Page 114 of Be More Octopus

'Hmm. The two people who've been trying to get you and Jack together.'

'Exactly. You see why I'm worried now.'

'Why don't I come with you as well? I can play your adoring boyfriend.'

'Would that help?'

'It might stop Jack making a play for you, just in case he's had second thoughts. Then you wouldn't have to worry about resisting his attentions.'

Em gave it some thought. Ben being there might be a good idea. 'We're leaving late Thursday morning, and we won't be back here until Friday afternoon. It's a big ask, expecting you to give up nearly two days of your time.'

'It's a good excuse for a trip to London. Most of my training clients have cancelled their sessions this month. They're all too busy stuffing themselves with mince pies and mulled wine now we're on the run-up to Christmas, which means I've got space in my diary for a night away with you.'

CHAPTER EIGHTY

'We're 15 minutes late.' Em looked at her phone as the black cab slowly edged along the A40 in the evening traffic. 'I knew we should have left earlier.'

Nancy, Ben and Em had driven to London together that morning, and Lucy had caught the train down from Birmingham at lunchtime. They'd all met at Nancy's flat earlier in the afternoon, and now they were heading to the gallery.

'Relax.' Nancy put her hand out to still Em's twitchy leg. 'If you've won, they can't start without you, and if you haven't won, it won't matter.' The voice of reason, as usual.

Em's phone pinged. 'It's Jack.' She looked at the text.

WHERE ARE YOU?

It wasn't surprising that he was wondering where she was. She texted back:

Stuck in traffic. Will be there in 5 mins.

The reply was almost immediate.

We need to talk. Can we go for a drink afterwards? Xx

Lucy peered over Em's shoulder. 'Wanting to go for a drink is an excellent sign. And he's put kisses at the end of it.' She looked thrilled.

'He might have done that without thinking.' Em was keen not to read too much into it.

'Ignore it,' Ben said.

'Is there something going on that I don't know about?' Nancy looked puzzled. 'Surely you want to encourage him?'

Em frowned. 'No, it's over between Jack and me. The last thing I want to do is give him the idea that I want us to get back together.'

'He might think you're just playing hard to get. Men enjoy the chase,' said Lucy.

Nancy raised her eyebrows. 'It's a bit late for chasing. He's already caught her once.'

'Nancy!' Em looked horrified.

'Well, it's true.'

They spent the next few minutes in silence. Em tensed as their taxi pulled up outside the gallery. There were so many butterflies in her stomach she thought she might be sick.

Ben got out of the cab first and held the door open as Nancy and Lucy emerged onto the pavement, and went inside. He leaned into the taxi and took Em's hand. 'We'll both go in together. That's what we agreed.'

'Yes. OK.' As she climbed out of the taxi, she could see Jack just inside the door. Had he had his hair cut differently? He looked smart in a suit with an open-necked blue shirt, the same colour as the one in the portrait. The one that made those eyes look so appealing. Stop thinking like that.

'It'll be fine.' Ben kissed her on the cheek.