Page 30 of Last Dance, Second Chance

He understood that his mum worried about him being on his own. Usually, he would have been glad to see her, but she hadn’t exactly been subtle about not being happy to find Jessica there. She didn’t even seem completely mollified when she found out their relationship was purely platonic. And he got why. She’d seen what he’d been through and had been there to pick up the pieces. But surely she must realise there was no way he’d get involved in a relationship now, and especially not with someone like Jessica whose whole life was her dancing and who lived on the other side of an ocean.

That hadn’t stopped him from making that stupid comment about her pyjamas though, had it? He blushed just thinking about it. What an idiot. He hoped he hadn’t come across as creepy. Maybe that was the reason Jessica hadn’t wanted to come out. She’d hardly say she didn’t want to come because he was being strange, would she? Should he apologise, or would that be making too much of the situation? He’d just have to see what the atmosphere was like when he got home. And he really must charge his phone.

* * *

Jessica was on the floor of the sitting room doing sit-ups when Nathan returned. Exercising was always the way she let out her stress.

“Hey,” he said, putting his head around the door. Was it just her imagination, or was he looking at her strangely? As if guessing her thoughts, Nathan coughed and pulled his gaze away. “I’ll put the dogs in the garden so they don’t disturb you.”

“Thanks.”

Once the YouTube video she’d been doing came to an end, Jessica stood up. She knew she had to brave speaking to Nathan.

“How was your workout?” Nathan asked when she came into the kitchen.

“Good, thank you.” Jessica helped herself to a glass of water. “Did you enjoy your walk?”

“Yeah. Monty was really good on the lead, and his recall is improving as well, thanks to cheese rewards.”

“That’s brilliant. The power of cheese, eh?”

Nathan’s phone buzzed from where it was charging on the counter. He picked it up to check it.

“I had a message from my friend Stephen that I missed yesterday,” he said. “He’s another doctor at the surgery. He’s inviting me to a barbecue at his house tonight. Says to bring a bottle and a guest. Do you fancy coming?”

“Erm...” Jessica looked for an excuse. Should she ask him about Claire? But if he’d wanted to tell her about Claire then presumably, he would have already. Maybe it was private. But if he did have a girlfriend, she wouldn’t be too impressed with Jessica going to a barbecue with him.

“Look,” said Nathan, shuffling uncomfortably. “I’m really sorry if my stupid comment about your pyjamas made you feel in any way uncomfortable. It was a daft thing to say.”

“So, you don’t like my pyjamas?” Jessica teased. It was funny to see him embarrassed.

“No, well, yes. I mean... you must know you look good in them.”

Jessica arched an eyebrow.

“Well, you do... but I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“It’s fine, honestly,” said Jessica, laughing, glad that at least some of the tension between the two of them had gone. “Would you rather I didn’t wear them anymore?”

“I’m pretty sure I can control myself,” Nathan said drolly.

“Glad to hear it, because I don’t think your mother would be too thrilled if you couldn’t.”

“You noticed . . .”

“Kind of hard not to.”

“I’m sorry. She and I haven’t been getting along all that well recently, and... basically, it’s nothing to do with you.”

“OK,” said Jessica. If he had something he wanted to keep private, she needed to respect that. She supposed.

“Come to this barbecue with me, please? I really need to make some more friends around here, but I don’t want to go by myself.”

“I’m not sure I’m in the mood for loads of people...” Jessica was still feeling sorry for herself and the thought of having to explain to people why she was using crutches didn’t particularly appeal.

“It won’t be loads of people, and Stephen and his wife are really nice. Please?”

“All right, I’ll come,” she said. He was an adult and if he was in a relationship, it was his choice to invite her to come along, and it would probably do her good to go out for the evening. She couldn’t hide away the whole time her foot was in plaster. “What time does it start?”

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