Baby Be Mine

thing?’ I ask. ‘Martial arts?’
    He shrugs. ‘I can act as well. Or so I’m told.’
    ‘That’s cool,’ I say. ‘Have you been in any other films?’
    ‘A couple. Nothing too exciting. I’ve got an audition on Monday, though.’
    ‘Oh, wow. What’s that for?’
    ‘A sci-fiflick. Adrian Reigler’s at the helm.’
    ‘Ooh.’ I try to sound impressed.
    ‘You don’t know who that is, do you?’
    I look sheepish. ‘No, sorry.’
    He grins. ‘He’s a new and upcoming director. Think the next James Cameron, but younger.’
    ‘He’s not going to paint you blue and dress you up like an Avatar alien, is he?’
    He laughs. ‘I hope not.’
    ‘Well, good luck with it. Is that what your agent wanted to talk to you about last night?’
    ‘It was, actually.’ I think he’s impressed that I remember. ‘He gave me a rap on the knuckles for not working the room more.’
    ‘How long had you been sitting there before we arrived?’
    ‘About half an hour,’ he admits.
    ‘And you didn’t even have the excuse of sore feet,’ I tut.
    ‘True.’ He glances down at my black ballet pumps.
    ‘Flats today,’ I tell him.
    ‘They suit you too,’ he says with a grin.
    The image returns of the two of us in bed together, although it’s quickly quashed when I look up at Barney on his shoulders. Next time, I think to myself, I’ll get a babysitter.
    We meet each other’s eyes and I wonder if he can read my mind. Right now, I don’t particularly care. Like Kitty says, it’s time to get back on the horse. And sooner rather than later would be really rather lovely, thank you very much.

 
  Chapter 35  
    I’m still on a high when I get home at six o’clock that night, even though Barney has grizzled the entire way back because he’s tired and hungry. I fed him snacks in the car, but we’re an hour late for his dinner. Of course I feel guilty, but not that guilty. I feel kind of dazed – in a good way. I waft into the house and go straight to the kitchen to prepare him some beans on toast. I can’t wait for Eddie to start on Monday. We’ll eat proper food again! Hurray.
    Lena comes in a minute later.
    ‘Are you off home?’ I ask her.
    ‘No.’ She gives me a wary look. ‘Johnny wants to talk to you.’
    ‘What about?’ I ask, alarmed.
    ‘Today,’ she says meaningfully.
    I pull a face. ‘Joseph?’
    She nods. ‘I’ll feed Barney.’
    ‘No, you should go,’ I reply. ‘It’s the start of the weekend.’
    ‘No, I’ll feed Barney,’ she insists, and I know at that moment that I’m in for a hard time of it with Johnny.
    ‘Okay,’ I reply with a heavy heart, and I go to find him. As it turns out, he finds me.
    ‘Meg!’ He comes out of his room and jogs down the stairs. To my annoyance, Dana follows him, although with far less urgency.
    ‘Did you take Barney with you on a date?’ He’s angry and my hackles are immediately raised.
    ‘You know I did. What’s your problem?’
    ‘This guy could have been a serial killer!’ he exclaims.
    ‘Ooh, yes,’ I reply sarcastically. ‘A simple kick to the head with one of his karate moves should do it.’ Okay, so Joseph does kung fu, but really, what’s the difference?
    ‘You’re out of line!’ he shouts, gesticulating furiously. I hear Lena close the kitchen door in the background.
    ‘Why are you getting angry?’ Dana interrupts calmly from beside him. ‘What’s the big deal if Meg has a boyfriend?’
    What the—? I wasn’t expecting her to stick up for me.
    ‘I’m not angry,’ Johnny snaps back, kind of illustrating her point. He glares at me. I raise my eyebrows at him challengingly. He exhales loudly. ‘Look,’ he says, sounding slightly calmer, ‘I wouldn’t expect you to let me take Barney out with anyone you didn’t know.’
    ‘I wouldn’t want you to take Barney out with anyone I did know.’ I look pointedly at Dana.
    ‘Oh, I’ve got no interest in babysitting.’ She brushes me off. ‘Sorry,’ she adds flippantly.
    ‘Don’t be,’ I say through gritted teeth.
    She continues, unperturbed, ‘Johnny, can I borrow the silver car to go pick up Nina?’
    ‘Sure,’ he replies, still looking at me.
    She pecks him on the cheek, raises one eyebrow at me over her shoulder, and then walks out.
    Johnny is still staring angrily at me. ‘What I said stands,’ he reiterates firmly. ‘I don’t want anyone looking after Barney who I don’t know.’
    ‘Since when did you become a protective