Sinead was about to voice her approval when the homeowner spoke.
‘Are you living with your friends then, at the moment?’
‘Yeah, since we graduated. We moved down to London together after uni. It was cool for a couple of years but…’ Sinead trailed off, still checking out the kitchen as she moved further in. There was a utility area out the back and she could see a washing machine and tumble dryer. Through the window was a small overgrown garden.
‘But not any more?’ he asked.
‘Hmm? Oh.’ Sinead snapped back to the conversation. ‘I just fancy a change of scene. It’s not easy, living with mates. All those stupid rows about washing up or taking out the rubbish. It gets a bit old. I always thought I’d prefer sharing with a guy. Girls are… well, there can be a lot of drama.’
‘I wouldn’t know. I’ve never shared a house with a girl before.’
‘First time for everything.’
‘Yes, well… Which university did you go to? You and your friends?’
‘Reading University.’
The man nodded. His brow knitted together as though he was concentrating. A moment of awkward silence passed between them. Sinead wondered if he was just a bit shy. He was definitely aloof. He had a fairly posh accent. He might be a solicitor or a banker. But then he probably wouldn’t be home as early as this; those guys worked crazy hours. Normally when dealing with strangers, Sinead would keep talking at moments like this so as not to give them the chance to make their excuses and walk away. But this wasn’t happening on the high street. Respect was needed; she was a guest in the man’s home.
Eventually, he spoke. ‘The spare room’s down the hall.’
‘Cool. Let’s check it out, then.’
They moved simultaneously and almost collided. The man gestured for her to go ahead. Sinead thanked him, walked back through the living room and continued down the hall that connected with the other rooms. As she walked, she experienced a feeling of déjà vu. Not because she’d been here before, but because she had fantasised about a house just like this one when she was a girl. A proper home. Sinead had to play it cool, but her mind was made up: she wanted this place. And the reluctant owner could be persuaded, she was sure of it. Otherwise he’d never have let her in.
‘This one?’ she asked, referring to the first closed door.
‘That’s the bathroom.’
‘Is it okay to have a quick look?’
‘Of course. I’ve got nothing to hide.’
She chuckled, opening the door to another immaculately dirt-free room. There was a bath tub along one wall, with a chrome shower head attached above and a contemporary lavatory and washbasin on the other wall. Nice blue and white checked tiles were on the walls. And not so much as a stray hair to be seen.
‘Wow! You run a tight ship.’
‘You sound surprised.’
‘I guess so. I wouldn’t describe this as your typical man’s bathroom.’
‘I’m not keen on dirt and mess. I’ve always believed that cleanliness is fundamental.’
‘Definitely. Yep. I’m down with that.’ Did that sound like she was taking the piss? Sinead smiled warmly to show that she wasn’t.
He leant back against the wall, allowing her space to leave the bathroom.
‘Did anyone else come today, before you took the ad down?’
‘Somebody was here this morning.’ He extended his arm as if directing traffic. ‘The spare bedroom is just down here.’
Sinead went along to the next door, which was also closed. She glanced over her shoulder. He hadn’t moved from his position outside the bathroom, but was staring up at the loft hatch in the ceiling. Sinead cleared her throat and he looked over. She pointed at the closed bedroom door, making sure it was okay to proceed. The man held her look and slowly nodded. Sinead thought he was probably thinking up an excuse to get rid of her. Tentatively, she pushed down the handle and the door creaked open.
The room was just as she had expected, picture perfect. There was a double bed with a mattress still in its plastic wrap, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers. A medium-sized window looked out onto the back garden. The room was huge; nearly twice the size of the one she currently had. This was the sixteenth place she’d seen: each one had been beyond her budget, or else the room was too small, or she’d have had to share the house with six others, or some other problem. Renting in London was no fun. She couldn’t face more internet searches, more trips to far-flung locations, more disappointments. Sinead took a deep breath.
The man was now standing in the doorway, observing her reaction.
Sinead said, ‘It’s even bigger than it looked in the photo. And brand-new furniture, too.’ She couldn’t read his expression. He was a tough nut to crack. ‘But now you don’t want a lodger, right? You’ve changed your mind?’
‘This used to be my office. Change isn’t always easy.’
‘That’s true. You’ve gone to all this trouble, though. But yeah, I guess if you’ve never lived with some strange girl before…’ She sat on the edge of the bed and bounced on the mattress. She couldn’t help it; acting like she already lived here.
‘I go away regularly, for work. I need to be certain that the house will be respected. I don’t want to come home and find things broken…’ He paused, looking at something.
Sinead followed his eyes to the bedside lamp: a crack zigzagged across the centre of the base; two pieces of porcelain were glued together.
As she turned back to him, he continued. ‘I don’t want to return here and find overflowing bins and suspicious stains on the carpet.’
Sinead stood up. ‘Just for the record, okay, I’d treat this place like a palace. No parties, no pets, no disgusting habits. I don’t even mind cleaning the loo. What more can you ask for?’
Running his hand along the top of the door frame, he brushed down some dust and slapped his palms together. Sinead chewed a thumbnail. He’s not going for it. He’s not interested.
The man sighed. ‘I can’t commit to any long-term arrangements. You hear stories – tenants who refuse to leave. It seems a lot more trouble than it’s worth.’
‘Okay, then. Here’s an idea – a trial period. Say two months? That will give us time to get to know each other. And if it doesn’t work out, I’ll pack my bags. No arguments, no hassle. I’ll be gone.’
Sinead watched him like a hawk, ready to swoop in. The man didn’t respond verbally, but his eyes gave something away. She’d seen that look many times before – he was wavering.
‘And I can pay you up front. Two months’ rent, plus a safety deposit.’ Money. Yeah. He perked up at the mention of money. Sinead had him now.
The man rubbed his chin. ‘You’re used to getting your own way, aren’t you? I can tell.’
‘I’ve been searching everywhere for like six weeks. It’s a complete nightmare. If somewhere’s half decent and affordable, it gets snapped up like…’ She clicked her fingers. ‘Places like this – they are so rare. You’ve no idea. This is perfect for me. Really perfect. Almost too good to be true.’
‘You seem like a nice girl, but I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you.’
‘We’ve clicked, though, don’t you think? Trust me. A month from now, we’ll be getting on like a house on fire.’ Sinead rolled her eyes at the careless choice of words. ‘Or a more appropriate expression. You know what I mean, though. Right?’ The man seemed bemused by her persistent manner and Sinead could see his defences dropping. ‘I promise you, before you know it, we’ll be just like best mates.’