Page 22 of In The Dark

Did you still want to get dinner at some point or is it better if we don’t?

Jo chewed her lip and rocked back in her seat. She would love nothing more than to have dinner with Amelia, but the suggestion had been thrown out there before they’d spoken yesterday. In fact, Jo had suggested dinner before they’d bumped into one another at the club.

Undecided. What do you think?

She glared at the screen. A little voice inside her whispered that it wasn’t fair to dismiss Amelia all of a sudden, but Jo was still fantasising about someone she hadn’t even seen in the light, and she needed to visit Lia again soon. On the flip side, she had to question whether it was wise to spend the evening enjoying a candlelit dinner with Amelia.

Oh, you know you want to.

Jodidwant to, but she was worried that the more time they spent together, the more likely it would be that Jo would start to pull away. And that wasn’t fair to Amelia. They’d flirted a little on Saturday, that had continued yesterday, and then it had all been over the moment they’d agreed it wasn’t a good idea to get involved with one another.

Her phone buzzed.

I think that we can manage. I’m sorry if I’ve made things difficult between us after yesterday. I shouldn’t have opened my mouth.

Jo smiled faintly. Amelia hadnothingto apologise for. If Jo wasn’t such a coward, she would have told Amelia just how attracted she was to her long ago. She took a bite of her sandwich, chewing slowly as she typed her reply.

You’re right. We both agreed to not let it come between us. When were you thinking?

She sat back and watched the ellipses appear and disappear again. This weekend was fully booked for her, but midweek was a good option if Amelia was available. Jo could work around her.

This weekend?

Jo winced. Of course. The one weekend she couldn’t do.

Now, did she tell Amelia she would be at Satin, hoping to spend a few hours with Lia, or would that be better kept under wraps after their talk yesterday? While nothing had occurred, Jo didn’t believe discussing her sex life with Amelia was wise anymore.

This weekend isn’t ideal for me. I have a photography job on Saturday morning and early afternoon.

Hopefully, that would be enough.

Okay, but what about Friday or Saturday evening?

Jo groaned and took another sip of her lukewarm coffee. Perhaps it was easier to just be upfront.

I was hoping to drop by Satin on either of those nights. I’m just not sure which night yet.

Her finger hovered over the send button for a moment. She didn’t want to hurt Amelia, but she didn’t want to lie either. With a breath, she hit send.

The read receipt popped up almost instantly. Amelia was already typing.

Jo didn’t know why she was holding her breath, but she was. For some reason, what Amelia thought of her mattered more than she cared to admit.

I see. Say no more. Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you when I see you.

Shit.

Jo closed her eyes and tipped her head back against the chair, sighing. That came off cold. Dismissive. And maybe Amelia had every right to be, but Jo hated that she’d disappointed her. She hated it even more that Amelia could think she didn’t want to spend time with her.

Jo bit her lip, her fingers already moving across the screen.

Wait. That sounded terrible. I do want to have dinner with you, I really do, but I’m worried if I don’t go back to the club, I’ll miss my chance to spend time with Lia again.

There. That was the truth, laid bare. And it sounded…awful. She winced at her own message, waiting for Amelia to reply.

Please. You don’t have to explain. I’ll catch up with you soon, okay?

It was polite. It was reasonable. And it didn’t sound like Amelia at all. Not the Amelia who smiled with her eyes. Not the Amelia who touched her arm when they spoke, or who laughed too easily when Jo was around.