Page 66 of Dance With Me
“I’m not going to go into full detail, not with an audience anyway.” Clare gestured to his family, who still sat in the kitchen, trying to look as if they weren’t listening.
“Come on, let’s go upstairs. We can talk in private up there.” Joe followed Clare up, but instead of going into the master bedroom like he’d expected, she went into the guest room. Coincidentally, the one that Seb had stayed in when he was there.
Clare sat on the bed and began telling her story of how she and Neil had always got on and how they’d started to have feelings for each other. He was married, though it wasn’t a happy marriage. He and his wife had been trying for a baby but, unfortunately, had been unable to conceive. Neil had turned to Clare as a confidante, telling her his problems. One thing had led to another, and their relationship had turned physical.
She admitted that the affair hadn’t started until after Joe had proposed, but he couldn’t understand why she hadn’t called it off. She said it was because Neil was still with his wife and although things were difficult, they were trying to make things work. When their relationship had started to break down, Clare had been there to support him, which was when things had escalated between them. It was Neil who had been collecting her from the dance lessons, and the weekends away had been just that but spent with him instead of her friends.
Joe didn’t know what to say. He was feeling relieved that he’d been right to be suspicious, but on the other hand, he was so fucking livid with her, again. Putting both him and Seb through this just so she could what? See how things went with her lover before agreeing to cut Joe loose?
“I just wanted you to know that I do feel awful about how I’ve treated you and Seb. I hope you know I would never do anything to harm you or him. I thought he might have been here so I could apologise to him too. Is he not around?”
“No, he’s not. I haven’t seen or spoken to him since the stunt you pulled at the office. You really fucked things up for us. I don’t know where we stand at the moment, and I’m just so mad at you right now. You get your happy ever after, and I’m the one that ends up with nothing and a shit load of bills to pay for a wedding you could have called off months ago.”
Joe was trying not to shout, but it was really difficult at this point. He ran his hand through his hair. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I know and I’m sorry. This wasn’t how I wanted this to end up, but here we are. Can I do anything to help?”
“I really think you’ve done enough, don’t you?” Joe stood and waited for Clare to do the same. He was done with this conversation. He followed her downstairs and led her to the front door.
She stepped out but as she stood on the step, she reached up and kissed Joe on the cheek.
“I really am sorry about the wedding and Seb, and I hope that in time we can still be friends.” Clare looked suitably upset. Joe couldn’t care less at this point.
“I’m going to need time, Clare, and if this thing doesn’t work out with Seb because of what you said and did, it may never happen.” He couldn’t be bothered with niceties at this point. Everything she’d told him was grating on his nerves; her affair, the baby and how, because of her actions, Seb wouldn’t even take his calls.
Before he could close the door, she leaned in for a hug and on instinct, he hugged her back. What was he doing? He almost pushed her away; he needed to put as much distance between them as he could.
“It’s time for you to go.” He knew he was being abrupt, but he couldn’t help himself. He just wanted a drink and to get as drunk as possible as quickly as possible.
She walked down the driveway and got into her car. With one last look at him, she reversed and drove away.
Joe walked back into the house, his fingers itching to hit something.
“Fuck, I need a drink and make it a very large one.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Seb
After making his decision about the stalker, he went with Dom to see Hayden at The Coffee Mill.
“I spent three weeks with my parents and for what? It made no fucking difference. They’re still following me, still leaving notes. At least they don’t have my number this time.” Seb was bouncing. He wished he had something stronger than just coffee to drink, but he didn’t think it was wise this time of day. “But you know what? I’m done. Let them do their worst. I won’t run from it anymore.” He was fucking fuming at this point.
Dom rubbed his back, trying his best to comfort him, but it wasn’t working. Seb shrugged him off but instantly regretted it when he saw the look of hurt on his friend’s face.
“I’m sorry; I just feel like it’s all spinning out of control. I wish they’d do something other than leave fucking notes. At least then we could put this all behind us and carry on as normal.”
“Yeah, until he fucking kills you, Seb. That last note was a direct threat. ‘You and me together in life and death.’ Fuck that. He means to kill you, and I’m not OK with that.” Dom had tears in his eyes as he looked at him. “The police need to do their fucking job and catch this creep. It’s gone on for long enough.”
“I agree, but you’ve been with me when we’ve spoken to them. There’s no proof. It’s just photos, notes and phone messages. None of which can be traced. Unless they have some physical evidence on who’s doing this, it’ll carry on. None of us like this, especially me, but what can I do? I’ve gone away, changed the locks, changed my number, kept note of every interaction in a fucking journal, for all the good that’s done.”
“Come on, you should eat.” Hayden placed a plate of cookies in front of them both, but Seb pushed it away.
“I’m not hungry. I just can’t face anything at the moment.” Seb rubbed his face in frustration. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we?
“Are you going to go and see Joe?” Dom asked him.
He didn’t want to talk about that either.
