‘I smell food.’
She grinned at his half-smile. ‘I can feed you if you’re that tired. Even do aeroplane noises like you do for Archie with his bottle.’
His grin widened. ‘Don’t tempt me.’
Beth averted her eyes as his opened. She raised her fork to her mouth as he shifted and took his plate.
‘Thanks for dinner,’ he said softly. It seemed as though he was going to say something else, but his head lowered as his hand lifted to support his chin.
Immediately, Beth placed both their plates on the floor and shuffled closer to his side. ‘Hey, it’s okay.’
‘It’s just . . . It was so . . . Annette was . . .’ He sighed slowly and heavily.
Beth started to rub circles on the top of his back, hoping to soothe his weary soul. It was obvious Ryan’s accident was affecting him more than he had said. ‘It’ll be okay.’
‘I don’t want the centre getting negative reviews because Ryan bruised his arm on my watch. I feel terrible, Beth.’
She pressed her head against his shoulder for a moment. ‘It’s not your fault. Annette will calm down and see it for the accident it was.’
‘I’ll find out at the meeting, but I won’t hold my breath. Jeez, you should have heard her. It’s like all that matters in her life is Ryan being in the Olympics one day.’ He raked a hand through his copper locks, then turned his head to gaze her way.
Beth stopped stroking his back. ‘I guess it’s their dream.’
Spencer scoffed. ‘Her dream.’
‘You don’t think it’s Ryan’s?’
Flopping back into the sofa, Spencer sighed. ‘Ryan told his mum he didn’t want to swim, all because I told him he should let his mum know how he feels. Annette didn’t listen. She just blamed me for putting the idea in his head.’ He groaned quietly. ‘I feel absolutely shattered.’
Beth lifted a plate to his lap. ‘Eat something, and I’ll run you a bath.’
Spencer sniffed his armpit. ‘Trying to tell me something?’
It was good to see his humour was still in there. ‘Trying to help you relax.’
He glanced at his dinner. ‘I’m too wound up.’
‘Do you want me to show you one of the techniques I learned?’
A droopy smile appeared just before he nodded. ‘Go on then.’
Beth removed his plate again and told him to lie flat as she slid to the floor at his side.
‘I feel better already.’
She nudged his foot. ‘Close your eyes and follow the instructions.’
‘Yes, Miss Horton,’ he whispered.
‘We’re going to start with your feet, then work our way up to your head.’
‘Are you going to massage me?’
Beth smiled to herself, then thought it best not to think about her hands all over him. ‘Sort of.’
Spencer yawned, stretching his limbs. ‘Okay, I’m ready.’
‘I want you to scrunch your toes, then release, then take a moment to think about the difference between tension and relaxation.’
