Page 22 of Merry & Bright

“I’ll drive you,” Rob insisted. “No more arguments.”

It was weird to be bossed around by him. I was used to being the boss with Rob. With everyone really. It had been a long time since anyone—other than Marley, anyway—had told me what to do.

“All right,” I said, my tone ungracious. “If you insist.”

“I do,” he said, reaching for the jacket he’d draped over the back of his chair. “Come on.”

I followed him out into the narrow hallway, waiting as he opened the living room door and looked round to announce, “I’m just giving Quin a lift home.”

“So soon?” That was Karen’s voice. I heard her getting up. Rob stepped back, sending me an apologetic look, and then the door opened fully.

“Are you off home, love?” Karen asked me. Tim stood beside her, a curious expression on his face.

“Yeah,” I said, pasting a smile on. “I’m beat. Need my beauty sleep.”

“Oh, please,” Rob said, and when Karen and I both looked at him, he flushed. I tore my gaze away, swallowing hard.

“Well,” Karen said brightly. “It was good to meet you at last, Quin. Hope we see you again soon.”

“Yes,” Tim said happily. “Robbie talks about you all the time.”

I glanced at Rob again, just in time to see him close his eyes in apparent mortification. I might even have laughed if I hadn’t been so astonished.

I’d planned to ask you out.

“Tim,” Karen said, her tone mildly admonishing.

Tim blinked. “But he does, Mum,” he said unhappily, his gaze moving between all of our faces. He knew he’d slipped up but not how, and now he was only making it worse. Karen bit her lip against a smile.

“Come on,” Rob muttered, grabbing my sleeve and pulling me towards the door. “Let’s go.”

“’Bye, Karen,” I called over my shoulder. “It was lovely to meet you. ’Bye Tim,”

“’Bye!” they chorused behind us, and as the door closed, I was sure I heard Karen laughing.

Chapter Eight