Page 52 of Not Strictly Ballroom

“It was never my dream . . . well, not as much as yours,” he tries to explain. “It was something you’d planned and trained for. It’s not right for me to take away from that.”

“It doesn’t matter that I’ve trained for longer. You’ve put in plenty of hours, too,” I insist. “We’re a partnership, Nick. I’m nothing without you.”

I capture his smile with my mouth, and kiss him long and deep, trying to imprint my words and their meaning onto him. His face is flushed when I pull back and look at his kiss-bruised lips.

“Well, that’s a partnership I could definitely get on board with,” he says, then drags me towards him for another kiss.

When we resurface, I remember the problems kissing him has banished from my consciousness for a while, and that Nick hasn’t gone to work. It’s Monday, so surely he should be working. I pace the room . . . Well, try to, as the room isn’t very large.

“It’s fine,” he reassures me. “My dad has taken Alan with him today. I’m not needed.”

“You’re losing money because of me!” It doesn’t make me feel any better.

“And it’s okay Darcy. I promise you,” he says, and I sit back down. “I was thinking we could go look at a house this afternoon.” He adds, “I think the need to find somewhere has become a bit more urgent.”

I look around his room at the space all my stuff takes up and I can’t disagree, even though my chances of being able to contribute anything to the costs are practically zero. At some time I’ll remind him of that, but the set of his jaw tells me that this is not the time. Instead, I answer that I’d love to.

“Hi Gran, how are you?” I call, when I enter the kitchen and walk through to the front room.

“Hello dear,” she answers, then seeing I’m alone follows it with, “Where’s that lovely boyfriend of yours?”

I can’t stop the grin—which probably looks really sappy—from spreading across my face when she uses the word “boyfriend.” As Darcy has been a part of my life for nearly half of it, I can’t imagine life without him. But it still catches me unawares to hear the evidence that our relationship has changed, said out loud. I haven’t had many people in my life that could use that title, so it feels really special and causes a warmth to flood through me.

“He’ll be around later,” I reply.

I’ve left Darcy having a shower and I would’ve loved to join him, but not in my parents’ house. There’s not a lot we can do either, the walls are far too thin and we’re never alone in the house. But I have a plan so we can spend some time together.

“How was the house you went to look at yesterday?” she asks.

“Urgh, it was awful. There was rising damp in every room. Now I know why it was so cheap.”

“You’ll find something, love.” I’m glad she’s optimistic, but I’m not so sure. They’re all either too expensive, falling down, or in an area I don’t want to live in.

“Are you ready for your appointment today?” I ask, to change the subject. She’s due to have the cast removed from her leg which means she’ll be able to move around a lot easier. She reminds me we’re also going to see a retirement village later.

“It’s not a home, dear.” She must have seen my face at the mention of it. “It’s still independent living, just with some assistance. I don’t like that you all have to do so much for me. I can do some of it myself, but you know I can’t manage those stairs.”

“Can’t you move into a bungalow?” I ask peevishly, still reluctant to think that anyone else should be helping with my gran.

“It’s more than that, Nicholas.” She fixes me with her steely glare. “I enjoy seeing you every day. There’s nothing I like more. But if I’m honest, since I lost Reggie, I’ve been lonely. I’d like some company my own age. Plus, I have to ask your mum, your dad, or you if I want to go anywhere or get anything. This place has a shop, a hairdresser’s, a cinema, and even a spa. I’d like to be able to enjoy those things while I still can.”

I sigh. She has a point, of course, and it’s not like she’ll be far away. She does deserve to be able to enjoy life, and I hadn’t thought how confining it must be for her here. But still, I will miss her a lot.

“Well, you won’t be able to stop me from visiting you every spare moment I get,” I say, trying to lighten my mood a little.

“I can’t wait to show off my handsome grandson to everyone.” She beams at me and I rise, kissing her cheek, telling her that Dad will be around soon to take her to the hospital.

I want to catch Darcy before he has to leave. He has a couple of lessons today, including Justin and Mark’s final rehearsal.

“Mmm, are you sure you have to go out?” I put my arms round him as he’s looking in the mirror, running his fingers through his damp hair. He looks gorgeous, and his hair is wonderfully tousled. I can’t help but nuzzle into his neck, one of my favourite things to do, pressing soft kisses where his neck meets his shoulder. I inhale the clean citrus scent from his shower gel. I want to keep kissing him, undressing him as I go, rather than letting him out of my grasp right now. In fact, we haven’t done much apart from kissing and cuddling in the few days he’s been here. He needed comfort after the shock and emotion of the last few days, and I didn’t want to pressure him. But I know I have a higher libido than Darcy and I’m already struggling, ready to blow half the time. Maybe when he’s gone out, I’ll take matters into my own hands.

His reflection smiles back at me. “I won’t let my clients down, not even as tempting as you are.”

I show him my best pout and then pull back, reluctantly releasing him.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” I ask, even though I know the answer as I’d asked him several times already. But the protective instinct is strong.

“I’m fine, babe. It’ll be okay.”

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