Page 80 of Praising Haru

You’re doing a great job, beautiful. I’ll have to get him a friend for your next birthday.

I press my hand over my fluttering heart. He’s talking about months down the line. Is he hoping we’ll still be together then? I pull my thoughts up. We’ve been friends for a year. Why wouldn’t we still be friends in seven months? He wants to give me another cactus because we’re friends. My heart aches. He’s my best friend, but I want to be more. I am more, aren’t I? I flop backwards, rest my phone on my chest, and push the backs of my hands against my pillow. I might be more now, but it will have to end when I get a job and return to London.

I don’t want to think about that now. I’m going to savour every moment we spend together. The soft, quiet ones and the hot, steamy ones.

My phone buzzes. I pick it up and stare at the incoming message.

Kyle

I need to sleep. Night, gorgeous.

Night. Sleep well.

We’ll talk tomorrow.

I smile once more.

I’m looking forward to it.

I put my phone on its charging stand and stare at the ceiling. I need to get ready for bed, but my thoughts are busy. What am I to Kyle? What is he to me? We keep saying friends with benefits, but my emotions are deeper for him than for anyone I’ve called a boyfriend. I guess the friends-with-benefits label is safe. It’s a reminder we’re on limited time. But friends with benefits wouldn’t want to be exclusive. They wouldn’t want to get tested so that they can go bare with each other. They wouldn’t spend hours talking, cuddling, and reading to each other. Kyle wouldn’t be meeting my parents if that’s all we were. I roll onto my side and pull my legs up to my chest. I want us to dare to call each other more, but what’s the point? Our futures lie in different cities.

Enough of the dour thoughts. Savour the time we have together. I can do that.

I’ll go to a bookshop tomorrow to buy a copy of my favourite book. I have it in audio, but Kyle wants me to read it to him. Will we have time for me to get through the entire book before I leave? Yes. I’ll make sure we do. I’ll stay up all night reading to him if I have to.

Would it be easier to know when I’m leaving? I doubt it. Counting down the days would probably be worse. At least this way, I can pretend we’ve got countless tomorrows.

CHAPTER16

KYLE

Haru’s parents live in a semi-detached house on a leafy street. I’m greeted by a rich, meaty scent when Haru opens the door.

I put my hand on his lower back and peck his lips. “Hey, beautiful.”

He quivers. “Maybe less of that in front of my parents.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable in front of them.”

Fuck. I’m meeting his parents. Why didn’t it occur to me that praising him in their presence was a dumb idea? Because I’m new at this. I’m learning. I need to relax.

“This way.” Haru takes my hand and leads me into a kitchen diner. It’s about as big as the living space in my flat. Judging from the skylights above the dining area, I guess at least part is housed in a single-storey extension. I’d like to see the brickwork outside to see how good a job they did of joining the extension to the original house. Inside, it’s bright, airy, and tastefully decorated. The table is set, and Haru’s mum is taking a huge dish of toad in the hole out of the oven while his dad stands at the hob mashing potatoes.

“Mum, Dad, meet Kyle.”

Mrs Miller puts the dish on a trivet and removes her oven gloves. Mr Miller puts the masher down, and they come to us, all warm smiles and firm handshakes. Mrs Miller is a petite woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. Her husband, who is a foot taller than her, towers over her. His face is weathered, and his eyes are dark and kind.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Kyle,” Mrs Miller says. “But please, call me Faith.”

“It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Evan,” Mr Miller says.

“Faith. Evan.” I repeat their names so I don’t forget them.

Faith gestures to the table. “Sit. Dinner’s almost ready.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask.