Page 29 of Strictly Friends
The familiar sound of the calypso tune Kenny had always called ‘their song’ instantly brought long-buried memories flooding back, almost destroying Ruby’s composure. While Jake carried on dancing, blithely unaware of the sudden tension in the room, Kenny’s gaze sought Ruby’s. When their eyes met, she shivered at the intensity she saw there and, for just a moment, all her bitterness and anger was suspended.
‘Dance with me?’ he asked, holding out his arms.
Jake gleefully tried to pull Ruby off the sofa, but she shook her head with a laugh that even to her own ears sounded strained. ‘Thanks, but I’m way too full after that lovely dinner to move.’
‘Another time, then?’ Kenny’s eyes were hooded as he took in her flustered expression, and Ruby dropped her gaze.He’s not exactly making this easy, she thought, trying to corral her wayward emotions. First a delicious meal, and now dancing. But although Kenny was making it obvious that he still had feelings for her, how could she evencontemplateturning back the clock to the way things had once been?
When she didn’t answer, he said softly, ‘I meant what I said, Rubes. Nothing’s changed.’
‘Griff, can you hear me?’ Ruby demanded as the connection dropped again. She lowered her voice, not wanting to wake up Jake, who had fallen asleep within seconds of his head hitting the pillow.
Other than the awkward moment when Jake had tried to cajole her into Kenny’s arms, dinner with her ex had gone better than sheexpected. But now, far too restless to go to bed after an evening that still felt surreal, and with Jake out for the count, Ruby had slipped on to the balcony to call Griffin. With her son constantly within earshot, she hadn’t yet had a chance to give her best friend more than a basic recounting of their first meeting with Kenny. After the emotional havoc wreaked by this latest encounter, she desperately needed Griffin to help her analyse her feelings. So far, to her utter frustration, her efforts had been sabotaged by the poor phone connection.
‘Can you hear me now?’ Griffin’s deep voice sounded crystal clear, and Ruby dived in before the signal disappeared again.
‘As I was saying... when I asked him why he’d left, he apologised and then said he’s still single and nothing’s changed about his feelings for me and that he still loves me.’
‘And what did you say?’ There was an odd note in Griffin’s voice she couldn’t quite identify, and she frowned even though he couldn’t see her.
‘What do youthinkI said? Nothing! I was in total shock! I don’t get what all this drama has been about if he still loves me.’
For a moment there was silence, and then she continued. ‘So, anyway, we went to his house for dinner this evening. I thought we were going to a restaurant, but he’d cooked and everything. To be honest, the food was incredible – he’s still brilliant inthatdepartment, at least. His house is lovely and very modern, and he showed us this huge room which he says is Jake’s from now on. So, of course, the boy’s all excited about the idea of actually living with his father! Kenny’s made it clear he wants to co-parent in some way going forward, but it’s early days and we couldn’t exactly discuss Jake’s future while he was sitting with us.’
‘So, when are you seeing Kenny again?’
‘He’s picking us up to go out tomorrow. Like I said, he genuinely seems keen to make amends and to spend time with us – I mean, with Jake—’
‘Are you catching feelings for the man?’
Ruby winced at Griffin’s incredulous tone. ‘I wouldn’t go that far, although I won’t lie, he’s not the same Kenny that I remember. He seems... I don’t know, gentler, somehow. More fun and relaxed, and it’s not as awkward talking to him as I thought it would be.’
‘I thought you said this trip was about Jake and not about you.’ Griffin sounded grim.
‘Itis,’ she protested. ‘I’m just feeling a bit – I don’t know – overwhelmed by everything. It’s not that I believe him, exactly, but you should have seen Jake tonight. He was dancing and laughing, and he looked so happy! I’m not saying I’m ready to forgive and forget just like that, but... honestly, Griff, I don’t know what to do for the best and it issuchhard work trying to explain things to people who don’t understand the history. MissIda says Kenny is a good man and I should give him a chance to redeem himself. I love the woman, but, honestly, she’s such a hopeless romantic.’
‘Romantic?What, she actually thinks you should get back together with him?’ Griffin sounded outraged, and Ruby grimaced.
‘Who knowswhatshe thinks! That lady is determined I’m going to fall in love with someone while I’m here because, you know, this place is the original love island... Griff? Are you still there?Dammit, have I lost you again?’
Ruby groaned with frustration as the line went dead. Muttering under her breath, she punched out his number and redialled, only to hear a long, continuous beep. After a few more abortive attempts to resume the conversation, she gave up and went to bed.
20
The door to MissIda’s office was ajar, and Ruby knocked softly before poking her head around.
MissIda was seated behind her desk, and she whipped off her tortoiseshell glasses and beckoned Ruby inside with a smile and a nod towards the visitor’s chair.
‘Have a seat, Ruby. How are you this morning? Everything good with you and my sweet boy?’
‘Everything’s fine, thank you.’ Ruby paused to admire the deep magenta upholstery of the chair before sitting down and crossing her legs. ‘Jake’s upstairs finishing his book report – at least I hope he is – and I thought I’d come down for a quick chat.’
‘Is that right?’ MissIda’s face lit up with a knowing smile and her eyes twinkled with merriment. ‘I hear you met Mac yesterday. He says he bumped into you by the beach, and he seemed pretty smitten.’
Ruby felt her face burn with embarrassment, and she uncrossed her legs and tried to look unconcerned. MissIda was an out-and-out romantic of the worst kind and clearly prone to reading things into the most innocent of interactions. There was absolutely no way that Mac fancied her.
‘I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick,’ she said firmly. ‘He was simply grateful to find someone daft enough to pose for him.’
MissIda looked sceptical. ‘I don’t know, sugar. He looked plenty excited to me, saying you were the answer to his prayers and all. I told you this island brings out love, didn’t I?’
