Hashtag Love by RL Burgess

Author:RL Burgess [Burgess, RL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bella Books
Published: 2021-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

“My apartment is pretty small,” I said as we entered the building, suddenly anxious about Hally being in my space. “It’s really nothing special.”

“It’s okay, I’m not sizest.”

I turned to look at her and she gave me an encouraging smile.

“You probably live in some kind of mansion though, right?” I pressed the button for the lift.

“Why would I?”

“Because you’re rich and famous. That’s what people like you do.”

“Hmm, people like me, hey?”

“You’re not rich and famous?”

She dipped her head. “Oh no, I am, but I didn’t know I was supposed to live in a particular kind of house because of it.”

The lift let us out on my floor just as Thomas and Kevin were coming out of their apartment.

“Ginny,” Thomas exclaimed, looking at me and then Hally and then back to me before swooping down on me and kissing my cheeks. He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “What do we have here?”

I rolled my eyes. “Guys, meet Hally Arlow. Hally, this is Thomas.” I gestured to Thomas who was bouncing on his tippy toes in excitement. “And Kevin,” who was holding onto Thomas and almost in a swoon.

“Hally,” Kevin breathed, as Thomas took Hally’s hand, bent over it and kissed it, whispering reverently, “We’re big fans.”

Hally’s mouth twitched and I suspected she was struggling to hold back laughter. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”

“Well, we’d better press on,” I said, ushering Hally across the corridor to my door where I struggled with my key. “Work to do and all that.”

Over my shoulder I could hear snickering, which I chose to ignore, keeping my hand on Hally’s back as I almost, but not quite, pushed her inside.

“They seem lovely,” she said as I slammed the door behind me, forgetting to be worried for a moment about Hally’s first impression of my apartment.

“They are,” I said. “They’re very enthusiastic friends. So, this is where I live.”

Hally looked around her, resting her handbag on the countertop where I put the groceries. “I like it,” she said simply. “It’s very you.”

“And that is?”

“Clear cut, no mess, no fuss.”

I didn’t know whether to be pleased or disappointed. It wasn’t exactly a glowing report of me or my apartment, but then it was perfectly accurate. I went with, “Thank you.”

There was a thump, followed by a second slightly quieter thump, from the bedroom which I knew to be Asimov and Olive alighting from the bed, but which startled Hally. Right on cue, the two cats padded into the kitchen, Olive giving little chirps of happiness, Asimov keeping his emotions in check.

“Meet my cats, well, one is mine and one is Cathy’s. The big grey one is Asimov and he’s mine. The littler ginger one is Olive.”

“Asimov, as in Isaac?” Hally asked.

I nodded, surprised that she recognised the popular, but niche, science-fiction author.

“Cool name. Nice that they’re friends.” Hally bent down and offered her hand. Asimov sniffed her suspiciously then pushed his big grey mug against her as Olive wound around her legs.

“We got them from the RSPCA at the same time.

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