He’d checked with his mum the night before, and she was happy for him to take Starry for her morning walk. Although she looked a little bemused by Rhys’s sudden enthusiasm, she hadn’t asked him why. Rhys was glad. He wasn’t sure how to explain the nature of his relationship with John; he didn’t really understand it himself yet. The friendship was too new, too tentative to withstand detailed analysis. Rhys was just happy that John seemed to want to spend time with him too.Starry was thrilled to see Rhys when he popped next door to pick her up. His mum was already up and about, sitting on the sofa, with a cup of coffee and her iPad.“Morning, darling,” she said.“Hi, Mum.” He crossed the room and stooped to give her his usual kiss on the cheek. She smelled familiar and comforting: her usual shampoo and the faintest trace of perfume. “Come on then, Starry, time for walkies!” He said it with the exact intonation he knew would drive her crazy. “Get your lead. Go on.”
