Page 39 of Be More Octopus

Em was walking to Jack's car the following morning when a text from Lucy arrived.

How was your Netflix and Chilli session !?!!

There was no way Em was going to tell her about the ironing lesson. Lucy would be on the phone straight away if she did. The rest of the evening had been enjoyable but not in the way Lucy was thinking. Em and Jack seemed to have made an unspoken agreement to keep physically apart, sitting opposite one another at the dinner table and then watching the new Swedish crime drama from separate sofas. Em typed out a short reply.

Nothing to report

She could see Jack strolling over to the car while she was texting. 'Hello, you. Busy?'

Em noticed his perfectly ironed shirt and started to feel hot again.

'Lucy's checking up on me.'

Off to the beach now for another portrait session with Jack and the wreck. Speak later.

Jack and Em had agreed that featuring the wreck in his portrait made sense, given the important part it had played in Jack's career choice.

'No sketchbook?' asked Jack as they got into his car.

'No. Just photos this morning. This breeze will play havoc with the paper. And I thought you might feel self-conscious standing in a public place for a long time.'

'Thank you,' he said, easing the car into gear and setting off up the drive.

As soon as they'd parked in the harbour car park, Em headed towards the beach. Some children were playing around the wreck.

'Shall we go to Mary's while we wait for them to finish?' Jack asked.

'We could ask them to move?'

'No. Let them enjoy it. And the sun might come out soon.'

'I'm hoping it doesn't. It would cast strong shadows. They'd hide your handsome features.' Why did you say that? You're supposed to be getting him to relax. Don't make it awkward again now!

Jack raised his eyebrows.

'Light cloud cover is perfect for portraiture.' Em continued, hoping he'd forget about that last remark.

They headed back up the steps to the cafe.

'Nancy tells me that the grand unveiling of her portrait is all planned.' Jack sounded like he wanted to change the subject.

'Yes. She's got over 40 people on the guest list. She has given you your invite, hasn't she?'

'Yes. I'm on drink duties.'

'What does that involve?'

'Making sure everyone is kept topped up.'

'It seems a bit unfair to give you a job.'

'I don't mind. I don't know most of them, and the ones I do know will probably be amazed at how much I've grown. They always remember me as the cute little boy in short trousers, even though they've met me several times since then.'

'I'm sorry. If you want to be elsewhere, I can cover the drinks instead.'

'No, you can't. You're the star of the show. And I want to be there to support you.'

That was a relief. Apart from Nancy, Jack would be the only person Em knew at the party. When Nancy had shown her the guest list, there were a few names she'd recognised - people who'd popped into Dashford Grange for a chat with Nancy - but Em hadn't spoken to them except in a superficial 'Hello, nice to meet you' way.