Forward

Chapter Seven

It's only been five minutes since Jo and Anna left.

I wonder what she's thinking? Jo, I mean.

I can only hazard a guess that Anna is excited to finally have us both together at the same time. Whereas Jo?.. I have no idea.

Maybe she is looking forward to seeing me again?

Maybe she's just happy to have her case back..

Maybe I'm just overthinking things again?!

Fuck it, I'll give my mum a quick call now instead of later. I've got a little time to kill and besides, I'm not willing to sit here alone with my thoughts for any longer than I have to.

"Hero! Fiennes! Tiffin!?"

I blink blankly at the screen, my expression flat and moody as my mother comes into focus.

"Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?!"

"Maybe because I don't?" I answer her with attitude.

As much as I try to steer the convo away, my mother somehow manages to always bring it back to Jo for the next ten minutes before I finally give up and call it a day after having about as much as I can take and promising to call again, when I can.

I don't know why my mum has to read into these things more than what she needs to.. Why can't she accept the fact that, just because Jo was in my room doesn't automatically mean anything is going to come of it.

I tried my best to explain about the mix up at the airport, again, she didn't believe me. She's stubborn. And thanks to her, so am I.

I glance at my watch, realising I still have another 10 minutes or so. Maybe I could go and see Anna first? I'm sure she won't mind. Then again, maybe not.. I had kinda hoped to see Jo alone again before dinner.. Even though the thought alone makes me nervous.

But what good is being nervous when we're about to be filming closely together for the next few months?

Next thing I know, I'm outside her door. And after knocking lightly, my chest becomes tight and suddenly I realise, I have no idea what I am going to say when it opens.

"Just a minute!" I hear her muffled voice from somewhere inside and beyond the door, before it clicks open seconds later.

"Can I help you?" Jo's now familiar face greets me with a knowing smirk.

When I say nothing, she steps forward and places the tips of her fingers under my chin, lifting it up.

Shit, how embarrassing..

"You.. Look." I quickly begin before getting lost for words. I had wanted to take the attention away from my previously gaping mouth that I didn't even realise was open until she had closed it..

"Not bad, eh? Considering I only had like, thirty minutes.." She giggles.

"Yeah, not bad." I agree, swallowing hard.

"Well.. I'd invite you in but.." She pulls her phone from her bag and checks the time. "We'd better be going."

Still lost for words, I nod and step aside, allowing her room to come out into the hallway and shut the door behind her.

She turns to face me, tucking some hair behind her ear whilst smiling and looking me up and down.

"I don't bite!" She laughs, observing my careful yet increasingly obvious distance.

I shift my gaze nervously, not really knowing where to look myself.

"You don't scrub up too bad yourself, you know?" She giggles and loops her arm through mine.