‘You’re worrying about our situation, am I right?’ he asked, wriggling about so that his body was against hers, not an altogether unpleasant sensation, Ros noted.
‘It’s more the development that we now appear to have taken quite an important step forward in our relationship by moving in together.’
He tucked the throw around them and balanced the tray on top of their blanket-covered laps. ‘I get it. It’s a big commitment and not one you would make lightly.’
‘Exactly.’
‘But then,’ he said, offering her a tortilla chip. She hesitated. She’d need to redo her teeth. He waved the bowl a second time and she took one. ‘Circumstance has presented us with the opportunity to live together. Me moving in now could be a chance to see how we manage because dating and living with someone are two very different set-ups.’
‘That is true.’
He thoughtfully munched on a tortilla chip. ‘I think we’re the sort of couple who would seize the opportunity and view it as a test bed. I’d still be moving into new student digs come July because I’ve made a commitment, but we would have a fun few weeks living here and we’d know each other better at the end of it. Both the pluses and minuses. What do you think?’
It did make a lot of sense. ‘I think it’s actually far more sensible than moving in with no end date,’ she said. ‘That’s always very awkward. There’s implications that it is indefinite and relationships rarely are. Also as you say seeing each other casually is very different to sharing a home.’ She dipped her tortilla in the proffered dip.
‘Shall we tell Barry that?’ he asked, snuggling under the blanket. ‘Then we’ll be sound.’
‘Yes, I think we will be.’
They watched the lengthy Doctor Who programme and chatted. Cameron had a wealth of Doctor Who knowledge and was able to answer all of Ros’s questions. After too many snacks she found she was dozing off and missing bits of the programme but as the plot of each episode was basically the same – land in a strange time or place, fight a baddie or right a wrong and go on to the next location – she was able to keep abreast of proceedings.
‘Damn near broke my heart when Rose went,’ said Cameron, shaking his head at the screen.
It had become apparent that the tenth Doctor’s sidekick was his favourite. ‘They do have a very strong connection,’ she said, watching Billie Piper cry on a beach. As the actress told the Doctor she loved him, Cameron reached for Ros’s hand and squeezed it. It was nice to feel that for a change she was there for him, even if it was only a fleeting moment brought on by a fictional TV programme.
They debated the merits of the number-one voted episode ‘Blink’, whilst a gripping and slightly troubling episode it did appear, to Ros, to be rather lacking on the key component of the popular series as there were few scenes with Doctor Who in them. The programme ended and the credits rolled.
‘Goodness,’ said Ros, astonished to see it was gone 4 a.m. ‘I’d better get to bed.’ She tried to free herself from the blanket that bound her to Cameron’s side.
‘That was a great night though, wasn’t it?’
Ros smiled. ‘I had a very pleasant time. Thank you.’
‘And now you can say you’ve had an all-nighter.’
‘Can I?’ Ros hadn’t really understood the concept but if this was it she could see the appeal.
‘Apart from the lack of sex,’ added Cameron. ‘But I think I like this better. Added Doctor Who and no pressure to perform.’ He got to his feet and kissed Ros gently on the cheek. She paused, unsure how to react, or more importantly in a quandary over how her body wanted her to respond. ‘Night, Ros.’
She pulled away. ‘Good night, Cameron.’ She went to bed alone but feeling very much part of something special.
On Sunday morning Ros was woken by a tapping sound. It took a few blinks to realise someone was knocking at her bedroom door. She quickly wiped sleep from her eyes and checked her hair wasn’t sticking up like a pineapple top before answering. ‘What is it?’
The door opened and Cameron peeped in. ‘Sorry, did I wake you? I did, didn’t I?’
‘Kind of but it’s fine.’
‘Sorry. I went for an early run and I got you a coffee on the way back.’ He came in and deposited the cup on the bedside cabinet.
‘Thanks, that’s really kind. I usually head over to Dad’s about half ten. Does that work for you?’
Cameron pulled a face. ‘Yeah, about that. A friend of mine messaged to say they’re in Southampton just for the day today and I’d really like to have a catch-up. But it means I’ll miss Sunday roast at your dad’s. Is that okay?’
Ros tried hard not to look as disappointed as she felt. ‘Sure. Not a problem. It’s not like couples are joined at the hip.’
‘Exactly. Thanks for understanding.’
‘I’ll tell Dad the truth that you’re catching up with a mate,’ she said, feeling that was what Cameron would want her to say.
‘Cool. I’d better get showered and get my swank on. Well, my best jeans anyway.’
‘Ooh best jeans,’ said Ros, having a sip of coffee. ‘Where are you off to then?’
‘I’m going to give Gina a mini tour of the sights of Southampton,’ he said with his trademark grin and Ros felt something unpleasant burble in her gut, but before she could ask questions he was heading out the door. Who exactly was Gina? Although the name did ring a bell and she had a feeling Cameron had mentioned her, she couldn’t recall any details. ‘Give Barry my best,’ said Cameron. ‘And tell him I’ll thrash him at Scrabble next week. Don’t wait up – it’ll probably be a late one. See ya.’
‘Will do, bye. Have a lovely time. With um . . . Gina.’ But she didn’t mean it one bit.
On her way to her father’s, Ros decided that she needed to have a firm word with herself. There was nothing in the contract about Cameron seeing other people. Not that he’d said he was seeing Gina but the mention of another female had kicked Ros’s risk brain into overdrive. There was a risk that Cameron could be seen out with Gina by someone who would report back to her dad. Although she wasn’t sure who might do this. Mrs Pemberly next door was a possible but then as long as Cameron didn’t show any obvious signs of affection with Gina, like kissing, then they were fine. If questioned he was out with a friend. The fact that friend was female was irrelevant. Although it didn’t feel irrelevant to Ros. This was a level of risk she was considerably unhappy about.
She was mulling over other possible lines of enquiry her father may take if Cameron was spotted out with another woman, when she walked up the steps to his house and pulled her key out. However, there was no need to let herself in today because the door was already being opened. Ros smiled in anticipation of her dad’s greeting only to be met by someone altogether unexpected.
‘Mother? What on earth are you doing here?’
Chapter Twenty-One
‘I’m visiting,’ said Amanda, Ros’s mum. ‘Are you coming in?’
Ros was fixed to the top step. The sight of her mother after five years was more than a shock. A shock was when the lift at work suddenly stopped working. This was on more of a lift plummeting at high speed to certain death level.
