Page 40 of Dance With Me
“Ugh, I’ve been so exhausted with the studio and the rehearsals. How soon can Dom start?”
Seb looked closely at his friend, noticing the telltale dark circles under her eyes. “He could start as soon as you want, I think. He’s spending a lot of time there now anyway, being my ever-faithful bodyguard.” Seb rolled his eyes at this. Dom hadn’t left him alone, even though he had problems of his own to deal with.
Natalia giggled. “He’s like a little annoying Jack Russell. He’d nip at any stalker’s heels, frightening them away.”
“If only it were that easy,” he said, resting his head on her shoulder. This whole thing was starting to wreak havoc on his nerves.
“Is he meeting you there today?” she asked, rinsing her bowl in the sink.
“I said I’d meet him at the studio around noon, but I’ve got an early finish this afternoon. I’ve cancelled Joe’s lesson this evening.”
“Why? I thought they were going well.” Natalia looked at him with a puzzled look on her face.
“They were—are, even—but I can’t face him tonight. I’m not sure I can do this anymore with him. The solo lessons, I mean. If I have to meet with him when Clare is there, then I’ll do that, but when it’s just him and me”—Seb moved to the sofa and sat—“I want to kiss him, Nat. I want to touch him. Dom would say I want to bite his arse, and I actually do.” He groaned loudly.
“I didn’t realise you felt that way about him, Seb. I know I haven’t been around as much lately, but if I’d known it was this bad, I’d—”
“You’d what, Nat? I only have myself to blame. I’m falling, fuck, I have fallen, for a guy who gets married in five weeks. We’ve spent so much time together with the solo lessons, and then there have been times when we’ve been alone outside of the studio. Last night just drove it home to me that I was getting in too deep with him. We had such a good time and had such an amazing connection. He makes me feel like I matter, like I’m enough, would be enough.” He sighed, feeling the hopelessness at the realisation that it didn’t matter how he felt, how Joe made him feel. He would never be anything to him other than a friend.
“I didn’t mean to snap, Nat. I’m just so cross with myself for getting too involved.” Seb slumped on the sofa, his hands in his lap.
Natalia sat next to him and took his hands in hers. She brushed his hair from his face and looked into his eyes.
“Now you listen and look at me.” Her voice was firm, brooking no argument. “You will always be enough for the right person. We know Daniel wasn’t, or else he would have stayed. I don’t know what to say to you to make this right, but you have to realise Daniel was never your fault. Never, do you hear me?”
Seb nodded.
“Maybe Dom can take over the lessons, and you should get away, just for a while. Listen to the police’s advice. So much has happened over the past few months; you need a break.”
“I’m not running away, Nat. I said I wouldn’t do that. As for the lessons, I’m going to see it through and make the dance the best first dance ever.” He looked away from Natalia, not wishing to see the look in her eyes.
As Rocco walked into the room, it gave him the excuse to avoid her gaze. “Come on, buddy, let’s get your breakfast.” He stood and moved into the kitchen to fill the dog bowls.
“I’m going to take a shower, then go for coffee with Hayden. I’ll take Rocco with me today,” he called out to her.
“OK, let me know if I can do anything. You’ll get through this, Seb, I know you will.”
“I will, thanks.” He felt he was being really shitty with her, but he knew she was only trying to help.
By the time he arrived at The Coffee Mill, it was getting on for eleven, so he had an hour to kill before he was meeting Dom.
“Hi, Seb. How are you doing, mate? The usual?” Hayden asked as soon as Seb walked through the door.
“Yes, please. That’d be great. I’m here to meet Dom but I’m a bit early.” Rocco followed behind him.
“Sure, take a seat, and I’ll bring it over. How are things going with the stalker? I’m always around if you ever need my big brawny muscles.” Hayden flexed his biceps.He could certainly hold his own.
“I think I’ll take my chances.” Seb teased.
Hayden laughed. “Yeah, you’d probably be better off with Dom. He’s small but feisty.”
“Did someone mention my name?” They both turned to the door to see Dom standing there. “You’re early, Seb. I thought we said noon?”
“We did, but I came for coffee. Why are you early?”
Dom blushed. “I came early to get some coffee and cake too before meeting up with you but it seems like you beat me to it.”
Seb was suspicious of his reason for being here early. Dom never arrived early.
