Marry Me Tomorrow: The perfect, feel-good read to curl up with in 2017!

‘You know what happened to the boy who cried wolf,’ she said, darkly.

‘I’ve only just woken up. I haven’t even seen him this morning.’

‘I bet he’s been watching you sleep.’

‘Oh shut up!’

‘Did you lock your door?’ I glanced to where my dressing table had been dragged in front of my door. In the cold light of morning, I doubted it would have kept anyone out, but it had made me feel safe enough to fall asleep. Eventually.

‘I haven’t even got a lock.’

‘Well get one.’

‘Did he really look that dodgy? You know, when you saw him emerge from the bathroom, bare-chested in all the steam, I could have sworn you went a bit starry-eyed.’

‘Get lost! He’s not bad-looking, I’ll give you that, but he’s still some stranger you’ve pulled off the street.’

I sighed and sat back down on my bed. ‘What are you doing today?’

‘Dave’s parents are coming for lunch. What time does your mum arrive?’

‘Not until six. I need to take Sam to get his hair cut actually.’

Lydia chuckled. ‘You make him sound like a child. What if he doesn’t want it cut?’

‘I’ll ask first, obviously.’

‘He’ll say no. He’s a right arsy bastard.’

‘You don’t know that.’

‘Yes I do. Goodbye.’

‘Bye.’

I tried to make as little noise as possible as I moved the dressing table out of the way, but it still made a loud dragging noise, followed with a loud bang as my hairdryer fell to the floor. I winced and peered at it, hoping it hadn’t broken; hoping Sam hadn’t heard and sussed out what I was doing and that basically, I didn’t trust him. I paused before going out into the lounge, my hand on the doorknob.

Closing my eyes, I thought about the Sam I saw every morning on the way to work. He always got this intense look in his eyes as I approached, and he’d smile and get to his feet. I’d pass him the coffee and he’d thank me, ask me how I was, tell me to have a good day. I wondered how he’d be this morning after our chat last night. I’d been a bit pushy about him visiting his brother and he’d gone quiet after. I hoped I hadn’t offended him.

Sam was standing in the lounge, staring out of the window. He turned when I opened the door, and pushed his hair back from his face.

‘Morning!’ I plastered on a big smile and tried to forget about my just-got-out-of-bed look. ‘Did you sleep okay? How long have you been up?’

He shrugged. ‘I woke up about four. I never sleep that well.’

‘Four o’clock? That’s the middle of the night!’ I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to fall to his knees thanking me for the best night’s sleep of his life or something, but I was disappointed that he hadn’t slept better.

‘It’s weird sleeping in a bed. Inside.’ He shook his head and went back to staring at a flock of starlings, black against the pearly sky. ‘I woke up and didn’t know where I was.’

I hovered for a moment, staring at his back, not knowing what to say. It must be strange for him to be staying here after the life he’d been living for the past year and a half. After a moment, I went through to the kitchen and filled the kettle with water. ‘Do you want a cup of tea or coffee?’

‘Guess I’ll have a coffee, seeing as it’s your speciality.’ He came and leaned against the door frame, watching me. I smiled at him over my shoulder, tucking my hair behind my ear. ‘Are you sure? I thought you didn’t like coffee any more.’

‘You know I was just being an awkward, ungrateful twat.’ He looked down at the floor, shuffled his feet, tense and uncomfortable.

‘That’s all right then.’ I reached up for some mugs, then got the milk from the fridge and the coffee out of the cupboard. ‘Feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen. The cereal’s in here.’ I pointed a toe at the cupboard next to the oven. ‘Or I can make you a bacon sandwich? You can make something if you want. It’s fine, whatever.’

He frowned and pulled a face. ‘Stop being so nice.’

‘What?’ I turned to look at him.

‘Stop fussing.’

‘So, I can’t offer you anything to eat now?’

‘You know what I mean.’ He looked irritated, which instantly irritated me.

‘Well, get yourself something to eat then.’

He went to the cereal cupboard and pulled out the Weetabix. ‘Is it all right if I have two?’

‘Have three if you like.’

‘Now that would be greedy.’

I laughed, more to break the tense atmosphere than anything else. ‘Bowls are up there, above your head.’ I watched him reach up and take down a blue bowl, the sinews in his forearm knotting and twisting, reminding me that he was real, that this was really happening and not some strange dream I’d conjured up in the night. ‘Speaking of your head,’ I said, ‘shall we get your hair cut today?’

‘What’s wrong with my hair?’ He pushed it away from his face again and looked at me.

‘Nothing!’ I said, with mock innocence. ‘It’s just a bit long, that’s all.’

Sam grunted as he poured milk onto his Weetabix. ‘I thought your mum was coming today.’

‘Not until teatime. We’re driving to Manchester Airport to meet her and Len. Their plane gets in about six.’ Opening the cutlery drawer, I passed Sam a spoon, before closing it with my hip.

‘Thanks.’

‘We need to get you some clothes too.’

Raising his eyebrows, Sam dug the spoon into his Weetabix and stirred. He didn’t look happy. ‘You already did that last night.’

‘I only got you pyjamas and underwear and stuff.’

‘I have a bag of clothes with me.’

‘Yes but you’ve been living rough in them. They can’t be in good condition. And you know…’ I screwed up my face ‘…my mum is quite glam. I think you need some better clothes, like some new jeans, a coat and some trainers. And a few tops. That kind of thing.’

He rolled his eyes. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me in a dinner jacket or something?’