Itwasnone of his business, and the moody bastard in me wanted to tell him, but the fractional part of me that was actually reasonable could admit he’d made a valid point.
I blew out a long breath. “You’re right. I spend way too much time doing stuff for free, it’s just—fuck, I guess it’s because I can’t sleep at night unless I know all the animals I’ve sold are safe. Lots of people say they’ll set their enclosures up correctly, but people are full of shit. At least if I do it, I know it’s done right.”
“I get it, mate. All I’m saying is that you should charge for it, even if it’s a nominal amount. The number of vivariums you sell in a week? It would add up by the end of the month, and that’s not accounting for everything else you’ve been doing for free, or the ludicrous price of your birthday parties.”
“It’s a long way from football, that’s for sure.”
A frown creased Isha’s forehead. “You have no idea.”
And I was happy to keep it that way. I knew nothing about football except that it revolved around obscene amounts of money, something Isha clearly still had, while I was fretting over buying branded chocolate digestives. Life was a funny thing.
“So…” Isha let his hand drop from my face. “I wanted to ask you something.”
“Sounds serious.”
“Not really, though I guess it depends on your answer.”
“You have my attention.”
Isha rolled off the couch and picked up the expensive underwear that made him look like a Calvin Klein model. “The kids want to see you.”
“Me, or my colourful collection of creatures?”
“You. For once, they didn’t mention that bloody white snake.”
I laughed, hoping Isha’s worried expression would fade.
It didn’t.
Lacking any better ideas, I reached for my own underwear. “So, what do you want to do? Come by the shop for pizza again?”
“Actually, they were hoping you’d come to them…to London.”
“To London?”
“Uh, yeah. I did explain you’d probably be too busy, but Delilah made me promise, and I made a resolution not to break any more of those.”
I slipped my boxers up my legs and rose to slide them over my hips. “What would we do in London?”
Isha shrugged. “I have no idea. The kids want to build a den in the lounge and eat noodles with you, so I guess it’s not that different to what we do here.”
He glanced pointedly to the sofa cushions that had found their way to the floor when he’d shoved me face down and slammed into me from behind. Residual heat bubbled through me, but I tempered it as I considered the logistics. Even if I wanted to play an odd game of happy families with Isha and his kids, I really didn’t have time to go to London any time in the near future. “Um—”
“Forget it.” Isha was suddenly right in front of me. He placed his hand lightly over my mouth. “I promised I’d ask, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.”
He released me and stepped away, snagging the rest of his clothes that were scattered around the living room.
I observed him with growing unease. “Where are you going?”
“Home. I’ve got an early meeting in London.”
“That’s never stopped you staying over before.”
“I know.” Isha turned to face me with a boyish smirk that almost eviscerated the disquiet blooming in my gut. “But my business associates are starting to notice I’ve been an absolute wreck most mornings these past few weeks, and I need to be on point for this meeting.”
For some reason, the simple statement of fact felt like an insult. Shaqueela had noticed that I was even more shambolic than usual, but it hadn’t occurred to me to send Isha home early to rectify it. My cheeks burned, the way they always did when I was pissed off. I turned away to find my jeans. “Fair enough.”
I focussed on dressing myself. By the time I was done, Isha was halfway to the door, and my heart skipped a painful beat. He was really leaving. It shouldn’t have made me feel so fucking shit.