Free Semi-Sweet by Roisin Meaney Page B

stopped.
    “I’m suggesting,” he said, “that I let Nora have my place and I move in with you. Me. Adam.”
    “Oh.” She sipped her red wine. “Right. You and me. Sharing my house.”
    “Just for a while, obviously,” he said, his eyes on her face, “until you get your head together and see where you’re going
     with the business.”
    “Right. Uh-huh.”
    “You know you need someone to share the bills, even though you keep putting it off.”
    She made a face. “I’m hardly likely to forget, with you going on about it all the—”
    “And I just thought you might rather have someone you know.”
    “I would,” she agreed.
    “And if Nora decides to stay in Ireland, she’ll find a place of her own—this would just be a stopgap for her—a few weeks,
     maybe. Couple of months at the most, probably.”
    “Right.” Hannah nodded. “Uh-huh. Yes.”
    Adam lifted his drink. “You look like a rat caught in the headlights.”
    She smiled. “Don’t you mean a rabbit?”
    “Whatever it is, you look like it. You don’t have to decide right now, obviously—and we won’t fall out if you don’t fancy
     the idea, although I might sulk for a few days. But while you’re mulling it over, consider this: I never leave the toilet
     seat up, I always squeeze the toothpaste from the bottom, and I only drink from the carton when nobody’s watching.”
    “Actually, I’m sure I’ve seen you do that.”
    “Never—and as you know, I’m a happy drunk.”
    “That’s true. You go all mushy and tell me how great I am.”
    “And I can fix your computer when it breaks down.”
    “You do that already.”
    “Yes, but now I’d be on the spot. Instant repairs.”
    Hannah laughed. “I’ll bear that in mind. And I presume Kirby would be part of the package.”
    “God, yeah—he’d have to be. But he’s house-trained, obviously. And he loves you.”
    “And I love him too. But he sheds.”
    “Only a small bit.” Then, seeing her expression, he added, “Okay, a big bit. But we can confine him to wherever you say.”
    “He wouldn’t be allowed in the kitchen, ever. He could lose me my accreditation.”
    “Fair enough.”
    “Or upstairs. Or on my couch—he has yours destroyed. We’d have to get him a special chair. And he’d have to sleep in the shed
     at night. And you’d have to clean up after him.”
    “Fine. All fine. Fine on all fronts.”
    She considered. It just might work. And it would certainly ease her financial worries. But was it really what he wanted, or
     did he feel some silly responsibility toward her? She put a hand on his arm. “Look, if you’re just trying to help me out,
     you really don’t have to, you know. I was planning to put that ad in. I was just…working up to it.”
    “Are you kidding? Helping you is a very minor aspect—I’m trying desperately not to share my flat with Nora.” He lifted his
     glass. “Anyway, enough of that. Think about it and let me know.” He waved a hand to indicate the room. “So what do you reckon
     about this place?”
    “It’s great—just what Clongarvin needs.” Hannah studied the band in the corner. “I like the funky music, too, really fits
     in. She looks a bit scary, though.”
    “Who?”
    “The one with the clarinet. All those black clothes, and the hair scraped back. And the professor specs.”
    “Can’t say I noticed,” he said.
    “And look at the frown on her. I wouldn’t like to get on her wrong side.”
    “That’s probably because she’s concentrating.”
    “Mmm. The guy with the double bass looks foreign. Anyway, where were we?”
    “We were just about to plan your birthday next week.”
    She groaned. “God, I was hoping you’d forget. Let’s plan nothing, please—I really don’t feel like celebrating this one.”
    “All the more reason. Sorry, but you have no choice. How about dinner on me, anywhere you fancy that won’t bankrupt me?”
    She picked up her glass again. “Honestly, Adam, I’d rather not.” And