Page 114 of Should Our Hearts Catch Fire

“Cheeky boy.” Carrie pinches his cheek. “I hope you’ve got yourself a better mattress, by the way. My joints still ache from the last time I slept on it.”

“You’re dramatic. Ellis slept on it and had no complaints.”

The car swerves sharply to the right, plunging into the opposite lane before Ellis steers it back. By sheer luck, there’s no one there, though the car behind them gives an aggressive honk.

“Easy, dear. You don’t want to ruin such a nice car,” Carrie says, unbothered that Ellis nearly killed them. Technically, Gabriel nearly did.

“Sorry,” he mumbles, shooting Gabriel a glare in the rearview mirror and being met with a smug smile.

“I just don’t understand why you won’t get a softer mattress,” Carrie continues like nothing happened.

“A firmer one is better for the back. If you don’t like it, you can always take the sofa.”

“Wait. You’re sleeping on the sofa?” Ellis questions.

“He’s weird about sleeping with his mum in the same bed,” Carrie says mockingly.

“I’m not weird. I’m unwilling to listen to your chainsaw snoring.”

“Excuse you, I do not snore!”

“Like a walrus. And you hog the blankets.”

“Gabriel Emmett Cleaver, you shut your mouth!”

Ellis files away Gabriel’s middle name for future reference. “I don’t want you to sleep on the sofa. It’s half your size.”

“It’s not that bad.” With a smile in his voice, he adds, “It even fits two people.”

Insufferable. Both of them.

Ellis should have his head checked because there’s no rational explanation for what he’s about to say next.

“How about you stay at my place instead? I have a spare room. And it will save us some time in the morning.”

He gets a glimpse of Gabriel’s thunderstruck face, before Carrie chirps, “Oh, that would be wonderful! And I promise not to hog your blanket.”

What now? “Uh… That’s not…”

“She’s messing with you. She does that,” Gabriel says disapprovingly. “Stop flirting with my boyfriend, Mum.”

“But he’s so pretty. Look at that blush.”

“Mum!”

Ellis sighs. It’s going to be a long weekend.

Chapter 21

Carrie burst into Ellis’apartment like a cyclone, making herself right at home.

“Holy shitballs, look at that view!” She slides open the balcony door before Ellis gets a chance to warn her about letting the mozzies in. Thankfully, she doesn’t stay there long, returning inside to take in the living room and the kitchen.

“Which room is mine?” She nods to the three doors next to each other.

“Mum!” Gabriel admonishes. “A little humility, maybe?”

Ellis laughs, pointing at the door in the middle, next to his room. “That one. And that—” He points at the door on the left. “Is the bathroom.”