Free Inconsolable by Ainslie Paton Page A

knackered to be bothered with going out for the night and ready to look in all the less obvious, fallen down behind somewhere places.
    She’d pulled the sofa out from behind the wall and noted dust bunnies and no wallet, when there was a knock at the door.
    She flung it open, expecting Nat. Grateful she’d get to make a dig at her before the real dressing down started. “You forgot your key again.”
    Drum stood there. “You forgot your wallet.” He had it in his hand.
    â€œOh.” She was so surprised to see him she took a step back, then had to snatch the door to stop it shutting.
    His eyes swept over her then nailed his own tattered runners. “I would’ve brought it to you sooner but I only found it a little while ago.”
    â€œI can’t believe it.” She felt her face colour from his very obvious inspection, but he was clearly more embarrassed about it than she was. He kept his eyes down. “Did you walk here? Would you like a cold drink?” She pulled the door wide. “Come in, please come in.”
    He held the wallet out and she took it from him. Ten minutes in the car, but it might’ve taken him an hour to walk here from the beach. Eyes still down, he turned to go.
    â€œWait, don’t go.” She dumped her wallet on the hallstand and stepped out into the hallway with him. “You can’t just go.”
    He stopped, gave a tight nod. “Check it. It’s all there.” He stood side on, his face angled towards the stairs and the street below.
    Ah, of course, he’d think she thought him a thief. “Drum, I don’t need to look. I trust you.” Hollow words, he was a homeless man who’d found a wallet. True words; she knew, with no logic behind it, all he’d done was check inside for her address. “Let me get my keys, I’ll drive you back.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œYes, I’m driving you back. I’m buying you dinner. I thought I’d lost it. I was ready to start making calls to cancel credit cards. I want to do something to thank you, and since you don’t want to come inside and it’s dinnertime and I need to eat too, I’m buying you dinner.” She gestured to herself. “Totally casual, come as you are. A burger. You can’t say no to a burger.”
    He said nothing, but he didn’t move.
    â€œIt’s going to rain. If you get wet you don’t have anything to change into.”
    A flick of his head in her direction. “That’s not your problem.”
    â€œBetter not be my problem.” Nat, coming up the stairs. She hit the top, came face to face with Drum, said, “Hello,” then, with deadly curiosity, “Foley?”
    Foley peered around Drum. “Yeah, I’m here.”
    Nat to Drum again. “Can I help you with whatever it is you don’t think is her problem?” What Nat’d heard put a thick layer of defensive sarcasm in her tone.
    â€œNo,” he said.
    Nat stood in Drum’s path, arms full of grocery bags. He was tensed to move as soon as she stepped out of his way.
    â€œDrum, wait.”
    Nat said, “Oh hell, yeah.”
    Foley grimaced, hearing the rat in Nat’s brain spin the wheel. She stepped around Drum. “We were just going.”
    â€œNot yet you’re not.” Nat shoved the bags at Drum, “Here, hold these,” dropping one at his feet with a clink. He took them, surprise arching his brows. “Wait here, she’ll be back.”
    Nat grabbed Foley’s arm and dragged her inside the flat, shut the door, backing up against it. “That’s him. That incredible bronzed god is the homeless, hermit squatter caveman who I’m not supposed to know about. What is he doing here?”
    â€œAh.” She’d never told Nat his name.
    â€œWho you spent the night with.” Nat slapped Foley’s arm. “Have you lost your mind?”
    â€œShhh. I didn’t spend