend of yours?’ asked Berlinda.

‘Very well, thank you for asking.’

‘Does he have any brothers?’ Berlinda made an unattractive snorting noise.

Ros liked straightforward questions especially the ones she knew the answer to. ‘No, he has an older sister.’

‘Shame. He was quite the star of the barbecue.’