I made the toast, and he made the tea. We sat at the table. Adam glanced at my computer. "How's your writing going?",

"Not bad." I shrugged. "Bit of writer's block at the moment."

"What do you write about?"

"You won't like what I write."

Adam took a sip of his black tea. "Try me, what do you write?" He held up his finger. "Wait. Let me guess. Romance."

I grinned and cocked my head. "How did you know?"

"You're a woman. Is it "R" rated or sweet and innocent?"

"You'll never know." I laughed.

Adam frowned and peered at me over the rim of his mug. "Why? Aren't you going to let me read it?"

"Probably not," I said.

He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Then I won't let you ride in my Morris."

"Is it close to being finished?"

"No, and won't be at the rate I'm going."

His phone rang. This time, Matchbox Twenty sang 'Unwell'. I guessed that'd be the end of his visit. He'd say he had to go. I listened.

"Croe." Adam walked to the door and stepped onto the verandah, leaving the door ajar. He said, "Thirty minutes."

I collected the dirty dishes to pretend I wasn't eavesdropping, but strained my ears to hear him say, "What about?"

He leaned against the rail and said, "Is that right? So easy to say when you're snug and safe in your bed. Maybe I could change that." He huffed and said, "Yeah, then tell him I'm out. I don't give a fuck." Adam straightened and ran his hand through his hair. "When I'm ready."

I faced the sink but didn't turn on the tap. He said, "Like I said I don't give a shit anymore. If he doesn't like it, tell him I'm willing to walk."

I had my back to him, wiping the bench when he closed the door. I had no idea what he had been talking about. Speaking in code came easily to him. Adam wrapped his arms around me and then kissed my neck. Something about his phone call made me uneasy, so I wasn't as responsive as I should have been. He must have sensed it. "I'm sorry," he said. "I shouldn't swear like that when I'm near you."

I rinsed the cloth. "I don't mind swearing. I hear it all the time."

He twirled me around to face him. "I'm sorry, I keep getting phone calls. Sometimes I don't have patience and it pisses me off. Like now when I'm with you."

I waited for a moment longer, but he didn't say more. When his gaze met mine, he looked sad, miserable and defeated. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He held me so tight I thought he was going to cry.

"Do you want to have a shower with me?" I whispered.

Adam nodded. I took him by the hand and led him into the bathroom.

Sensing he needed to be comforted, my maternal instincts kicked in. I made him sit on the floor, knelt behind him and shampooed his hair. I used my fingers to massage his scalp. Adam melted against me, so I sat with my legs on either side of him as he slid lower. His legs folded against the glass. I was sure he had some weird stuff going on in his life, but I didn't want to press him. I wanted to trust him like he'd asked me to. I used my powers of restraint to stop myself from asking questions and wondered how long it would be before I couldn't resist.

He ran his hands up and down my calves, then turned and faced me. I hugged my knees to give him more room and couldn't help but smile a little as he struggled to shift his bulk around in the small cubicle. "What's so funny?" he said.

"Us. Squeezed in here. You're too big to be sitting on the floor."

He laughed and squatted in front of me. Water ran into his eyes; he turned the taps off and held my hands. "Come on, we'd better get a move on," he said as he pulled me to my feet and wrapped his arms around me. "Thanks," he whispered. "You're the best thing in my life." Adam put his lips on mine and kissed me.

I wanted to kiss him harder, but instead touched his lip with my finger. "That's sore, hey?"

"Yeah."

"Stupid thing to do, getting in a fight. Don't you know the customer is always right?"

"This one wasn't, and he swung first. He took me by surprise." Adam grinned. "If I'd known what he was going to do, I'd have broken his arm before he had a chance?"

"Are you bragging?" I tilted my head. "Telling me you're good with your fists."

He ran his hand over my backside and gave me a cocky grin. "Yeah, maybe I am. Maybe I'm trying to prove to you that I'm a big man."

I scoffed. "Big ego, you mean."

Adam laughed.

"You know I'm not some silly bimbo," I said. "Those traits don't impress me."

He raised his eyebrows in question, a smile on his face, and then traced his finger along my jawline. "So, what does impress you, harem girl?"

I tapped his chin and grinned. "If you can work that out, I'll be impressed." I snapped at his finger with my teeth. He yanked it away, then got out of the shower recess laughing.

"Okay," he said. "Challenge accepted. I'll work on finding out. When I do, I'll want to be rewarded, and you, my little harem girl, won't be able to walk for a week. Because no matter what you say, I know you're impressed with me." He pinched my butt.

I squealed and jerked forward. "Ouch! Now you're being a dick."

He raised his eyebrows at me and stomped his foot forward.

I bolted from the room, giggling, in case he pinched me again. I yelled, "You're a bully too."

I heard him laugh, then the sound of the tap running.

We went downstairs together. He tugged me towards his car. "Come on, I'll give you a lift to the train."

"No, I like to walk. I need the exercise."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be too early if you drop me."

He kissed me on the forehead. "Okay. See you soon." Walking backwards towards his car, he said, "Do you like camping?"

"Ah...yes." I took a step towards him. "But I'm not sure you'd call it real camping."

Adam beamed at me and shook his head in disbelief. "What about the country? Do you like the bush?"

"Yes." I raised my eyebrows and put my hand on my hip. "I'm not a complete city slicker, you know."

"Good," he laughed and opened his car door. "I'm glad to hear it."

I headed to the station on a high. Life was good. The world was turning. Adam made me so happy. My mouth ached from smiling so much. A car horn tooted. Percy drove towards home in his taxi. He waved and grinned like a madman. I noticed a woman in the passenger seat. I smiled and waved back. Percy seemed happy. I hadn't seen him much and wondered if the woman in his car was the girl Macy had introduced him to.

Well, that was pleasant enough morning except for that phone call.  I wonder what that was all about.  

I wonder if Percy has met someone.  He certainly seemed happy.

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