Page 10 of Poles Apart
“No, and Noah is such a lovely boy. He and Ellie get on so well.” She turned and smiled at them both. Noah was whispering something in Ellie’s ear. “Well, I’d better go. Hope your day improves.”
Jacob faced the children as the last of the parents left the classroom. Half of them looked asleep, and the other half as if they’d had a bowl full of sugar for breakfast. It was going to be a long day!
The morning passed without any more drama, unless you included Jett trying to climb out of the window to go outside for break. Jesus, his life was turning into the script of a bad TV show!
And still, there was no reply from Dom. He wouldn’t give up, though. He had to make him understand what had happened, and if that took months to do? Well, he’d waited eight years, he could do another few months.
Chapter Five
Dom
Dom glanced at his phone for what must have been the twentieth time since receiving Jacob’s message last night. It was after lunch now on Monday, and he still hadn’t replied.
But with what? Did he want to hear what he had to say and rake up all his old feelings of hurt? Could he ever get any closure if he didn’t go to see him and get the truth? He worried his lip as he considered what to do.
All he had to work with at the moment was rumour and supposition. He did need to arrange another session with Abby, so he supposed he could get in touch. He typed out the words before he could overthink matters.
Hi, Jacob. If you can let me know her availability for evenings and weekends, we can put in some more lessons.
He sat for a moment, thinking about what else he should put.
As for coffee, we could arrange something. Let me know when you’re free. D
He sent the message and leaned back against the sofa. It was short and to the point, exactly how he’d wanted, and now he’d wait to see what happened. He’d put the ball in Jacob’s court, and if he was that desperate to talk to him? Well, he knew how to find him.
Dom was at a loose end today, so he decided to go to The Coffee Mill. It was next door to Nava Dance Studios, and he and Seb often met there, having become friendly with the owner, Hayden. It was a popular place, set back from the road and a little more personal than the usual coffee franchises.
He pulled into the car park. Seb hadn’t arrived yet, although Dom had dropped him off at the garage this morning to collect his car after the vandalism on Saturday. Fucking stalker! It still made him angry to think about it.
He breezed through the door of the coffee shop, ordering a cappuccino and a toasted ham and cheese panini. He may as well eat, seeing how he was here.
He sat at his and Seb’s usual table, slouched with his legs stretched out before him, and scrolled through his phone. He was tempted to search for Jacob on Facebook to check his relationship status. He hadn’t noticed a ring. Not that he was bothered.Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
Dom watched as Hayden brought over his order and sat opposite him. Hayden was taller than him at about six feet and filled out his Coffee Mill polo shirt nicely, but Dom knew it was from hard work and not from going to a gym. He was a strawberry blond, had blue eyes, a good bit of scruff on his jaw and hated it when Dom teased him for being ginger.
“You OK today? How’s your brother?” Hayden picked at the cheese leaking from Dom’s panini before sucking it noisily into his mouth.
“He’s good. We have another appointment with the consultant this week.” Dom stirred his coffee absently and moved his food away from Hayden. “We’re hoping they’ll have some news about when he can start work. He’s going mad sitting in the apartment, but his strength is returning day by day.”
Hayden placed his hand over his. “He’s so much better than he was and will be working before you know it.”
“Yeah, let’s hope so. But falling thirty feet from a tree takes some time to recover from.” Dom sighed heavily and looked at Hayden. “Enough though, Debbie Downer. What’s new?”
“Nothing from me, but Seb was here on Saturday with a guy. They looked very cosy, even if I do say so myself.” Hayden smirked. “He was fucking hot.”
“Ah, that would be Joe, the guy he’s teaching with his fiancée.” Dom nodded, picking at the melted cheese on his panini before Hayden could take any more.
Hayden peered at Dom. “Fiancée, you say. Mm, the way he was looking at Seb… Well, let’s just say, I hope I’ll find someone someday who looks at me the way this guy was looking at him.”
“I think Seb’s definitely got a thing for him, though, the way he was talking on Saturday night. I just hope he doesn’t get his heart broken again, like he did with Daniel.” Hayden hummed in agreement, now playing with the napkin on the table. Neither of them had been around when Daniel and Seb were together, but they’d both experienced first-hand how the mere mention of Seb’s dead partner affected him.
“But enough of Seb and Joe. How are things with you at the moment? Anyone on the horizon?” Dom continued to eat. God, he was starving.
“You know me,” said Hayden, “too bloody busy with this place to have anything resembling a social life. We can’t all swan around with nothing to do all day.” He threw the balled-up napkin at Dom.
“Fuck off.” Dom threw it back to him. “I worked bloody hard before I came home. I know you all thought it was a piece of cake, travelling the world, but competing in those competitions was hard. Not to mention the backbiting and bitchiness. Load of fucking prima donnas, most of them were.”
“You know I’m only kidding, and we all know why you did it. It’s important you’re here to look after your brother. Why’d you ask anyway? Fancy a night out?”
