Wrong Room, Right Guy

by Liam Livings

  'A good squeeze though, eh?' Darren smiled. 'All stuff you wanted to do more of, and less of the pupils.'

  'I do have pupils now, only they're virtual, online ones, who really want to learn English. So that's very different.'

  Darren leant across the table and touched Lucy's hand. 'Ask him about his own writing. Go on. I can't believe it. I'm so proud of him. My boyfriend, the author, Michael Mountsford. Website and everything.'

  So I told her about the second book I'd had published. Once the publisher had worked with me on the first, they asked what else I had, and I explained I was a bit stuck for things to write about. The editor suggested something about teaching and I'd shuddered at that, but then she said what else had been going on in my life since leaving teaching. I told her about the village hall and meeting Darren, and then messing it all up. So she told me to write that story - to tell my story - and she'd decide whether to keep it as non-fiction, or if it'd be better suited to fiction.

  'I've used the story to explain to my students about the power of a story, how it can transport you, change your life, lead you to people and experiences you'd never imagined, all through a story. And that's the magic of stories, which I think you'll both agree beats maths any day.'

  Darren laughed. 'I knew he'd come back to that, he always does. I'd better get on.' He kissed my forehead. 'You want all the Artex gone from all the walls don't you, or is it just downstairs?'

  'All of it. Why would I keep it upstairs. I've always hated it, I've always wanted it changed, but somehow I've never got round to doing it.'

  Darren danced slightly camply out the room, turning just before he left to say, 'Your wish is my command.'

  I looked at Lucy. 'He can be quite commanding sometimes, if he wants to be.' I blushed slightly.

  'Another criticism of maths, eh. Well, we'll see about that.'

  And as for that book, reader, you know what I'm going to say.

  Reader, you've read it.

  The end

  About the Author

  Liam Livings lives where east London ends and becomes Essex. He shares his house with his boyfriend and cat. He enjoys baking, cooking, classic cars and socialising with friends. He escapes from real life with a guilty pleasure book, cries at a sad, funny and camp film - and he’s been known to watch an awful lot of Gilmore Girls in the name of writing ‘research’.

  He has written since he was a teenager, and started writing with the hope of publication in 2011. His writing focuses on friendships, British humour, and romance with plenty of sparkle.