Page 21 of Poles Apart
Dom smiled at the memory and decided it was fun to tease. But that was all it could be at the moment. Jordan’s health was his priority now. As much as Dom had enjoyed it, getting Jacob all worked up was unfair to him, knowing that he wouldn’t take it any further than friendship. If things had been different, he would have been more than willing to give in to Jacob and pick up where they’d left off.
He had another lesson planned with Abby for later on today, then a night out at the new club, Heaven, that had opened up in town. He was looking forward to going and was considering talking to the manager about maybe doing some sets there, either pole or dancing. Even better if they had a gay night there, the tips would come rolling in then, and he could perform. He’d been away from it too long, and the desire to put himself out there was great.
As he sat choreographing some new moves for Abby, a text came through on his phone.
Hi, Dom, Lindsay will be dropping Abby off this afternoon for her lesson. Last-minute school meeting. I’ll text you about going out this weekend. J xx
Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Dom couldn’t understand the feeling of disappointment he felt at not seeing Jacob again tonight. He’d sworn he wouldn’t get involved, and certainly not with Jacob. It had taken a while for his heart to recover last time, and he wasn’t sure he’d get over it any quicker should anything similar happen again. He had to protect his heart, especially as he wasn’t sure he would be staying around once Jordan was well again.
He tried to put the disconcerting thoughts from his mind and concentrate on the music for the afternoon. He put together lunch for him and Jordan, and they sat to eat together.
“Are you teaching again this afternoon?” Jordan asked, wiping his mouth with his napkin.
“Yeah, Abby and some woman called Lindsay. Jacob texted to say he’d got a meeting at the school later.” Dom looked over to see Jordan with a small smile on his face.
“What? What’s that smile for?” Dom asked him.
“No reason. I find it strange that you’re texting each other now after swearing you didn’t want anything to do with him. Just an observation, mind.” Jordan got to his feet and moved towards the sofa to sit.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going? What do you mean by that?” Dom was intrigued now. He followed his brother and sat beside him. “I told you nothing romantic was going to happen between us. What we had is over and done with, and actually, I’m going out tonight with Seb and Hayden. High time I got some action. It’s been a while.”
Jordan put his hands over his ears. “I’m not listening, Dom. I know what you’re trying to do.”
“And what’s that?” Dom knew precisely what Jordan was getting at. He was trying to make more out of this than there actually was.
“I think it’s odd that he’s messaging you when you’d have found out soon enough when Abby turned up, is all.”
Mmm. Dom hadn’t thought of that. It was almost as if he wanted to keep the lines of communication open. Well, he had agreed to go to dinner with him at the weekend. So, he supposed they were keeping in touch. But dinner was to continue their aborted conversation from Monday, and nothing more. Wasn’t it?
He must have had a puzzled look on his face as Jordan carried on talking. “From what you’ve told me, I think Jacob would like nothing more than to carry on where you left off eight years ago, and frankly, I think you’d be a fool to refuse him if he offered.”
“No one asked you, did they?” Dom knew he was acting like a petulant child. Just because Jordan had voiced what he’d been thinking. “I don’t want him back that way. I’ve told you that already. We can’t all live happily ever after, you know. Sometimes things don’t work out.”
Dom was pissed at his brother, but mostly at himself. He should put some distance between him and Jacob, and he would, as soon as they’d cleared the air at the weekend.
Sometime later, he was sitting in the hall where they’d been having the dance sessions, waiting for Abby and Lindsay to turn up.
What he could only describe as a whirlwind swept through the doors with a minute to spare until the start of the lesson. He wasn’t a huge stickler for starting on time, so he was taken aback when a woman ran over to him, gushing an apology.
“Oh my God, I am so sorry we’re late. Ivy’s babysitter decided not to turn up, so she’s had to join us. Is that OK? It’s awful, I know, but I can’t leave her on her own, she’s only a baby, and Colin won’t be back until later. He works with Jacob, you know. They’re very good friends, and tell each other everything.”
Dom looked in amazement at the woman in front of him. She was holding a toddler in her arms, no more than two or three, he thought, and had yet to take a breath.
Abby stood next to her, trying hard to suppress her laughter.
“Honestly, it’s fine. You’re hardly late, and I don’t mind if this little gem wants to join us for a lesson.” Dom touched Ivy’s cheek, and she grabbed his hand, getting chocolate and goodness knows what all over it.
He stepped away from her and reclaimed his hand, wiping his sticky fingers on his towel.
As he turned back towards Lindsay, she was positively grinning from ear to ear.
“Well, Jacob was right when he said you were a stunner, that’s for sure.” Lindsay looked him up and down, an appreciative look on her face. Abby snorted and slapped her hand over her mouth.
“Sorry,” Abby said. “I’ll get ready to start.”
Lindsay motioned to a chair. “Can we, you know, stay and watch? Promise we’ll be quiet.”
