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James put his hand on the nape of her neck as he looked down at her ‘Where did you go just then?’

‘Go?’

‘You missed a step’

‘So? I’m a rubbish dancer’

He held her gaze with the steadiness of his ‘No mask, remember?’

Aiesha chewed one side of her lower lip ‘This isn’t easy for me’

His thumb stroked where her teeth had been ‘I know it isn’t’

She looked at the knot of his tie ‘It’s hard for et close I push everyone away I can’t seem to help it’

He cupped her cheek with his hand ‘Be yourself with ames Just be yourself’

Aiesha looked into his dark eyes ‘I have nighthtmares About what happened to Archie That’s why I never share a bed with anyone It’s so e oror worse’ The truth ca ashamed, she felt relieved to have finally told him

His eyes did that softening thing that melted her every time ‘Thank you,’ he said

‘For what?’

His expression was full of tenderness, the sort of tenderness she had longed for so me’

Aiesha wondered if he kne hard it was for her She felt like so was on show Her doubts Her fears Her terrors Her shaust He was looking at her with understanding and concern Acceptance She drew in a breath that rattled against the walls of her throat ‘How’d you get to be so nice with a father like yours?’

He gave her a twinkling smile ‘I can be bad when I need to be’

She linked her ar I’d like to see’