Love on Notes

6

We were all gathered in the living room. My mother had made herself comfortable in my reading chair, while I had fought with Charlie and Harry to be allowed to sit on the sofa. Without any qualms, my two brothers told me that my place was on the floor. Although it didn't bother me that much, I kept complaining to them to make them feel at least a little guilty. However, after a few minutes, I realised that they didn't seem to regret their decision.

As I watched them in turn, I realised that I was extremely happy that they had come. I'd always been a family person and I loved being around them. After our late lunch, they had told me that they had taken the train from Paris earlier in the day on a whim, but had preferred to surprise me by calling me when they arrived in Lille, or rather in front of my building. I hadn't realised how much I'd missed them all. After the din of animated conversation during our late lunch, everyone was now quietly busy in their own corners. While my mother was doing a Sudoku, my brothers were alternating between their mobile phones and a series on the TV. As for me, with my computer on my thighs, I made a list of possible ideas for a new article, locked away in my bubble. When I'd finished, I consulted the website of Ingrid's publishing house to get a better idea of their catalogue.

— Are you going to publish a book? said Harry, startling me.
— Harry! You frightened me, you fool!

I raised my eyes to the sky.

—But to answer your question, I'd like to, yes, but I still have to write it down.
— That's great, Liz! Are you planning to write any erotic scenes? If so, don't hesitate to ask me for advice.

He let out a huge laugh, quickly followed by mine.

— You're an idiot, Harry.

I shook my head at my brother's absurd attitude as he turned back to Charlie, who seemed absorbed by his phone. Harry and I were exchanging glances when Harry's phone and my mum's made a notification sound. I stood up and tiptoed over to see what it was.

— Yoni Eggs have revolutionised the daily lives of hundreds of women. Why not yours? read Harry. Discover the fortieth article by the enchanting Elizabeth Pierce. Well, you're a sensation.
— How come you have La Dame's notifications activated?
— Do you think we don't read your articles? laughs my mother.
— What is the perineum? Charlie asked me as he turned towards us, elbow resting on the left cuff of the sofa and eyebrows furrowed, giving himself a serious look.

I wasn't expecting this question, so I pulled a face before laughing.

— Why are you asking me this?
— I've started reading your article and you talk about toning the perineum, so I'm curious to know what that is.
— Oh right! The perineum is part of the human sexual anatomy, but as we're talking about toning the perineum, it concerns the female anatomy.
— Yes, but what exactly is it?
— This is the fabric that forms the floor of the pelvis.
— Fabric?
— It's a set of muscles, if you like.
— Oh, right.
— I'm going to go and get changed, I've got to get ready, I told them as I headed for my room.
— Where are you off to? Harry asked.
— Harry, would you like to come to my cooking class with me? I asked in an amused tone.
— Yes, I'm ready, we'll come down when you are.
— You can't be serious.
— Do I look like I'm joking?

I arched an eyebrow.

— Er... yes?
— Don't start looking for me, he laughs.

I smiled in reply before heading to my bedroom. After choosing a blue long-sleeved top with a small plunging neckline, jeans in the same colour and high Converse shoes, I met my family in the living room. Feeling my mother's gaze on me, I looked up at her.

— Are you all right? I asked, smiling.
— Yes, yes, your article on Yoni eggs is excellent, you're getting much better at addressing your reader.
— Thanks, Mum.

I was very touched by her compliment; her opinion had always been the most important to me, being my role model. I gave her a gentle smile, then noticed how little time I had left to get downstairs if I didn't want to be late. Glancing around, I wondered where I'd put my mobile. Then I heard a small noise and, turning in that direction, I saw Harry picking up AntidepreSisters.

— A new book you've borrowed? he asked me, reading the back cover.
— Yes, yesterday, I said, retrieving my laptop from the coffee table.
— It looks good, and the idea is rather original. Did you write these notes?

I shook my head and asked him not to take them off. When I saw that he was reading them, I felt strange that he would read them long before I did. I was surprised to see him smirk.

— This girl is impressive, or this guy... I don't really know because the writing is pretty, curvy but...

I nodded.

— He's a man.
— How do you know that?
— In one of his comments, he wrote that he felt that as a man it's harder to understand some things that women go through.
— And you know him?
— No, I only read a book that he also annotated two or three days ago. But I have no idea who he is.
— And he wrote notes like these in the previous book?
— Yes but I haven't actually started this book and I don't want to read his notes now, I'm afraid they'll spoil the story for me.
— I understand, and what were his previous notes about?
— Reflections on the characterisation of a character or a comment on the writer.
— This guy's pretty smart.
— It looks like it to me.

As I was thinking about his previous notes and, above all, my perhaps somewhat cold answers, I felt the eyes of the three occupants of my living room on me.

I looked up at the ceiling, anticipating their remarks.

— What do you want to tell me?
— Do you like him? asked my mother.
— Mum, come on, how can I like someone I've never spoken to? I just answered a few of his notes, that's all.
— Oh, because you answered him as well? asked Charlie.
— Yes... What are you getting at?
— Are you going to answer his notes over and over again? And how did you find a second book with his notes in it? Coming across this stranger's notes once is lucky, but coming across them twice in a row is more than luck, isn't it?
— Well, listen... A new book caught my eye, and when I flipped through it, his notes were inside. Right, we've got to get downstairs now if I'm not going to be late.

Harry nodded and walked me to the door. I put on my jacket in front of the hall mirror. After making sure my mother and Charlie didn't need anything else, I grabbed my bag and left the flat, closely followed by Harry.

On the way, I felt nervous at the idea of my whole family knowing about this mysterious man. Although I'm used to telling them all the details of my life, this made me feel as though I was formalising our correspondence through notes.