“No, thank you,” I replied. “I already ate dinner.” It was a lie but I didn’t want to eat anything here. It would feel too much like a date if I did.

“You sure?”

“Have some,” Stu urged. “He won’t let up until you do. He’s like a pushy grandmother when it comes to food.”

I chewed on my lip and glanced at Lee. “Honestly, I’m good.”

Lee shrugged. “It’s your loss.”

“A tenner says he’ll be back in fifteen minutes. I’m telling ya, nobody comes in here and leaves without eating something,” Stu said, closing down his laptop.

“Is that like an OCD thing?”

“Nah. Like I said, on the inside he’s a seventy-three-year-old grandmother. You’re lucky he didn’t make scones today, or he’d be shovelling one down your throat by now.”

I laughed. “That’s quite endearing. No offence but your brother looks more inclined to be challenging someone to a fist fight than force-feeding them baked goods.”

Stu glanced at the books I’d set on the table, his brow arching sceptically. “I hope those aren’t for me.”

I frowned. “Why not?”

“The Hunger Games? Aren’t those books supposed to be for teenage girls?”

I shook my head. “Not necessarily. I picked them for you because I think they’re a perfect place to start. Though there are many layers to the story, the author has a very simple, pared-back writing style. We can’t exactly start off reading Dostoevsky.”

“Well, you could’ve picked something a little manlier is all I’m saying,” Stu huffed.

“What’s manlier than a reality TV show about teenagers that have to fight to the death?”

Stu’s look was incredulous. “That’s what it’s about? I thought these were the ones with the glittering vampires.”

“That’s Twilight, silly. But if you prefer I’ll be more than happy to read those with you instead.”

“Nah, fighting to the death is fine by me.”

I shook my head, smiling as I pushed the first book across the table to him. We’d gotten through about ten pages when Stu glanced up from his reading.

“Oh, would you look at that. I think that’s a tenner you owe me,” he said, pleased.

I glanced away from the book to find Lee had placed a selection of cheeses, cured meats, and crackers down in front of us. Stu shot him an expression like he was overdoing the hospitality big time.

“Wow, this looks amazing,” I said. “But honestly, you didn’t have to.”

“Just eat,” Lee urged. “Try the gorgonzola with the pastrami.”

With that he left, and I stared at all the food, my stomach quietly gurgling. I was starving, but luckily Stu didn’t hear. Picking up a cracker, I stacked on some meat and cheese then took a bite. It was delicious, especially since I hadn’t actually had dinner yet.

“Good?” Stu asked, his gaze fixed on my mouth.

I nodded past another bite. “So good.”

“Told you he wouldn’t let you off the hook that easily.”

“I should’ve listened to you. We’re going to have to do these lessons at the college from now on, otherwise I’m going to be two stones heavier by the time we’re done.”

One edge of Stu’s lips curved in a grin as his gaze fell to my hips. “Nothing wrong with that.”

His attention had me shifting uncomfortably. I wiped my hands off with a napkin and returned my attention to the book. “Right, well, we’d better get back to work.”

Stu didn’t protest, and over the next forty-five minutes I’d eaten enough cheese to feed a small army and we’d worked our way through the first two chapters. When it was time for me to go, Stu helped me pack away my things, while Lee wrapped up the rest of the food and insisted I take it home with me.

Two weeks went by in a similar fashion. I went to work in the mornings, tutored Stu every few days, and tried my best to make headway with Alfie. I had no idea what Jamie had said to him, but whatever it was seemed to be working because my cousin was gradually thawing towards me.

It was when I arrived home one evening after my fifth tutoring session with Stu that everything changed. The flat was quiet when I got in and there were some letters on the floor. Alfie must’ve been stuck in his room all day because usually he picked them up and set them on the entry table for me. I went into the kitchen and dropped the letters on the counter.

Slipping off my shoes, I sat down on a stool, not paying much attention as I tore open the letters, bank statement, electricity bill, dentist’s appointment reminder . . . It was when I picked up the last one that I started to pay attention. It was from the loan company, the one who’d sent the burly looking guy in the brown leather jacket to put the fear of God into me. The letter looked more official than usual, and when I tore it open I found out why.

All of my debt had been paid off.

Every.

Last.

Penny.

Twenty-Six

“Alfie! Get out here right now,” I said, banging loudly on his bedroom door. I clutched the letter in my hand.

The door opened slowly and my cousin peeked his head out. “What’s got you all worked up?” he asked, squinting at me like I’d just woken him.

I shoved the letter at him and waited for an explanation. He unfolded it and scanned the contents before his mouth dropped open in surprise. “Your loans have been paid off.”

“Exactly.”

“Why do you look so angry? You should be doing a jig on the rooftop right now.”

“Alfie, I told you I didn’t want a penny of the money your dad sent for that painting. You had no right paying this off for me.”

“Okay, well, it’s a good thing I didn’t, then.”

I gaped at him. “What?”

“I didn’t pay it, Andie. I didn’t even realise my dad had come through with the money. I haven’t checked my bank account in a while.”

“Then how . . .?”

Alfie rolled his eyes. “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Stu? You think Stu did this?”

“Well, it certainly wasn’t my father. And I think we’re both old enough to know it wasn’t your fairy godmother, though it does amuse me to envision Stu in fairy wings and a tutu.”