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“MEN CANNOT BE TRUSTED unless they are watched”
Bram Stoker, Dracula
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JACK LOOKED ROUND THE tree house in his parent’s garden with satisfaction. It was the perfect seduction spot for Sophie, and he had put a lot of effort into making it just so. Battery-powered fairy lights twinkled all round the ceiling, a bottle of Prosecco stood in a bucket of melting ice, and cushions covered the floor. The music from the party should also add ambiance. It was an amazing tree house, right at the back of the garden; it was totally sheltered and private. It was also pretty unreachable once the ladder was pulled up. As long as Jack could get her up here, he was convinced she would fall into his arms.
He made his way back into the house wondering if she had arrived yet. Rose had said that Sophie and a few others were due at seven, and it was nearly seven now.
He found Rose in the kitchen. “Are your friends here yet?” He aimed for a casual tone.
Rose wasn’t fooled for a second, but she gave a vague wave in the direction of the living room. “Grace and Diana are in there,” she confirmed, “and Sophie is outside on the phone to her boyfriend giving him directions.” She took no small amount of satisfaction at the look on his face as she dropped the bombshell.
Rose knew that Jack had treated Sophie badly in the past and though she was fond of her cousin, her loyalties lay firmly with her friend.
Jack had hurt Sophie by kissing her and not calling her, and Rose was very pleased he wouldn’t get another chance to do the same again.
Sophie barrelled into the kitchen as fast as her very high heels could take her. “He’ll be here in an hour.” She glowed. “Oh, hi.” She came to an abrupt halt.
Jack was slow to collect his wits. She looked gorgeous and her legs seemed to go on forever in those heels. But she had a boyfriend now. He should stop grinning like an idiot just at the mere sight of her. He changed his features into a cool smile.
It had never occurred to him that she might meet someone else. But now he wondered how he could have been so dumb as not to think of it. Of course she would! He should have moved in much faster. He should have driven to Compass Court every weekend until she was his.
The silence stretched out as Jack and Sophie stared at each other. Rose coughed loudly and they both looked startled.
Sophie dragged her eyes back to Rose. “Yes, right, anything I can do?”
“You can take these glasses out to the terrace,” Rose handed a tray to Sophie, “and Jack, perhaps you could give Alex a hand with the music system, I don’t think it’s his forte.”
They both nodded and spent awkward moments sidestepping around each other.
Sophie felt mortified. The last time she had any communication with Jack was on Valentines’ Day when she had texted him that she wasn’t interested in going on a date with him. Did he have to look so heart-stoppingly handsome?
Two hours later, Jack’s mood had deteriorated rapidly. Sophie’s boyfriend had arrived and the two of them had been laughing and dancing together until it made him want to punch something. And now they had disappeared into the marquee where the food was and he just couldn’t face following them.
Instead he devoted himself to playing DJ for the night. He wished he had thought to invite some of his own friends but he had stupidly assumed he would be spending the evening with Sophie and hadn’t bothered. Girls kept coming up to request songs and flirt with him, but he couldn’t be bothered to flirt back more than half-heartedly.
He knew that really he should play the game better and find a gorgeous girl to dance with, and show Sophie he didn’t care. But he failed to muster any enthusiasm for the plan.
***
SOPHIE PICKED AT SOME potato salad and smiled at Torrin’s impression of some famous Scottish chef she had never heard of, but her attention was elsewhere. All she could think about was all those girls flocking around Jack, like bees to honey.
Torrin was good-looking too, she reminded herself. But he just wasn’t Jack.
Sophie and Torrin had a quiet table together at the back of the marquee, where they could hear themselves chat properly, but she could still just see Jack from where she sat and it was distracting her.
She sighed and decided she couldn’t pretend anymore.
“Torrin...” she began nervously.
He looked at her expectantly.
“Um...I really like you...”
He rolled his eyes. “Uh oh, I’ve been expecting this. The I really like you... but speech.”
Sophie felt awful. “I’m so sorry, it’s not you.”
Torrin laughed gently. “I might be new to all this dating stuff, but I believe when people normally give the it’s not you line, that it normally is you!”
Sophie opened her mouth to protest but Torrin held up one hand to stop her. “As it happens, on this occasion, I believe you. It’s Jack Parkhurst, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Sophie said in a small voice, “how did you know?”
“I’ve learned that Compass Court is a hotbed of gossip. I heard that you and Parkhurst maybe had something going, and what I’ve seen tonight is the two of you avoiding each other to extremes, yet you hardly let each other out of your sight.”
Sophie was momentarily diverted by that idea, but she shook her head. “We don’t have anything going on. But I do have feelings for him, and it wouldn’t be fair for me to keep dating you. I’m sorry.”
“Och, don’t fash yourself. I always thought you were out of my league anyways. And to be honest, lass, in those heels I can hardly reach to kiss you. You’re a giraffe right enough and I am merely human!” He teased her gently.
She whacked him on the arm. “I am not!”
They both laughed, and she looked at him with fondness. “You’re really okay with us not seeing each other anymore? I’d hate to lose you as a friend.”
“I like you a lot, Sophie,” he said sincerely, “But I don’t want a girlfriend who wishes I was someone else. I truly would like to stay friends.” He paused. “So will you go for Jack now?”
“God, no!” Sophie was alarmed at the idea. “I can’t, won’t, go there again. Even if Jack still likes me, he’s made it clear that it wouldn’t ever be serious between us. Basically he would break my heart again.”
“I see.” Torrin nodded. “Shall we keep our break-up quiet for tonight then?”
“Would you mind awfully? It seems a lot to ask of you.”
“Nae bother! I like being the envy of every man here.” Torrin smiled his handsome smile and Sophie felt a huge rush of affection for him.
“Would you be upset though if I had a crack at Felicity St John when we get back to school? She was flirting with me something bad after the rugby, and I think I might be in with a chance,” Torrin asked.
“Oh, you men! Couldn’t you even try to be a bit gutted that we’ve split up?” She gave him another playful punch. “You go for it, have a crack at Felicity if you want. I think being cool about it is the least I owe you after you’ve been so nice about the Jack thing.”
Torrin gave her another serious look, “I am gutted, I’m just good at hiding my feelings. Come on, Sophie; let’s have one more slow dance. And as we’re still pretending to be a couple,” he said with a twinkle in his eye, “I shall feel free to pinch yer arse!”