Page 80 of Poles Apart
He needed to get out of the flat. Lying on his bed and rehashing everything wasn’t helping at all. He changed into his jeans and T-shirt and, after saying a quick goodbye to Jordan and Charlie, left to go to The Coffee Mill for a chat with his friend.
“How did it go?” Hayden asked him when he arrived.
“What do you mean?” Dom frowned at him, not understanding what he was talking about.
“When you dashed off the other day. I’m assuming you went to tell Jacob how you felt. It seriously was written all over your face, mate.” Hayden sat opposite him, a sympathetic look on his face. “Have you told Seb?”
“No, and I’m not going to yet. I was going to wait until he got back before I said anything. He and Joe may resolve their issues. Stranger things have happened.”
“Very true. Why are you here anyway, and not at home? It’s early for you.”
“I needed to get out of the flat for a while. Jordan’s there with Charlie, and I’m feeling a little in the way.”
“Ah, I see. Getting serious, is it?”
Dom nodded. “I don’t think it’ll be long before she moves in, and then what do I do? I’m not going to sit around and play gooseberry while they play house. It wouldn’t be fair on them or me, come to that.”
“Well, what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know. Look for somewhere to rent, I suppose. Unless you can take me in?” Dom looked at him pleadingly.
“Fuck off. I’m not having anyone else living with me. You know how that went last time.”
“Yeah, sorry. I forgot.” Dom remembered all too well what had happened to the last guy that had lived with Hayden. It hadn’t been pretty. “The only other thing would be to move in with Jacob, but we’re not there yet.” Dom bit his lip. This was a worry he didn’t need right now.
“No, I agree with you. A couple of months isn’t enough time. Believe me, I know.” Hayden snorted and looked away.
“I’d best start looking now.” He took his phone out of his pocket, and for the next hour, they looked at flats to rent, but Dom had no idea how he was going to afford one with the money he was earning, and his savings were running low.
He left when the lunchtime rush started and drove home, hoping that the flat would be empty or at least that it’d just be Jordan there. His prayers were answered, and Jordan called out to him as he entered.
“You were home early last night. What happened? Charlie said you wouldn’t be dancing at Heaven again.”
“No, it’s doubtful. They tried it on last night, but Jacob was there to stop anything before they got too far.”
“I warned you, Dom. I told you to watch them. They were never up to any good. You should have listened to me.”
Dom wasn’t going to go over this again. “Jacob was with me. Jacob stopped it. That’s all you need to know. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Before his brother could question him any further, his phone rang.
It was Jacob. He held his finger to his brother and walked out of the kitchen.
“How did it go, babe?” Dom asked, eager to find out the outcome.
“Well, barring a complete fuck-up on my part, which I don’t think I did, they want to offer me the position. I’ve provisionally accepted. I need to look over the contract.”
Dom squealed. “Fuck. I’m so proud, Jacob. I really am.”
“Thanks. It’s a relief if I’m honest. It’s taking a while to sink in.” Dom thought he could detect a hint of nervousness in Jacob’s voice.
“But what’s wrong? I can hear something in your voice.” Dom was so attuned to him these days, he could tell when something wasn’t right.
“I've been thinking about something and wondered if you’d be free tonight to come around.”
“Of course, just me, though. I won’t be bringing Jordan and Charlie with me this time.”
“No, that’s good, you and me, and Abby, of course, but it sort of concerns her too.”
