‘Need a hand?’ That Irish bloke, dressed in building gear and muddy boots, balanced against my gatepost on his racer.

‘Oh, thanks!’ Wiping water out of my eyes, I couldn’t look more like a drowned rat if I’d tried. ‘Surely you’ve got something better to do—’

He shrugged. ‘I’m finished for today.’

‘Um…’ I did a quick calculation. Rex wasn’t due back for at least an hour – and I’d only moved one box so far. ‘Well…’

‘Ah, don’t be shy now.’ He grinned. ‘This lot’ll disintegrate if you don’t get them indoors soon.’

‘Well – if you really don’t mind.’ I pushed my hair out of my streaming face; it’d be a bugger if all the bunting material got soaked. ‘Just to get them into the dry.’

A while later, we stood in the garage, drenched and gently steaming, beside the stack of boxes.

‘Nice idea, this street party,’ Fin said. ‘Good to have community spirit. And this is – interesting.’ Deadpan, he contemplated the monstrous statue Rex had ordered during the holidays. She stood, legs akimbo, at the back of the garage, awaiting her official unveiling outside. ‘Who’s it meant to be?’

‘Interesting’s not the word I’d use actually.’ Even I was surprised Rex had stooped so low. ‘The Khaleesi from Game of Thrones. Apparently.’

‘Happy days! Don’t know who that is, and’ – Fin’s face was remarkably straight, but I felt myself blushing – ‘it’s a bit – pornographic, no?’

Odd. I almost never blushed. ‘A bit hideous, you mean.’ My phone rang. Glancing down, I hesitated.

‘Don’t mind me.’ Fin turned away. ‘I’ll get off now. See you at the party maybe.’

‘Hope so.’ I sent the call to voicemail, checking the time. I should offer him a cup of tea, but Rex’d be back soon. ‘Thanks so much for the help.’ I followed him out to his bike. ‘So what is it exactly you do?’

‘Me?’ He looked surprised. ‘I run a site in Clerkenwell.’

‘A building site?’

‘Aye. Dream homes.’

‘That’s a big promise, isn’t it?’

‘No, that’s the company name: Dream Homes. Luxury flats apparently. Personally, I’d apply the term luxury loosely.’ He pushed off on the bike, both feet on one pedal. ‘See you around.’

Elegant, I thought, watching him go. ‘Thanks again!’

Two minutes after I’d stripped my soaking things off and jumped in the shower, Rex arrived home.

‘Down in a sec,’ I called, heart thumping too fast, just grateful Fin was safely gone. ‘Then I’ll get the tea on.’

Around midnight, Rex snoring merrily in my left ear, I got up to find the phone I’d studiously ignored all evening.

Several texts and a voicemail: Ruby.

Avoiding me? ☹️ 🤨 The emojis there, perhaps, to take the sting out of any accusation I might have detected.

Safe in the knowledge she’d be fast asleep by now, I texted back, standing at the bedroom window, looking down into the square.

Y would I, hon? I love u more than sliced bread; manic @ work.