Page 72 of Take a Moment

I glance up from my menu and catch him gazing at me adoringly. It’s a look I was so used to until a few months ago – and that I missed so badly when he disappeared from my life.

‘Stop it,’ I complain. ‘You’re making me uncomfortable.’

‘Am I?’ He reaches across and takes my hand, stroking it affectionately.

‘OK, not really. But it’s just a bit weird having no contact for ages, and now this.’

‘Sorry, you’re right.’ His expression neutralises but he keeps hold of my hand, squeezing it gently. ‘I’ve just really missed you, kitten. You don’t mind me calling you that, do you? What’s a few months apart when we had six amazing years before that?’

‘I guess… I don’t know. Maybe I need to get used to you again. You know, sniff you like a dog.’

‘And that’s why I love you. Your ability to ruin a moment with an image of us sniffing each other’s arses.’

I stifle a snigger. ‘That’s not what I meant. I meant like when you hold your hand out to a dog to let it get used to you before you pat it.’

‘I know. I just like to see you squirm.’

‘You bugger.’

‘How was your date earlier?’

‘Oh, err… it was… fine.’

‘Just fine?’

‘Dom, please.’

‘I’m just keen to understand the competition. Because heiscompetition. I can tell by the way you’re acting.’

‘It’s not… I can’t… now you’ve really got me squirming in my seat. Did you bring me here to do this?’

‘No.Definitely not. But we both know you went on a date earlier. Just talk to me. We’re both adults. You know I dated during our time apart. A couple of dates started well and I thought I saw some kind of potential. But as I got to know them, I realised they weren’t right for me. And that you are.’

I take a sip from my drink and swallow uncomfortably. ‘OK. We went for a nice walk in a forest—’

‘Romantic.’ Dom nods approval. ‘He’s a smooth one. Tell me more about him.’

‘OK. His name is Matt. He’s… outdoorsy, has a sense of humour… I’m not sure what else to say.’

‘Did you kiss him?’

I redden. ‘Yes.’

‘Hey, it’s OK, kitten.’ Dom squeezes my hand. ‘I can’t expect you to drop your new life the moment I turn up. Obviously, I’d prefer you weren’t seeing someone else, but that’s how it is.’

‘And you’re hoping I’ve chosen you.’

‘I think that’s clear.’

‘You certainly seem to be the Dom I always knew. So confident, laid back; a grafter but always able to make everything look so easy. What happened to us?’

Dom shrugs and I see the slightest twinge of emotion in his face. ‘You had a life-changing diagnosis and I didn’t handle it well. Seems that I’m not entirely unshakeable after all.’

‘That makes two of us. I was so stubborn, I’ve realised that now. It’s still hard, feels unnatural, but I know that I have to let people support me.’ I catch his eye. ‘It just needs to beappropriatesupport.’

‘Of course.’ He nods automatically and I can tell that he hasn’t really taken in what I’ve said. ‘Does that mean having your mum and sister back in your life?’

‘They know they can be in my life if they accept me being here. They’ve chosen not to. In their heads that’s their way of showing they care but it also shows how much they want to control my life and choices, and I’m not up for that.’

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