: Chapter 8

I head back to the office after taking Mimi home when Mum texts.

I stare at my phone, abandoning a dozen responses ranging from assumptions about his motives to him turning up with a bag of laundry.

Eventually, I settle on:

Bloody hell. That was quick. She must be using the talk-to-text function.

I hope she hasn’t got binoculars.

Leaning back in my chair, I smile as I watch the little blue bubbles flutter across the screen of my phone. That’ll give her something to think about. How to answer that strategically.

I burst out laughing, but she isn’t done.