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“I don’t know. It depends on how long you intend to stay. I’m not going to charge you rent if you’re only going to be here a couple of days, but if it turns into more…” Hayden had no idea how to handle this.
Ashok watched as he swirled the water in his glass before speaking. “I think we might have got off on the wrong foot earlier. I was tired from travelling, and you had this sprung on you at short notice. If I’d have had more time, I could have found something else.”
“Look, I don’t mind you staying here. It helps me and you out, not to mention I’ll get grief from Seb and Dom if I throw you out.”
Hayden watched as Ashok bristled. Shit! That’s not what he meant.
“Not that I’m doing that,” he blurted. “But first, I have to ask you what happened?”
Hayden gestured to the livid bruise on Ashok’s cheek. “I don’t remember seeing that earlier. Did you fall in the bathroom? Is everything OK?”
Ashok lifted his hand to finger the bruise and winced. It looked painful.
“It’s nothing.” Ashok stood, clearly not wanting to talk about it, but before he could leave, Hayden held his wrist, noticing the soft skin beneath his fingers. Ashok snatched his hand away, cradling it to his chest.
“I know we don’t know each other, but that’s not nothing, Ashok.” Hayden was concerned. It looked fresh and angry and painful.
“You’re right; we don’t know each other, and it’s none of your business.” He stood at the sink, his back to Hayden.
There was that attitude again, and Hayden couldn’t blame him this time. He was being intrusive. It wasn’t any of his business. If Ashok wanted to tell him about it, he could, but Hayden got the feeling this maybe was the reason he’d moved away.
“I’m sorry, you don’t have to tell me. Please sit, though. Let’s talk about what we’re going to do and order some food. I’m hungry, and I really can’t be arsed to cook tonight.”
Ashok sat, and Hayden pulled out his phone, bringing up the food delivery app.
“What do you fancy? Pizza? Chicken? You name it.”
“Is there anywhere that’s vegetarian? I don’t really eat much meat.”
“Erm, yeah, I’m sure there’s something around.” Hayden was not a vegetarian, and he had no idea where to get it from. Nando’s was out, as were the rest of the burger joints he usually ordered from.
“I don’t mind a veg pizza if there’s somewhere that does those.”
Fortunately, there was a place close by that Hayden used. “What size?” he asked, tapping away on his phone.
“Just a small one, please. I’m really not that hungry, actually.” Hayden completed the order and watched as Ashok glanced around the room nervously. Gone was the feisty man that had argued with him earlier, replaced by this almost apologetic man. What on earth had happened while he was at work?
Hayden didn’t know him enough to pry, but if Seb or Dom had acted this way, he’d be finding out why. The guy almost seemed scared, and Hayden hated to think it was because of him.
Since leaving home and moving up to Chester, he’d become a different person, more caring, more considerate of others’ feelings. He was the person his friends came to when they needed help or advice.
The silence hung heavy in the room, though, neither knowing what to say.
“What type of dance do you do?”
“Why a snake?”
Both of them spoke at the same time, and Hayden was pleased to see a small smile flit across Ashok’s face.
“Ballet,” Ashok replied. “I love ballet, but I do all types. I’m more contemporary and a little Bollywood. It’s expected, you know?”
Hayden watched entranced as he spoke, his damaged face lighting up. He must love what he did to move so far from home to pursue his passion.
“I think that’s what Seb has taken me on for, anyway. Predominantly ballet. I can’t wait to start,” he continued as he pulled his phone out of his hoodie pocket. “I should call him or drop him a text.”
“It’s OK,” Hayden said reassuringly. “I spoke with him before I left. He said to take a day to settle in, take some time to familiarise yourself with everything.”
Seb had popped into the coffee shop before he’d left for the day, scolding Hayden for his behaviour.
