They paused as the cameraman who had been getting the shot of Holly and Jack by the pool adjusted his position to focus onthe two of them. ‘So…’ Oliver started awkwardly, ‘how long ago did you graduate?’
Maeve tensed as soon as the camera was on her. ‘Four years ago now,’ she replied, eyes determinedly on his face.
He whistled. ‘That’s a long time without a holiday. What did you study?’
‘Law,’ she replied drily. ‘This is quite the interrogation that you’ve prepared. I’m impressed.’
‘Is it? I suppose I’m a bit nervous.’ It took most of his concentration for his gaze to not constantly flick to the camera in the corner of his vision.
Maeve put a hand on his shoulder gently. ‘It’s cute,’ she assured him. ‘But I don’t know anything about you yet. You give me your life story, and I’ll give you mine.’
‘Oh, uh, okay.’ He thought for a moment and came up blank. All he could think of was a list of topics he didn’t want to discuss. ‘This is more difficult than it seems.’
‘Where are you from?’ she asked patiently.
He hesitated for a moment – her question fell into the category of topics he would rather avoid. ‘Nottingham,’ he said, though he wasn’t sure why.
She raised her eyebrows. ‘Oh?’
‘I know, I don’t have the accent any more. I moved to London when I was fourteen, to study ballet, and I’ve been there ever since.’ Sophie was the only one who could still discern his childhood lilt. ‘London is my home.’
He regretted it as soon as it was out, hoping it wouldn’t get back to his parents and upset them. Oliver’s family held a detached bemusement towards his life choices; of him and his three siblings, he was the only one who had left Nottingham. When he spoke with his parents – which wasn’t often – he could tell that they still had no idea how their eldest boy had ended up as a ballet dancer instead of taking up a trade like he’d beenmeant to. Oliver had no words to explain his life choices to them. To him, staying in his suffocating hometown had never been an option.
Maeve looked, if he wasn’t mistaken, impressed. ‘Wow. That’s a big decision.’
‘Best decision I ever made.’
He had got one of the few coveted scholarship spots at the Covent Garden Ballet Conservatory, and arriving in London had felt like the start of his new life. He and Sophie had secured roles in the city after graduation, but the next step in his plan – their plan – had always been Manhattan Ballet.
She nodded. ‘That’s how I feel about studying law.’
‘You’re not one of those self-centred, soulless solicitors, then?’ he joked. ‘What, do you do child protection or something?’
‘International human rights, actually.’ Her tone was neutral, but her spine straightened as she said it, bracing for his reaction.
‘Right, well, conversation over. It was nice chatting,’ Oliver said, making to stand.
She grabbed his arm and tugged him back down.
‘Shove off,’ she said, rolling her eyes. ‘I think ballet dancing is grand.’
‘Sure you do.’
‘Ido,’ she insisted. ‘I couldn’t get up in front of people and perform. I have terrible stage fright.’
That seemed a bit rich coming from someone currently in front of multiple cameras, even if she was tense. ‘Don’t you have to give speeches as a solicitor?’
She waved a hand dismissively. ‘Only to octogenarians. I pretend that they’re asleep, which they likely are. It’s mostly writing and researching, all of the behind-the-scenes stuff. I’m confident in what I do, so long as I don’t have to do it in front of a crowd of people.’
‘Okay,’ Oliver said. ‘I’ll accept your praise now that I understand your lowly career position.’
‘To be honest,’ she said, ignoring him, ‘the men I’ve dated have always been intimidated by my work. But I don’t want to hide how smart and passionate I am in order to settle down. I would rather be single.’
He nodded, appreciating how straightforward she was in comparison to most of the others he’d met. He didn’t sense any hidden agenda behind her words. ‘That makes sense.’
Maeve studied his face for a moment, perhaps trying to determine whether he was taking her seriously. ‘I like you, Oliver,’ she said finally, ‘but I think we should keep our options open for now. It’s early days still.’ She added the last with a hint of irony.
He shrugged. ‘It would do terrible things to my ego if a girl like you wanted to be with me right away, and we wouldn’t want that, right?’
