“Wanna watch a film?” You ask, head leaning on my shoulder, scrolling through your phone as we’re sat on the sofa in your dorm.

“Sure,” I reply, turning my gaze towards you. “What’d you wanna watch?”

You and I are in this weird bubble of hooking up, being really close but also not having a label. We’re both busy with uni, not to mention you have a five year old daughter so you’re always on the go, rarely a moment to yourself. We’ve never even brought up the topic of a label, and truly? I’m okay with that, I don’t do relationships anyway—they’re too much hassle.

I admire you, I really do. You’re twenty years old and your daughter lives in your dorm with you and has a babysitter while you’re at uni. Being the top university in London, our studies aren’t exactly easy.

River, that’s her name. Pretty. She’s a credit to you, and you did it all by yourself. You gave birth to her when you were only fifteen and River’s dad has never wanted anything to do with her. She’s a smart, lovely little girl and you’re an amazing mum. To River, I’m just mummy’s friend. Which is true besides, she’s just a kid—she doesn’t need to know how close we are.

We decide on watching 21 jump street I put it on the tv, get up to get a glass of water and while I’m walking back over to you, I look over at River softly sleeping in her little toddler bed. God, she looks just like you.

I sit back down beside you on the sofa, your curl into my side. I can’t resist leaning down and pressing a gentle kiss to your soft lips. But then—

“Mummy and Harry sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!” I hear River call out in a sing-song voice, clapping her small hands.

Fuck, I swear she was asleep?