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“I’m good. I’ve already checked the bus timetable. There’s one that passes close to here around eleven. I’ll get on that one.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

“I know, but I need to be independent. I’ve relied on you for far too long since the assault. It’s time I started to think of my future. I want to be my own person. Not the housekeeper, or the unpaid help. I want to contribute to the household. Our household.”

What did that mean? We hadn’t really talked about it, and he had mentioned getting a place of his own. Did this mean he wanted to stay?

“You’ve never been a burden, and there really is no rush. You can stay here as long as you like. I know money is tight, but we’re working around it, aren’t we?”

He reached across and took my hand. Why did it feel like everything was about to change?

“We are, but I’ve moved from one house to another, doing the same thing. I’m not saying that you’re taking advantage, not like the other deadbeats I lived with, but maybe it’s time for me to spread my wings. Get a job. See the world.”

“I can understand that. There’s a whole world out there you’ve yet to experience. You know you have a place here as long as you need it.”

Dare I tell him how I felt? Would I push him away by confessing how I’d got used to him being around?

“Don’t be sad, Mac. It’s not like that.”

Was I that transparent? “I’m not sad, but I have got used to you being around. I like sharing my evenings with you, doing mundane things like shopping and cooking. It’ll be strange with you not around.”

“Mac. You’re not listening to me. I don’t want to leave here. I love the same things you do. I like ‘keeping house’ as Gran would say, but I’m more than that. I want to get a job, and…” He looked out of the window, refusing to meet my eyes.

“And?” My heart hammered in my chest. What was he going to say? We barely knew each other, but imagining going back to how things were before I met him sat heavily with me.

“I’m going to the music college to see what I need to do to enrol.”

“I thought you said it was too expensive.” Slowly, my heart rate returned to normal as realisation dawned that he wasn’t going anywhere. Not that I didn’t think he couldn’t be independent. He could, and knowing him, he’d do amazingly at whatever he decided to do, but he was staying around.

“It can’t hurt to ask, can it? Maybe I can get a loan or something. Student loans are a thing, right?”

I burst out laughing, recalling the amount of student debt currently hanging over my head. “Oh, student loans are a thing, all right.”

“Why are you laughing?”

I stopped, realising how insensitive I was being. “I’m sorry, Frankie. I’m not laughing at you.” I took his hand in mine and kissed it. “I’m laughing because I know all about student debt. How do you think I got where I am today? I’ll be retired by the time I’ve paid mine off, but don’t worry. You won’t need to borrow that much.”

“Oh, I see. So, you don’t think it’s stupid, me applying?” He nibbled on his lip.

“I think it’s the best thing you could do. At least then you might realise how fucking good you are.” I looked at the plate of food, still untouched. “I need to get going, or I’ll be late, but we’ll talk again when I get home. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, we can do that.” But he still looked worried.

“Everything will be fine, I promise.” I cradled his face in my hands and kissed him. “I have absolute faith in you.”

Work passed at a snail’s pace, but all I could think about was how Frankie was doing. I had no doubt he’d get whatever job he applied for, although he hadn’t said what it was. Aside from his meltdown last night, his confidence had grown, and I was worried for a moment.

Maybe we could do something to celebrate. I definitely wanted to take him to the beach, but something always cropped up.

I thought back to childhood holidays. I’d always loved the beach as a child. We spent many summers there, digging sandcastles and jumping the waves. Sand-filled sandwiches, warm squash, and sticky hands from melting lollies. Burying Dad and laughing as he dug himself out, chasing us into the sea.

Those were the days, and I longed to share them with Frankie.

Finally, the day was done. Lights lit up the house when I arrived home, but I sat on the driveway for a couple of minutes and took a few deep breaths. I hoped all had gone well for him. I’d hate for him to raise his hopes, only for them to be dashed.

I never got a chance to put the key in the lock. It was thrown open by Frankie, a mile-wide grin on his face.

“I got a job and… I got accepted into the music college.”