Page 35 of Teacakes & Tangos
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Later that day, Clara phoned and asked me if I’d like to come over to the dance studio and interview for the job managing the café.
‘I’d love to!’ I gasped.
‘Great. Are you free tomorrow morning? About eleven o’clock?’
‘Absolutely.’
‘Lovely. Well, I look forward to seeing you then.’
When the call ended, I wandered around the house thinking about what it would be like, working in the café. Not that the job was mine yet. But it sounded hopeful.
And it would give me something to tell Dad about later. A bit of good news at last!
Of course, I had Xander to thank for speaking to Clara about me.
I thought about the previous day at Magic of Dance with a fond smile. I wouldn’t have been able to face it on my own. I’d have been too sad that Dad couldn’t be there with me. But somehow Xander had made me forget my troubles – just for a few hours. He’d managed to make me laugh, which was a miracle in itself, and he’d told me he’d always liked me.
But what about Dana, his ex? Had he really got over the break-up?
I seemed to remember they’d been together a long time before they’d broken up the previous year. I hadn’t talked to him about Dana so I’d no idea how he was actually feeling about her now. Xander had said it was a mutual decision to end things but just because you’d both agreed to call it a day, that didn’t mean it would be easier to bear – especially if you’d been together for years...
My mobile rang at that moment. It was Xander.
‘Hey, I was just thinking about you.’
‘That’s nice.’ There was a tiny pause. ‘Actually, I’ve... well, I’ve been thinking about you, too,’ he said.
‘Yes?’
‘Yes. So what were you thinking?’ he asked cheerfully.
‘Well, I was... I was just thinking I’d never asked you about Dana and if you were over her.’
‘Oh, right.’ He sounded a bit deflated.
‘It’s just I know it took me a while to get over Les, in spite of the horrible way it ended.’
‘Of course.’
It sounded as if he didn’t want to talk about Dana, so I quickly changed the subject. ‘By the way, guess what? I’ve got an interview at the Little Duckling Café tomorrow morning.’
‘Oh, wow, that’s great, Anika. I’m so pleased for you.’
‘Thanks! I’m keeping my fingers crossed.’
‘I’ll do the same.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Erm... I was actually phoning to see if you fancied going to the ballet with me tomorrow night. If you’re free?’
‘Theballet?’ I chuckled. ‘Xander, have you fallen and bumped your head?’
He laughed. ‘No, I’m just intrigued to see what I’ve been missing.’
‘So you actually want to go and see people “prancing around in tights and tutus”?’
‘Yes, I do. As long as you’re there to tell me what the hell’s going on.’
‘So you’ve got tickets?’
