Second Chance at First Love

by Zoe Allison

  Eva smiled. “It’s really clever that you know that. You must be good at spelling. You and your mummy will have loads of fun at the concert. I wish I were going. I bet they sing my favourite one, Girls Rock.” Eva made a rock sign with her hand and pretended to head-bang.

  Adele giggled. “I love that one.”

  Eva glanced up and spotted Damon smiling at them as he took out a bag of bird feed at the water’s edge and handed some to Sam.

  Sam threw some feed onto the water. “Quack, quack, duckies.”

  “That’s right, Sam, quack, quack,” Damon said.

  Adele took some of the feed, tossing a sprinkling to the ducks and passing Eva a handful.

  Eva scattered her feed onto the water. “You know Adele, your dad and I used to come here during the school holidays to learn water sports.”

  Adele opened her mouth. “Did you? Daddy, can you surf?”

  Damon laughed. “It wasn’t that sort of water sport. There isn’t any surf on a lake, sweet pea. We did boating and canoeing.”

  Eva frowned. “Except I missed the last couple of days because I broke my foot.”

  “How did you do that?” Adele asked.

  “I walked into a chair.”

  Damon laughed. “I forgot about that.”

  “Hey,” Eva said, smiling, “it was really sore.”

  “Yeah, Dad, shut up,” said Adele.

  “Hey, stop ganging up on me,” Damon said, grinning at Eva.

  They used up the last of the feed then wandered along the path towards the car park. Adele and Sam ran ahead, playing catch along the way.

  “Do you guys come here a lot? I used to love it as a kid,” Eva said.

  “Yes, when the weather’s nice,” he replied. “I’d forgotten all about that summer activity club we did. Once they’re old enough, I’ll need to enrol them in that.” His face fell. “I suppose Sarah will want to take care of all that now.”

  Eva’s heart ached for him. She reached round to his opposite shoulder and tugged him towards her. “You’ll still be equally involved. I’ll bet Sarah will make sure of it.”

  He glanced at her and smiled. “Yeah, you’re right. Thank you.”

  She smiled back and squeezed his shoulders briefly before letting go. She could feel the strength of his muscular shoulder under her hand and she didn’t want to overexcite herself again.

  The four of them entered the car park and the children picked their way along the edge to the play area. Eva watched Adele help Sam onto the small climbing frame.

  “They’re like you and your sister,” Eva said.

  He smiled and nodded.

  Eva turned to him. “What’re you doing the rest of the weekend?”

  He flicked his hair out of his eyes and she resisted the urge to brush it away for him. “We’re going to lunch today with my mum and dad, then tomorrow I’m taking them to the cinema. After that, I’m dropping them back at Sarah’s and meeting Dave at the pub.” He rolled his eyes. “Now that he’s single as well, he keeps talking about us going out to score women. He says we can be others’ wingman.”

  Eva laughed. “Cheesy.”

  “Tell me about it.” Damon shook his head. “Truth is I’m not interested in all that.”

  “Nah, me neither,” Eva said. “I mean scoring guys, not women.”

  Damon’s raised his eyebrows. “You mean you are interested in scoring women? Awesome.”

  Eva shook her head at him, smiling. There was only one person she was interested in.

  She wondered if she should ask whether Dave had mentioned Jane, but she didn’t want to break her friend’s confidence, so she decided to wait and check with Jane first. She could always ask Damon another time. She really hoped that there’d be another time.

  Eva wanted to mention meeting again, but she couldn’t quite muster the words. Was it appropriate when they’d just been talking about trying to score? And after he’d said he wasn’t interested in dating anyone, no doubt due to his on going feelings for Sarah. Was he throwing her a gentle hint that he didn’t want to meet?

  It seemed as though the moment to speak up had passed. “I’ll let you get back to the kids. See you later.”

  He smiled. “See you.”

  She walked to her car, disappointed in her lack of courage. There was a shout and she turned towards it. Adele and Sam were waving from the top of the climbing frame. She waved back.

  Damon looked over as he headed towards the kids. “Hey, Mathers!”

  “What?” she called back.

  He imitated holding a phone to his ear. “Call me!”

  Eva gave a thumbs-up and got into her car, feeling hopeful once more.

  Chapter Eight

  The next evening Damon showered before going out to meet Dave at the Swan. He pushed his face under the hot water, hoping it might wash away the thoughts of Eva going round in his head. He remembered the moment he spotted her at the lake the previous day. The sun had glinted off her dark hair, revealing tints of red that sparkled like tiny rubies. She’d been dressed casually in jeans, a loose vest top and a thin cardigan, but she’d still looked amazing. The feel of her arm around his shoulders was awesome and she even smelled great.

  Damon reached through the water and turned the shower heat down a few notches, trying to quench his feelings of desire. It was a losing battle.

  After he finished and towelled off, he pulled on some jeans and a jumper that were closest to hand. It was a much quicker decision than last weekend when he’d gone to meet Eva. He must’ve tried on about five different shirts before settling on one. He gathered his wallet and keys and left for the pub.

  He arrived roughly ten minutes after the time they’d arranged, but Dave wasn’t there yet. Damon headed to the bar to get them a couple of pints then found a table in the corner. Dave arrived just as he sat down. Damon smiled. Dave had a habit of arriving after a drink had been bought and was ready for him.

  Dave took a seat. “All right, Damo? How goes it?”

  “Good, thanks.” Damon pushed one of the drinks across the table. “That’s for you.”

  “Ah, thanks, man. You’re a pal.”

  Damon smiled. “How’s work?”

  Dave nodded. “Great. We’re building an extension in that posh estate, the ones where the houses have names instead of numbers.”

  Damon frowned. “I thought you’d finished that one?”

  Dave took a gulp of his pint. “We did. This is across the road from the last one.”

  Damon raised his eyebrows. “You’ve obviously made a name for yourself in that area.”

  Dave grinned. “It’s a domino effect, like a keeping up with the Joneses thing. They see what someone else is getting done and don’t want to be outshone. Snobby really, but it works for us.”

  Damon laughed. “I’m pretty sure it’s got a lot to do with the quality of your work. Don’t you think?”

  Dave shrugged. “Speaking of snobbery, did you say you were out with Eva Mathers the other week?”

  Damon frowned. “Yeah. What do you mean about snobbery?”

  Dave took another slug of his beer. “She was a bit aloof at school, wasn’t she? High and mighty and no time to speak to the likes of us.”

  Damon shook his head. “She was quiet, and I’m sure she thought we were a couple of jokers. But you didn’t know her as well as I did. She was just shy back then. She’s really cool and funny. I reckon you two would get on well.”

  Dave eyed him over the rim of his pint glass. “What’s happening with you guys then?”

  Damon sipped his drink. “Nothing, we’re just mates. She’s not long broken up with her husband.”

  Dave pursed his lips. “Is she coming to the reunion?”

  Damon fiddled with a coaster. “Not sure.”

  “I’m keen to go,” Dave said. He clinked his glass against Damon’s. “And I reckon you should come too.”

  Damon met his gaze. “What makes you so keen?”

  Dave hesitated. “Di
d I tell you I saw Jane Whitely the other day?”

  Damon shook his head.

  Dave took a breath. “She’s single now. She looked gorgeous.”

  Damon smiled. “You had a real crush on her at school.”

  Dave drained more of his drink. “Oh boy, totally. Never did anything about it, though, because I was too much of a wimp. I figure this might be my second chance.”

  Damon grinned. “You’ve abandoned the ‘going out on the score’ idea then?”

  Dave laughed. “I reckon I’m too old for all that crap anyway. But I’m definitely interested in Jane.”

  Damon eyed him, empathic to his situation. Maybe he couldn’t have the person he really wanted, but Dave might be in with a chance, so he’d do everything he could to support him. “Yeah okay. Let’s go to the reunion. It’ll be a laugh.”

  “Brilliant.” Dave raised his pint glass to clink it against Damon’s. “Cheers. Now we just need to find you a woman. Maybe Eva? I’ll see if I can work my wingman magic on her at the reunion.”

  Damon pulled his glass from his lips. “No way.” He shook his head. “You’ll scare her off. In any case, she’s still out of my league. She’s a brainy doctor and bloody gorgeous. Plus, she’s just been jilted and is still in love with her ex-husband.”

  Dave raised an eyebrow. “Maybe just some hot and heavy sessions then?”

  Damon coughed on his beer. “I don’t think she’d be up for that either.”

  Dave shook his head. “You would be, though. You’re going to explode if you don’t get some action soon. Separate rooms for the past year with Sarah and no other women on the scene? It’s not good for a guy. I’m going to help you with that.” He grinned. “By finding you a woman of course. You’re not that good a mate.”

  Damon sighed and rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say.” Something occurred to him. “Actually, I think Eva is friends with Jane. Do you want me to sound it out for you?”

  Dave hesitated. “Maybe. It’d need to be subtle. Don’t say I was obsessed with her at school or anything, or she’ll think I’m some sort of crazy stalker and be running for the hills.”

  Damon shook his head, his face straight. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell Eva that.” He paused. “I’ll just tell her that you’ve got a shrine to Jane built in your bedroom and that you masturbate furiously over it every night.”

  Dave started coughing on his drink and ended up spraying beer across the table. He cleared his throat and gave Damon a hard stare. “Watch it, Evans, or else I’m going to have to start advertising for a new wingman.”

  When Damon returned home, he spent the rest of the evening repeatedly checking his phone for messages from Eva. He’d been hoping she would’ve texted by now about them seeing each other again.

  Chapter Nine

  Eva studied her cornflakes. She was too nervous to eat. Instead she sipped at her coffee, not registering what her mother was saying.

  “So I told them no way,” Meena said. “What do you think, Eva?”

  Eva fiddled with her spoon. “Yeah, Mum, definitely.”

  Meena eyed her from across the table. “Nervous, beti?”

  Eva glanced up from the contours of her cornflakes. “Yeah. A bit.”

  Meena touched her hand. “Don’t worry. It’ll all fall into place.”

  Eva nodded.

  Meena squeezed her hand. “The thought of it is worse than the reality. And if any bad memories resurface, you can talk to me and your dad.”

  Eva smiled. “I know, thanks.” She got up from the table, in case Meena tried to speak any further. “I think once today is out of the way, it’ll be fine.”

  She headed for the door, deciding to set off early. She might as well get there and make a start rather than sitting at home feeling nervous.

  As she opened the door to leave, Meena came hurrying down the hallway carrying a large butter container. “Here, beti. Take these sweets in for the staff at the surgery. Everyone loves mithai.”

  Eva smiled as she opened it and smelled the Pakistani delicacies. Her mum always kept old butter tubs to fill with sweet treats. She kissed her cheek. “Thanks. I’m sure they’ll love them.”

  When she arrived at the practice and parked, she admired the view over the river. She watched the swans. They seemed to be gliding effortlessly, but under the water their legs would be kicking furiously. That was how she felt sometimes.

  Her first day went well, though she was pretty much run off her feet. By the time she left the surgery, Emma the receptionist was locking up. Emma passed her Meena’s empty butter container. “Those were lovely. Tell your mum we’re happy to take any surplus baking she has.”

  Eva smiled. “I’ll tell her. She’ll love that.” She waved goodbye and got into her car, her head buzzing with all the information she’d absorbed during the day. She drove home, chatted to her mum and updated her about the popularity of the mithai. After dinner she decided to reward herself by messaging Damon.

  Hey. How’re you?

  Good, thanks. How was your first day?

  It went well, thanks. Just wondering if you want to meet up at the weekend?

  Definitely. Fancy the cinema?

  Sounds awesome.

  Great. How about Sunday?

  You’re on.

  Eva sighed with relief. See now, that wasn’t too hard, was it? She tried to stop herself imagining being in a dimly lit movie theatre with Damon and him leaning over to take her hand then kissing her…

  * * * *

  Eva’s first week at work went well and she felt she was finding her feet quickly. On Saturday morning, she decided to go for a run. She hadn’t been exercising much lately and had decided that she needed to look after herself better.

  She changed into her running gear and tried to decide whether to attach her iPod or her phone to her arm. She opted for the iPod because it had more charge.

  Eva started off at a steady pace. Hopefully she might manage five kilometres if she took it slowly. She might have to run a bit and walk a bit, but that was okay. She quickly got into a rhythm and two kilometres in found it wasn’t as hard as she thought it was going to be.

  She cranked up the dance music she liked to listen to while running. The bass kicked in, giving her a rush of adrenaline. She started going faster, feeling empowered. Her adrenaline and the bass in the song made her fantasize about kicking Callum’s ass.

  Boom

  She imagined herself punching Callum in the face.

  Boom

  She drop-kicked Hannah to the ground.

  Boom

  Pain exploded in her leg. “Shit! Oww!” The bottom of her right calf burned with agony. It sent her into a hop before she managed to stop and balance against a low wall. She tried to put weight on it but could barely manage a hobble, so she sat on the wall and looked around. No one was nearby. The blow to her leg felt as if someone had thrown something. Then it dawned on her. It hadn’t been an impact. She’d been taking it too fast too soon and her Achilles tendon had gone.

  Great. Now what? There was no way she could manage to hop back home, especially up the hill she’d just come down. And her genius idea to bring her iPod instead of her phone was an epic fail.

  Eva glanced along the road and figured out that she wasn’t far from Damon’s, plus it wasn’t uphill to get there. If she made it, then she could use his phone to call her mum and dad. They were out shopping but it wouldn’t take them long to come get her. She gritted her teeth and hobbled off in the direction of Damon’s.

  * * * *

  Damon finished straightening the living room and glanced around, trying to think if he’d forgotten anything before he went out. Adele and Sam would be arriving soon after his return so he wanted everything ready. The doorbell rang. Must be the postman. He went into the hallway and pulled open the door. His eyes widened at the sight of at Eva in her running gear, panting and glistening with sweat. Electricity shocked through him, then he registered the pained expression on her face and the fact
that she was standing on one leg and propping herself against the doorframe. Anxiety rose in his gut. He frowned. “Are you okay?”

  She took a deep breath. “Not really. I’m so sorry to turn up like this, but I was running and I’ve knackered my leg. The kids aren’t here yet, are they?”

  Damon shook his head. “Come on. I’ll help you in.” He steadied her by putting his arm around her waist and supported her into the house, through the living room door and onto the sofa.

  He crouched in front of her. “Let’s have a look.” He carefully ran his hands along the back of her leg. “It’s your lower calf, isn’t it? It feels swollen.” Damon gently let go, his heart racing at the touch of her skin. He reminded himself that Eva was in pain and this wasn’t the time to be getting overexcited.

  Eva frowned. “I’m worried I’ve ruptured my Achilles tendon.”

  Damon screwed up his face. “Ouch.”

  She sighed. “Could I borrow your phone? I’m going to have to call Mum and Dad to take me to Accident and Emergency.”

  “Of course.” He passed her his mobile. “I’m going to get you an ice pack.” He entered the kitchen, and as he rummaged around in the freezer, he heard Eva leave her parents a voicemail on each of their mobiles. She cursed under her breath. Damon wrapped the ice pack in a tea towel.

  He came back through and crouched in front of her, placing the ice pack on the back of her calf.

  She winced. “Thank you.”

  He met her gaze. “No luck getting hold of them?”

  “No.” She rubbed her temples. “What’s the point of having a mobile phone if it’s switched off all the bloody time?”

  He smiled. “My parents are the same.” He touched her hand. “Listen… I can drive you to A&E. It’s no problem.”

  She shook her head. “I feel bad enough dropping in on you like this.”

  He took her hand and squeezed it. “You need to get this sorted. I’m not picking the kids up till dinner time.”

  “Are you sure?” She squeezed his hand back. “You don’t have anywhere to be just now?”