Page 62 of The Missus

James paused. ‘Can you give me some context?’

‘I have to share a bedroom with her at the moment, and this morning, there was an accident.’

‘Because your mother still thinks you’re in a relationship?’

‘Don’t say it like that.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like you’re saying it. I don’t care what my mother thinks. I just want her off my back. Keira is very good at providing a buffer.’

‘Yes, I get that impression. But why keep up the lie? Your mother is not in a position to judge you now.’

Alanna laughed. ‘You don’t know Sandra Lennox. She could fall in horse shit and judge its ability to grow a rose.’

‘Is that what it’s really about? Keeping your mother off your back?’

‘What else?’

‘Perhaps the opportunity to have this closeness with Keira, even if it’s not real, is something you didn’t want to turn down.’

Alanna gave him a hard look. ‘As a matter of fact, James, I was gonna admit it all when my mother started talking about taking the spare room. But then Keira jumped in and said she could have it.’

‘Shekept up the lie. Not you?’

‘Right.’

‘Presumably, because that’s what she thought you would want her to do?’ James posited.

‘Presumably, yes.’

‘Or…’ James let the sentence hang in the air.

‘For god’s sakes, orwhat?’

‘Is it possibleshewanted that opportunity, too? For closeness?’

Alanna blinked. ‘No, that’s not possible. She probably didn’t want to give my mother the satisfaction of being right.’

James mulled that over. ‘Or…’

‘James, if you do that again, I swear I’m just gonna leave and kiss this hour goodbye.’

James smiled. ‘Look, I don’t know Keira—obviously. But has it occurred to you that you’re not the only one in this situation that might have developed romantic feelings?’

Alanna had a good laugh about that. ‘No, James,’ she sputtered out between guffaws, ‘It hadnot.’

‘Why?’

‘I told you. She’s made it clear that’s not her cup of tea. She might be aromantic, for all I know.’

‘Did shesayshe was aromantic?’

‘Not as such,’ Alanna admitted.

‘And she’s not asexual?’

Alanna laughed again. ‘Definitely not. But what does that have to do with anything? Not all aromantics are asexual. And vice versa.’