54

We both woke with a start. I realised the sound of a mobile phone was the reason, and it wasn’t mine. Still half-asleep, Ezra reached for the vibrating device that was lying on the bedside table.

“Hello?” His voice was groggy, and he began to rub his knuckles over his half-closed eyes.

I was waking up myself, and couldn’t hear the voice on the other end of the phone.

But as soon as he sat up bolt-right in the bed, I knew it couldn’t be good. His grogginess was now eradicated, and he spat into the phone, “you have to be fucking kidding me?”

I sat up too, my brow creasing as I watched Ezra’s eyes light up with rage.

Whoever was on the end of the phone spoke again.

“Well, you can fucking wait.” And with that, he ended the call, throwing the mobile on the floor where it landed with a muffled thud in the thick pile carpet.

He sank back into the quilted headboard, covering his face