Page 57 of Things We Need to Say (Second Chance Love Stories #2)

She nodded, but her face was pale. ‘They’re going to bring him in for questioning. Oh, Jay!’ She slumped into one of the plastic chairs and he sat down next to her, resisting the urge to put his arm around her. ‘I don’t know what to do. I can’t go back there and I’ve nowhere else to go.’

‘Of course you do. You can stay with me. In the spare bedroom, of course, or if you’re not comfortable with that I’m sure my nan will put you up. She thinks the world of you, you know.’

‘No, I’d rather stay with you.’

‘Then you shall. Are you okay to leave?’

Emma stood up. ‘Yes. Let’s get out of here before they bring him in.’

* * *

Emma sat on the sofa, her legs curled up to the side of her, the gas-flame fire flickering and lulling her into sleepiness. She knew she would have to get up and go to bed soon, but the thought of sleeping and possibly reliving tonight in her dreams put her off.

‘Do you want another cup of tea?’

Emma shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I suppose I should try to get some sleep. If I can sleep that is.’ She paused. ‘I’m supposed to be in the office tomorrow, but I’m not sure if I can face it.’

‘I doubt they’ll expect you to come in when they find out what’s happened.’

She nodded. ‘All my stuff’s there. I’ve got nothing with me. Not even my phone. He swiped it from my hand when I tried to answer your call, and I didn’t get a chance to pick it up. I just ran.’

‘Speak to work in the morning and, if they can make sure he isn’t around, I’ll go and get your things. Hopefully I’ll find your phone, too.’

‘You’d do that?’

‘Of course I will. But I’d prefer it if he wasn’t there. I don’t think I could be responsible for my actions if he was.’

‘Thank you, Jay. I really appreciate everything you’re doing for me.’

‘There’s no need for thanks. I just wish it hadn’t happened in the first place.’

‘Me too.’ She yawned. ‘I think I’ll try to get some sleep.’

‘The spare bed is all made up for you. Sleep is probably the best thing.’

‘Yes, I just hope I don’t have nightmares.’

‘Well, if you need anything at all, whatever the time, just give me a shout and I’ll be there.’

‘Thanks, Jay.’ She paused. ‘There’s one thing I don’t get about tonight.’

‘What’s that?’

‘Why did you come looking for me?’

He shrugged. ‘Instinct, I suppose. I knew it wasn’t like you not to answer my call when you knew I was expecting you. So I just assumed that something was wrong and that you might need my help.’

‘And so you dropped everything to come for me.’

‘Well, yes.’

‘I’m glad you did, Jay. That means so much.’

* * *

Despite waking with a jolt several times throughout the night and having strange dreams, Emma woke the next morning with a sense of relief. She was safe and lying in the spare bedroom of her former home. Not the staff accommodation, where Nick could be waiting for her.

There was a knock on the door and Jay walked in with a tray of coffee and toast.

‘Oh, Jay, you didn’t have to do that. But thank you.’

‘I’ve got my phone here too in case you want to call work.’

‘Oh, yes, I’ll need to phone in before my shift starts.’

‘I’ll leave you to it, then. I’ve got to pop out for a little while, so you’ve got the place to yourself to shower and whatnot, but I’m around later if you want to arrange a time for me to pick up your stuff. I’m sure you’ll feel a lot better when you’re wearing different clothes.’

‘That would be great. Thanks.’

Emma’s hand trembled as she dialled the number for the hotel and asked to be put through to Faye. It took a while for her to explain what had happened, but Faye was appalled at what she’d been through at the hands of Nick.

‘Rest assured, Emma, we will conduct a thorough investigation into this. I won’t stand for my staff being assaulted, especially by other members of staff. He’ll be suspended while we investigate and told to make other living arrangements.’

‘Thank you.’

Emma was relieved when she put the phone down. She’d been given a week off work while Nick was being investigated and she would ask Jay if he could pick up her things later that afternoon.

Jay. She sighed as she thought about him. She would always be grateful for how considerate he’d been last night, and that he’d cared enough to come and find her.

Later that afternoon, Jay returned with her belongings and she changed into fresh clothes, then she went back into the living room and sat down on the sofa opposite to where Jay was sitting.

‘Feeling better?’ he asked.

‘Much.’ Emma paused. ‘I’m really sorry if I’m a burden to you, Jay. I’ll find somewhere else to live as soon as I can. Even if Nick isn’t around anymore, I can’t face going back to the staff accommodation.’

‘I don’t blame you, Em. And you’re not a burden. There’s no need to find somewhere else as you’re always welcome here.’

‘I’m not sure, Jay. It’s very kind of you, but we’re not together now so it will probably just confuse things.’

‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about last night.’

‘It is?’ Hope flared within her.

‘Yes, but after what happened it wasn’t the right time for a conversation about the state of our relationship.’

‘Maybe it wasn’t then.’ Emma could feel her heart pounding, hoping that Jay would tell her what she wanted to hear.

‘I know you feel I took you for granted throughout our relationship,’ he began, ‘especially during the competition. It’s something I bitterly regret.

I wish I could turn the clock back and change the way that I acted.

And I want you to know that I do love you.

Very much. And I don’t want to be without you.

Life without you has been utterly miserable. ’

Emma nearly cheered at his words, but she couldn’t push her own feelings under the carpet. She needed to explain too.

‘It’s been miserable for me too. But I realise now that I rather acted in haste. I was hurt and my instinct was to protect myself, so I ran away.’

‘I made you feel that you weren’t good enough for me.

But if anything, it’s the other way round.

I’ve always felt so at ease with you. You really get me and you’ve always understood that my ambition is a big part of me.

You made me feel safe and I thought you’d always be around, so I neglected your needs.

I realise now that I needed to put the work into our relationship to make sure you always knew how much you mean to me. ’

Emma felt the tears well up in her eyes and blinked them back.

This wasn’t the time for tears — it was time to be brave.

‘Well, you certainly proved that last night. But it takes two to make a relationship work, Jay. And I’m prepared to put the work in too, that’s if you’re willing to give us another go. ’

Jay sprang up from the sofa, sat down beside her and cupped her face with his hands.

‘Oh, Em! Of course I’m willing. That’s what last night was all about. I said it was a meal to thank you for all the help you’d given me, but really I just wanted the opportunity to talk to you, to tell you how I really feel.’

Her eyes widened. ‘Diva’s? I’d forgotten all about that. What will Tia say about your abandoned meal?’

Jay laughed. ‘Tia’s gone away, so she won’t be saying anything. Besides, Liz and I are now officially tenants, so we can do what we like. Although I left in such a rush that I had to go there first thing this morning to tidy everything away.’

‘I wondered where you’d gone.’ She leaned in and kissed him gently. Their kiss deepened and she felt her whole body tingling. Before they got carried away, she pulled back. ‘So we’re back on, then?’

He smiled. ‘If you’ll have me.’

‘Oh, I’ll have you, all right.’