Page 118 of Be More Octopus

'No, you didn't ruin it. It's me who should be sorry. It's my fault.'

Jack laughed.

'What's so funny?'

'It's just a phrase I never heard from Isabella. Hell would have had to freeze over before she would ever admit to being responsible for any problems.'

'I'm not Isabella.'

'I know. But seeing Connor standing half naked in your hallway made me think I'd misjudged you. It's hard to learn to trust again.'

'What made you decide you could trust me again after all this time? You didn't get a chance to tell me that earlier.'

'The portrait. You captured the real me - the vulnerable, lonely one. Not many people see that side of me. They only see a successful academic with a beautiful wife who appears to have everything. Isabella just saw me as someone she could use. But you … you saw the lost soul inside.'

'Perhaps it's because I'm a lost soul too.' Em reached out and held his hand.

Jack squeezed it. 'I was so upset when I saw you with Karl, Ben, or whatever he's called now. It made me realise I wanted you back.'

'Lucy said she explained about me and Ben or, rather, that there isn't a me and Ben.'

Jack nodded. 'It didn't look like that when you walked into the gallery with him earlier.'

'I'm sorry. It seemed a good way to stop me from throwing myself at you. I didn't think you cared about me any more. '

'I thought it was the sort of trick Isabella would play. But Lucy explained. I guess I'm to blame for not being willing to talk. And I do care about you - a lot. I never stopped caring.'

She snuggled into him, feeling his heart beat faster. 'So does that mean I'm forgiven?'

'There's nothing to forgive.' He put his arm around her. 'Come on. I'm dying to know - did you win?'

'You weren't there, so I can't tell you. I'm sworn to secrecy.' Em had a mischievous look in her eye.

'But I would've been there if it hadn't been for the slight misunderstanding.'

'Is that how we're going to refer to that incident with Ben?'

'I'd prefer it if we didn't refer to it again. I promise I won't tell a soul the result until the TV programme's broadcast.'

'You could always ask Clara?' Em felt Jack's body tense. Before this went any further, she needed to know where he stood with Clara. Lucy's text had said it sounded like nothing was going on between them, but Em wanted to know for sure.

'I'm trying to avoid her.'

'It didn't sound like you've been avoiding her.'

'I promise I have.'

'But she said she saw you on Tuesday?'

'She did. At an event at the British Museum. There were lots of people there. She asked me to go for a meal afterwards, but I said no.'

'I thought you liked her?'

'I used to. But I didn't like her attitude to something that happened when we were in Italy. I've been keeping my distance ever since.'

He didn't look as if he wanted to elaborate further. Em decided not to push it. Jack hadn't been using Clara to take his mind off Em. That was all that mattered.

'So, did you win?' Jack was still eager to know.