Page 84 of Love like the (Real) Reel Thing
“She sounds like she might be related to mine,” Jess had joked.
Holly had looked surprised. “Maybe we should do one of those Ancestry DNA tests?”
Now Jess scanned the hall, which was filling quickly with locals. At the top was a small platform where a few chairs and a microphone on a stand had been placed.
As she looked carefully through the crowd, she spotted Ted near the front talking with Páidí, Sylvia and some of the other business owners. She sighed, wishing for the hundredth time that so much wasn’t resting on the outcome of this evening.
Anthony came into the room and Jess realised it was the first time she’d seen him in anything except the formal three-piece Victorian-style suits he wore for work. In dark-blue trousers and a corduroy blazer, he reminded her of her old maths teacher from school. Maybe he’d scare them all into submission, she thought with a smile. Unlikely, though.
“Thanks for coming, Jess,” Anthony said, approaching her.
She nodded. “This’ll be fine, I think. Ted just wants his day in court.”
They chatted for another few minutes as more people filed into the hall, the noise level rising as every seat was filled, those who couldn’t get one standing around the walls.
Beside her, Anthony took a breath. “The sooner we start the better, I suppose.”
“Good luck.” Jess watched as he walked up onto the platform and sat down. After a few moments, Ted joined him. Jess watched as Anthony tried to talk with him but, judging by Ted’s body language, he was wasting his time.
“We haven’t started yet, then.”
Jess whipped around to see Adam right beside her.
“No.” Her eyes automatically slid past him but there was no sign of his girlfriend. “I think they’re just about to.” She glanced at the extra chairs on the platform. “Are you supposed to be up there too?”
“Not yet.” Adam puffed out a breath. “Do me a favour? Come outside for a minute?”
“Why?” Her anxiety about the evening spiked. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He sounded exasperated. “Please?”
“Fine.”
Jess’s pulse picked up as she followed him out of the hall, and a short way down the street. “Why are we here?” she asked when he stopped.
He shoved a hand back through his hair. “I feel like we got off on the wrong foot when I arrived down here to work. Let’s face it, Jess, it wouldn’t be the first time, would it?” When she said nothing, he added quietly, “I just thought we should talk.”
She stared at the ground as if it could supply an answer. Why did he always do this to her? How could they move on when he insisted on dragging up the past?
“There’s nothing to talk about, Adam.”
She could feel his eyes on her.
“I disagree.”
“What then?” She looked back up. “What exactly do you want to talk about?”
“I want to know how you are.”
This was a waste of time. “I told you earlier I was fine, remember?”
“I’m not talking about the riding incident.” His gaze gentled. “I didn’t forget, Jess.”
She swallowed painfully, her eyes blurring.
“I need to get back, Adam.”
The community hall had quietened, so she figured the meeting had already started. Not trusting herself to look at him, she stepped past him but he caught her hand, twining his fingers through hers.
