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Chapter 8

A co down the stairs at a ridiculous rate I land in the kitchen, still half asleep, naked and with slightly blurred vision I blink repeatedly to clearbare-chested with a box of cornflakes in his hand

‘What’s thebrain, a reality where it’s not Nan pottering around the kitchen looking happy and at houilt consu disappointed ‘You startled isterout of the kitchen I indicate over rees, watching h is heavy as I take the stairs andon some knickers and a T-shirt Once I’ve made it back downstairs, I find the table set for breakfast and Miller looking evenwith his phone to his ear He indicates for me to take a seat, which I do slohile he continues with his call ‘I’ll be in around lunchti up and setting his phone down He gazes across the table athi into that emotionless man who repels everyone We’re back in London All that’sup the pot of tea that’s stea myself a cup

‘Tony’ His reply is as curt and short as he ith Tony just now

Duht, I , and then watch in astonishment when Miller leans over the table and takes the pot, placing it exactly back in the centre of the table Then he tweaks it a littlea sip of my tea and i down ‘How s did you put in there?’

He frowns and looks at the pot ‘Two’

‘Doesn’t taste like it’ It tastes like warmed milk I reach over to take the lid off and peek inside ‘There are none in here’

‘I took them out’

‘Why?’

‘Because they’d block the spout’

I ss steeping inside The spouts never get blocked’

He rolls his eyes and sits back in his chair, folding his ar intuitive here--’

‘Miller Hart?’ I cut in, reining in my smirk ‘Never’

His tired look only increasesinto reciprocate He continues ‘And I’ skills are lacking’