‘I told them not to.’
‘Why?’
‘Theatre is not your favourite subject.’
Jake pursed his lips. It was true.
‘It’sher, isn’t it? Bridie. That’s why you never go, because of what happened when you were a teenager.’
‘I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘Shame about her last show. It was so good. We were all disappointed when the curtain came down early.’
‘You were atthatshow.’
‘How do you think she ended up all over social media?’
‘Youdid that?’
‘Yeah – it was so funny. I wasn’t the only one to post it, but I was the first, and it kind of took off from there.’
Jack has seen all the cruel memes.
‘I think she made quite the impression.’
‘Shut up, Jade!’
‘What is your problem?’ She glared at him. ‘Oh, I forgot, it’s that theatre, reminding you of the girl who abandoned you.’
Jack said nothing. He glared at her back. Jade had given him another reason to make sure the theatre didn’t get off the ground – he didn’t want Bridie to get the chance to return to London. He was going to make sure she didn’t go. He said as much.
Jade had just got out of her seat and had walked to the study door. She did an about-turn. ‘Wow, this really is personal, isn’t it? You really haven’t got over what happened all those years ago.’
‘Of course I have,’ he said, irritated. ‘I told you as much.’
She said, ‘I’m beginning to regret posting that video on social media.’
‘Why? You never did like her.’
‘I didn’t like her, Jack, because you chose to date her in high school rather than me.’ The look on her face said she wished she hadn’t said that.
‘So, it was revenge for that. Now look who hasn’t grown up and moved on.’
Jade glared at him some more. ‘If I hadn’t posted it, perhaps she’d still be in London.’
‘Well, you did, and she isn’t. She’s right here.’
‘And you want her to stay put this time – why?’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘But you don’t want her to make a success of the theatre, because if she did then she might just leave again.’
‘Not true!’
‘Are you sure about that?’
‘Of course,’ Jack said, lying through his teeth, starting to feel very conflicted. Perhaps Jade was right: getting involved in the theatre, in Bridie’s situation, was a bad idea. ‘Look, who says that’s her plan, to get a casting agent and return to London?Perhaps she just genuinely wants to change tack after what happened, leave London behind, and run a business.’
