Page 18 of Poles Apart
After breakfast, Dom drove them to the hospital. They made their way to the consultant’s clinic and sat to wait to be called forward. A TV was playing in the waiting room, and they watched the mindless daytime television about people buying houses at auctions. The sound was turned down, the subtitles trying desperately to keep up with the presenter, not always successfully.
Half an hour later, Jordan was called in to see the specialist. Dom went in with him, hoping for something, anything, that would make their day. Mr Consadine had Jordan perform a few exercises to test the strength in his legs and some others to assess his stamina. Since the accident, it had dropped, and the slightest exertion could tire him quickly.
After a lot of note scribbling and tapping on the computer, the consultant asked them to make a further appointment for six weeks’ time, when he’d reassess. He was more than happy with the progress to date.
Satisfied, they left the room, Jordan slightly less stressed than when they’d gone in. He was tired, though, so Dom drove them both home, and he made his brother comfortable on the sofa. He fixed them both some tea, and while Jordan napped, he went through the choreography for that evening’s session with Abby.
While they were at the hospital, Dom had decided to try and make good with Jacob. He’d had time to consider what he’d said about being sent away when they were younger, and he’d realised that it hadn’t been Jacob’s fault that Dom had moved away by the time he’d returned home two years later. Maybe it was time to forgive and forget.
By 4 p.m., he was ready to leave the flat. He had what he needed, the paperwork, his dance gear, his music and bottles of water. He ensured Jordan had everything to hand and drove to the hall they were using to practice in.
The doors were open as they had been the last time, and he was first to arrive again. He set up the music system and started one of his pole dancing playlists. It had been a while since he’d touched a pole, and he was starting to get withdrawal symptoms. There were a couple of places around that offered lessons, but not many. Maybe he could persuade Seb to put a couple of poles in his studio so he could run some classes there.
He changed into his dance gear and turned up the music. ‘I Like Boys’ filled the room, and he couldn’t help but dance to the music. He strutted around, moving his hips, the beat pulsing through his veins. He’d used this track when he danced in clubs, and it drove guys wild. He could dirty dance with the best of them, and he thrust his groin in time to the music, his arms in the air. He loved dancing, and he closed his eyes, losing himself to the music.
The track ended, and he chose to sit the next one out. He didn’t want to tire himself; he had a two-hour session with Abby ahead, so he sat scrolling through his phone and waited for them.
Ten minutes later, they arrived, Abby chattering a mile a minute and Jacob laughing at something she was saying.
The melodic sound was music to Dom’s ears, filling his chest with warmth. He smiled to himself and vowed to keep Jacob happy so he could hear that sound again.
He turned to face them both and marvelled at how attractive Jacob was, more so than when they were younger. He’d grown into himself and was no longer the gangly teen he used to be. He’d definitely been working out.
Jacob walked towards him and smiled sheepishly as he handed him a cup of coffee.
“By way of an apology. I should have stuck around yesterday afternoon. There were still things I needed to say, and I should have listened to you too.”
Dom took the coffee.
“Thank you"—he held up the coffee cup—“for this, and yes, I still have things I need to explain, and I know your story didn’t stop after, you know, your parents.”
Jacob smiled again. “Anyway, I hope we can start over. Maybe we could have dinner. Are you free this weekend? Friday or Saturday perhaps?”
“I’d like that. I’m free either night, but we can make plans on Thursday. Are we still on for then, for Abby’s lesson?”
Jacob nodded his assent.
“Great.” He turned to Abby. “Let’s go, girl. We have some dancing to do.”
He walked over to the music, deliberately putting a swing in his step. He was nothing if not sassy.
Chapter Ten
Jacob
After leaving Colin and Lindsay’s house on Monday, he’d driven home with Abby’s insistent questions in his ear.
Over dinner, they’d discussed Lindsay’s plans on how Jacob would win Dom back. All of them had chipped in with various ideas, some good, but most totally ridiculous. The worst one by far was skydiving. There was no way in hell Jacob was doing that. He’d also nixed the idea of a sky writer. He was sure Lindsay knew how much he earned as a primary school teacher, and it wasn’t enough to pay for a fucking aeroplane!
They’d got home around ten, and Abby had gone straight to her room. She had school the following day, and they were supposed to be meeting Dom late afternoon for another lesson. Plans for the week ahead for his class had already been done, so he had nothing to do, except think.
He’d had better days, and although his school day had been unpredictable, it had ended a little better with their time at Colin’s. He was about to go to bed when his phone had lit up, a text flicking across the screen.
Hi, I know I’m probably the last person you want to hear from, but I did agree to teach Abby, and I don’t go back on my promises. Can we meet at the same place around 4.30? For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. D
Well, fuck me, he thought. Lindsay was right; Dom had texted him. Operation ‘Get Dom Back’ was a go!
He opened a bottle of beer and sat to think about what had been on Lindsay’s list. He grabbed a notepad from the table and pulled the pen out of his shirt breast pocket.
