Page 57 of Date Knight (Roll for Romance #2)

Phil

E very time I thought I was at the end of my rope, it just kept going, like an amateur magician’s crappy handkerchief bit.

I knew I’d become the worst version of myself with Amy, telling her she was being childish for responding in a perfectly normal way, but I couldn’t help it.

If I wasn’t actively pushing her away, I would start reaching for her, and I couldn’t afford that.

If I had to hate myself but keep her safe from the spiral of shit my life was turning into, then so be it.

I practically sprinted home after D the last one before the ball.

When I opened the door and found Anil, my heart sank.

“Uh, hey,” I said, stepping aside to let him in. “Did I have you booked for tonight, and I forgot to cancel?”

Anil shook his head as he slipped off his shoes. “Nah, don’t worry, mate, you were pretty clear that you were gonna do it all yourself.” He didn’t sound angry or bitter, but there was a tightness to his voice anyway.

“Oh, okay,” I said as he walked into the kitchen and leaned back against the worktop. “Well, is everything okay?”

Anil laughed. “You mean, what the hell am I doing here?”

I smiled and leaned against the sink across from him. “Not that I’m not happy to see you.” But then I realised something. “Wait, aren’t you meant to be at your class?”

“Finished it,” he said proudly. “I’m all certified now.”

“Wow, that’s amazing! Congrats.”

“Thanks,” he said, then brought his arms up and crossed them. “Actually, though, that’s part of why I’m here.”

I frowned. “Because you’re done with your course?”

He nodded. “And now I’m looking at getting a day job. Which probably means I’m looking at shift work, meaning I wouldn’t be able to look after Ethel on a regular schedule anymore.”

It was like a punch to the gut. Which didn’t make sense– I’d already decided to take a step back from the things that meant I’d need him in the evenings– but the idea that he wouldn’t be there if I did need him?

That now, without Amy as well, I was well and truly alone in caring for Ethel?

It scared the shit out of me in a way I hadn’t been expecting.

“Got it,” I said, staring down at my hands.

“But Phil, I could have told you that on the phone. I came here because I wanted to talk to you about your plans for Ethel.”

I looked back up at Anil and narrowed my eyes, my brain going into defence mode before I even really processed what he was saying.

“What do you mean, my plans?”