Page 25 of You Only Live Once
‘I think it’s a shame. They’ve missed out on you for all these years. People don’t live forever.’
‘No, they don’t. I don’t think they feel they have missed out on me, but I do appreciate you saying it.’
‘Then it really is their loss if they can’t even understand what they’ve missed.’
‘Are you complimenting me?’ One side of his generous mouth raised in a teasing smile.
‘Don’t be ridiculous. I know you of old, and I’m well aware that you don’t need any more compliments than you already get.’
‘Who says I get any?’
I almost snorted my champagne. ‘Valiant attempt at modesty, but let’s just take it as written that we both know you were always the village heart-throb, and if the gossip I overheard the other day is anything to go by, nothing’s changed. Obviously none of them know what a pain in the arse you really are.’
He gave me an even look. ‘Is that so?’
‘Yep. As you said, you spent a lot of time around my house growing up, being Felix’s best friend and my parents liked you, although God knows why.’
‘Because I’m delightful, obviously.’
‘Well, you had them fooled. But I didn’t need warning to stay away from you. The trail of broken hearts around the village streets was enough. Plus, you were just so sure of yourself.’
‘Quite the opposite, actually.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I don’t think I was at all sure of myself. I knew who I was supposed to be, and what I was supposed to be, but I don’t think I really began to discover who I was until I moved away to London to pursue the life I wanted, very much without the blessing of my family. It was still a struggle then and things only became clearer when I moved abroad and had the absolute freedom to explore the person I could be, the person I wanted to be. As for the rest, you’re probably right. And I don’t blame you for not being interested in me, apart from that one night at the fete.’ His eyes twinkled mischievously in the low light.
I sipped my drink and disappeared behind the glass momentarily as a means of escape.
A lazy smile appeared on Jack’s face as I did so. ‘But the rest of it? That was all bravado. I’m surprised Felix hasn’t told you. He worked it out years before. I think that’s why we were such good friends and still are now. I never had to pretend with Felix. I could just be myself, and when I acted too much of a dick, he would tell me.’
‘That definitely sounds like Felix. I’m glad you’ve found yourself now.’
‘Me too.’
‘So when are you going to go and see your parents?’
‘I think I’ve put it off as long as I can. I’m going to have to bite the bullet and just go.’ He quickly finished his drink in a gulp before replacing the glass on the coaster. Splaying his hands out on the table, he studied them for a moment before looking back at me. ‘I don’t suppose you’d consider coming with me, would you?’
‘Me? Why would you want me with you?’
‘Moral support?’
‘I’m not sure I’d know what to say to them.’
‘That makes two of us. It’s OK if you don’t want to. Believe me, I really do understand!’ he chuckled.
I lifted my glass, thinking, as I took a sip of the cool amber liquid, the bubbles tickling my nose. Jack had agreed to come with me to the premiere, assuming I decided to go, with little protestation, and that was a much bigger deal than just going to a house. All right, it was a bloody big house, but it was still someone’s home rather than the circus of a major film premiere. As usual, the thought of leaving the security of my four walls wrapped itself around me and slowly knotted itself in my stomach. But he was asking me a favour, and I didn’t feel I could turn it down.
‘OK, I’ll come.’
Jack had been studying his long fingers, still resting on the table. At my words, his head snapped up and the intense green eyes, wide with surprise, met mine.
‘You don’t have to look quite so shocked.’ I laughed. ‘I’m not that bad.’ OK, I was that bad, but that didn’t mean I had to admit it outright.
‘No! I’m just… fine, I am shocked. But in a good way. In a really good way.’
‘Nice save.’ I tilted my glass towards him in a gesture of acknowledgement.
