Page 56 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

Jay couldn’t stop thinking about Emma. He didn’t want it to be over between them. Couldn’t stand the loneliness of only having her in his life as a friend.

These last weeks had made him realise just how much she had supported him and how much he’d taken that for granted.

She had every right to walk away from him.

But this had been a massive wake-up call and he wanted to do something to convince her that her actions had made a difference.

That he had changed. Nan was right, he needed to fight for her.

And if he tried to win her back and it failed, then he would accept that he had done his best and walk away, if that was what she wanted.

The only problem was that he was no good at big romantic gestures.

The only thing he knew how to do was to cook.

Not that that had worked for him the last time he had tried it, he thought, remembering the night that Emma had moved out.

What if he cooked for her at Diva’s, somewhere on more neutral ground than inviting her round to the flat.

Maybe he could ask her as a thank you for all the help she had given him recently?

At least then he might have a chance to tell her what was in his heart.

Before he could change his mind, he rang her.

* * *

Emma was pondering what to wear after her shift.

Jay had asked her to come over to Diva’s, and she had happily accepted.

They needed to talk. Who knew what the outcome of this evening would be, but everyone was telling her that they needed to listen to each other.

And maybe they were right. In their previous conversations, both she and Jay had been too busy trying to get across their own points of view to actually understand what the other was saying.

So tonight she was going to listen and, if she did walk away at the end of it, then it would be for the right reasons.

She checked her watch and realised she’d spent far too long faffing over what she was going to wear. If she didn’t hurry up, she was going to be very late.

* * *

Jay straightened the knives and forks on the table for the umpteenth time and stood back.

He knew he was fussing, but he couldn’t help it.

Tonight was so very important to him and the outcome could change the rest of his life.

He checked his watch. Emma would be here soon.

He went back into the kitchen to make sure that everything was ready, even though he’d planned tonight’s meal meticulously and knew that he’d done everything he needed to.

At least for now. The toughest part would actually be when he was in front of Emma, speaking his truth.

If she’d give him a second chance, he would prove to her that he truly loved her.

That since she’d left him, his life had only been half worth living.

Jay checked his watch again. She was late. Emma was rarely late for anything.

A knot of fear tightened in his stomach. What if she wasn’t coming after all?

* * *

Emma locked her bedroom door behind her, conscious that she was going to be late. As she rushed through the kitchen, Nick stood up from one of the dining chairs and blocked her way. She had successfully managed to avoid him over the last few weeks, but it looked as though her luck had run out.

‘Hi, Emma. Long time no see.’ He smiled down at her and took a step towards her.

She took a step back.

‘Um, yes, Nick, hi. I’ve been very busy recently.’

‘So I’ve been hearing. Helping out your ex, I believe.’

‘And his business partner who’s my friend,’ she said defensively. Although why she felt the need to justify herself to him, she didn’t know. ‘I’m sorry, Nick, I’m just on my way out and I’m already late.’

‘Are you avoiding me, Emma?’

There was a sinister note in his voice that she’d never heard before and Emma suddenly felt afraid.

She became uncomfortably aware of how empty the accommodation was.

‘I’m not avoiding you, Nick. But perhaps we could catch up another time.

Like I said, I’m on my way out and I’m late, so if you could just let me pass? ’

He ignored her request. ‘You look very nice. Going somewhere special?’

‘I’m just meeting someone.’

‘Meeting Jay?’ he asked.

‘Well, yes, I am as a matter of fact.’

‘He’s a very lucky man.’ Nick stepped forward.

‘But he doesn’t deserve you. If you were my girlfriend, I would never neglect you the way he has.

’ Again she stepped backwards, and realised her mistake as she found her back against the wall with only inches between her and Nick.

She could smell beer on his breath and caught a whiff of stale sweat.

She stepped to the side, but he blocked her once more.

‘Nick, please let me pass.’ She cringed as she heard the fear in her voice.

‘But I haven’t seen you for ages. Can’t you at least spare me five minutes?’

‘Tomorrow,’ she said, trying to pacify him. ‘Let’s arrange a time tomorrow. Like I said, I need to go.’

‘But I don’t want to wait until tomorrow. I’m here now and you’ve been avoiding me for long enough.’

She was about to push him out of her way and make a run for it when her phone rang in her pocket. She quickly grabbed it and glanced at the screen. Jay. She tried to swipe the screen to answer his call, but didn’t get a chance as Nick knocked the phone out of her hand. It crashed to the floor.

‘Nick! What are you doing?’

She began to tremble.

‘Don’t fight this, Emma. You know you’ve wanted me since the moment we met.’

‘And you know that’s not true.’ She tried to remain calm even though now she was very scared. He didn’t look or sound like a man who could be reasoned with.

He pushed her against the wall, leaving no room for escape, and then his hands were all over her. She was repulsed by his touch.

‘Get off me!’

She attempted to push him away, but he just laughed and leaned in to kiss her.

* * *

Emma was really late now. Jay was torn between convincing himself she wasn’t coming and thinking it unlike her to not turn up without letting him know.

Even if it was just a text message. He decided to call her.

If she told him she wasn’t coming he’d be disappointed — more than disappointed — but at least he’d have an answer.

His throat went dry as he listened to the number ring out.

Then it went dead. Had she rejected his call?

It wasn’t at all like Emma to ignore him, especially as she had agreed to come, and knew he would be waiting for her.

He was hit with a terrible suspicion that something was very wrong.

Without thinking, Jay grabbed his keys and rushed out to his van.

Instinct told him he needed to get to Emma as soon as he could.

Jay was in a state of near panic by the time he reached the hotel, his eyes scanning the pavements as he drove.

And then he spotted her dashing down the road towards the Tube station, glancing over her shoulder from time to time as she ran.

There was a look of sheer terror on her face.

He pulled in towards the pavement and called to her through the open window.

Emma turned at the sound of her name. Fear was written all over her face, but it was quickly replaced by relief as she realised who it was.

‘Jay!’ She rushed over to the van, wrenched the door open and threw herself inside, slamming the door behind her. ‘Can you just drive, please? As quickly as possible and lock the doors too?’

Although he was desperate to know what was wrong, Jay did as he was asked.

‘Where do you want me to drive to?’

‘Anywhere as long as it’s far away from here.’

He glanced at her. She was breathing heavily and her blouse was in a state of disarray. She normally looked so neat. When her breathing had slowed down, he asked, ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, I think so.’ But her voice was wobbly. ‘At least I am now.’

‘Did someone hurt you?’ He tried to keep his eyes on the road and not on her.

She nodded. ‘Nick.’

Rage flared inside him.

‘Do you need to go to hospital?’

‘No, I’m fine. He scared me more than anything. Although...’ She paused. ‘I bit his lip, which was enough to make my escape. He’s the one who’s injured.’

‘So he attacked you?’

‘He wouldn’t let me past, pinned me against the wall, put his hands where I didn’t want them to go.’ He glanced over and saw her shudder. ‘If I hadn’t managed to fight back, I don’t like to think about what might have happened.’

Neither did he.

‘So, tell me what you want to do?’

In almost a whisper she said. ‘I want to report him to the police. I suspect this isn’t the first time he’s tried something like this and I doubt it will be the last.’

‘Okay, that’s fine. And if I’m being honest, I think that’s the right thing to do. I’ll drive you.’

‘Thank you.’

‘Do you want me to come in with you, or would you rather do this on your own?’

‘I’d like you to come with me, Jay, if you don’t mind?’

‘Of course I don’t mind, and I’ll wait for you until it’s all over.’

‘Thanks, Jay.’

* * *

An hour later, Jay’s backside was numb from sitting on the hard plastic chair while he waited for Emma.

He wished he could have been by her side during her interview.

She’d been through enough tonight. He was so angry with Nick that he wanted to go round and smash his face in.

But he knew he had to leave it to the police and hope that they would be able to do their job properly.

The sound of a door opening and footsteps approaching alerted him to Emma’s return. His instinct was to hug her, but he stopped himself just in time as he realised she might not welcome physical contact right now. Instead he smiled at her.

‘You okay?’