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‘I know.’

‘I really would have rather spent the evening with you.’

‘You still can.’ She shrugged easily and settled back into the seat. ‘Just give the driver your address, we can go straight there.’

‘You’re sure?’

‘I wouldn’t have said it if I wasn’t.’ She gave him a smile that was so reassuring he felt all the tension drift away. He redirected the driver.

‘You really are an angel at times.’ He kissed her on the cheek and settled back.

‘Oh no, this has underlying selfish motives.’ This time her grin was wicked and full of cheek. ‘I really, really want things to work out for you and Mallow.’

‘So do I,’ he admitted. ‘I love that little chicken-butt. But how is that selfish?’

‘Because at least part of the reason I want it to work out is I’m scared, if it doesn’t, she’ll end up living at Bill’s. And I’m not sure my fingers would survive!’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from the big, bad birdie.’

‘Too right you will.’ She shifted to rest her head on his shoulder.

In that moment, everything felt right with the world, and he was filled with a sense of calm and peace.

It didn’t last long.

They were met at the building foyer by a small crowd of people — most of whom he vaguely recognised, but none of whom looked particularly happy. If a screaming cockatoo wasn’t enough to ruin a brilliant date, then a mob of angry neighbours definitely was. He apologised, again and again, and again, while slowly making his way towards the lift. Then, just for a change of pace, he apologised even more while waiting for the blasted thing to arrive, as it seemed to have halved its usual speed.

Yes, he knew he was a bloody nuisance, no he didn’t know how hard it was to get a baby back to sleep, no he didn’t really know what he was doing, yes he’d already gotten quotes for soundproofing that would be installed as soon as possible and yes, he really was very sorry for disturbing everyone’s weekends.

It was a relief when the doors finally opened and he could dart into the lift.

‘Wow, that was intense,’ Angela murmured a little shakily.

‘Yeah.’ He dragged his hands through his hair. ‘Usually when I have that many people yelling at me it’s because they want a photo.’

‘Wow, you’re really that popular?’ Her eyes were wide.

‘What can I say? People love Maverick,’ he quipped, before wincing as he heard Mallow for the first time. ‘Oh shit, she is really loud.’

He raced down the corridor as soon as the doors opened, slamming his key into the lock, expecting to see blood or terrible injuries from the racket she was making. He half-feared that one of the neighbour’s cats had gotten in and was slowly killing her based on the blood-curdling screams. But he froze when he saw her: locked safely in her cage, running from one side of it to the other, angrily smacking the bars and screaming.

He yanked the door open to examine her, and she threw herself into his arms, clucking and cooing as if she hadn’t been pissing off half his building seconds earlier.

‘Is she OK?’ Angela caught up, limping slightly in the brace.

‘I can’t see anything wrong.’ He held her up, turned his wrist back and forth to study her. He forced himself to stay calm, knowing it would help relax her too. ‘What’s wrong, Mallow? You’ve been doing so well lately, and I was only gone for the afternoon. It’s not even getting dark, and the sensor lights would have come on if it was. You’ve managed without me for a few hours at Bill’s, and this cage is so much bigger and nicer.’ He tried to reason with her, to figure out what had gone so wrong.

‘Do you think it could be this?’ Angela held up an empty food bowl. One of the ones that was usually bolted firmly to the cage.

‘Well, is it?’ He took the bowl from Angela and showed it to Mallow, who stuck her head inside his jacket. ‘You broke your dish, dumped your dinner on the floor and decided to scream down half the bloody block?’ He gently rubbed the bird’s crest. ‘Bloody hell, Chicken-butt, you’re going to get me kicked out of here!’

‘I thought you owned this place?’ Angela took the bowl back and peered at the cage.

‘I do — the flat at least.’

‘Then how can you be kicked out?’

‘Because I don’t own the freehold, which means there are still rules and tenancy agreements. Ones that you—’ he cuddled Mallow against him ‘—are currently breaking with all the noise.’