Second Chance(43)

“What eighties films are on there?”

Nate searched and they looked through the titles, finally agreeing on Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. “It’s a classic,” Nate said. “I never get tired of this one.”

“I haven’t seen it in years.”

They propped themselves up on pillows and settled down to watch it. Fully clothed, they lay on top of the covers, but they cuddled close, and Jack took Nate’s hand and started absently drawing patterns on his palm. Distracted by the sensation, Nate’s thoughts kept trying to drift away from the film but he kept diverting them back.

Enjoy this for what it is now. Live in the moment, he told himself.

It was good advice, but it was unfortunate it was so hard to follow.



By the time Jack left it was late. Nate’s mum had gone to bed, and Cass was still in her room—also hopefully in bed as it was a school night. Nate saw Jack to the front door where they shared a long embrace before Nate finally pulled away.

“That was a really great evening, thanks,” Jack said with a smile.

“Yeah, it worked out all right didn’t it?” Nate had enjoyed himself despite his mood drop in the middle.

“I hope your mum and Cass were okay with me being here.”

“I’m sure they were. Cass seems to like you. She’s relaxed around you, which is a good sign.”

“That’s good to know.”

“It’s weird though, sneaking around like we’re the teenagers in this scenario.”

Jack gave a quiet chuckle. “It’s quite fun though. And we can have noisy sex at mine when my parents are out.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Nate was determined to make the most of this and not wish for things that might never happen. “Okay, goodnight. See you soon.”

“Night.” Jack kissed him again, before turning and letting himself out into the night.

Nate locked the door behind him and crept quietly upstairs with a smile on his face. The double edge of elation and yearning a bittersweet combination. He paused on the landing, hearing a sound from Cass’s room. Checking the time on his phone he saw that it was past eleven. Even at sixteen he liked her to be trying to sleep by eleven on a school night. He heard Cass’s voice, then a male voice—tinny, from her phone—then a quiet giggle. He knocked on her door.

“Shit. Gotta go, sorry,” he heard her say, before she said more loudly, “What?”

Assuming it was okay to come in, Nate pushed the door open and found Cass lying in bed, her lamp still on, phone nowhere to be seen.

“You should be off your phone now and trying to sleep, Cass. It’s late.”

Busted, she flushed and didn’t try and deny it. “Okay.”

“Can I trust you, or do I need to have your phone till the morning?”

“You can trust me. But is it okay if I just text to say goodnight? I cut him off when you knocked.”

“Okay.”

Cass pulled her phone out from under her pillow and typed something quickly. “There. Done.” Her phone buzzed and she looked at the screen, a smile spreading over her features that Nate recognised all too well. It was the sort of heart-eyes smile that Cass had taken the piss out of him for the other day.

“Is this the boy you like?” he asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.

“Yeah.”

“Be careful, Cass.” Nate frowned. “If he has a girlfriend you don’t want to get in the middle of that.”

“He broke up with her earlier tonight.”

“Because of you?”

“I think so.” She grinned, happiness and excitement lighting her up from within. “I’m seeing him after school tomorrow and we’re going to talk.”

“Well that’s exciting.” Glad that she was opening up to him, Nate didn’t want to discourage her. They’d been disconnected for a while, around the time things had gone badly for Cass at her old school, and this new improved communication was positive. Nate had some misgivings about the situation with this boy, but not wanting to stop Cass from confiding in him, he decided to keep his worries to himself. “What’s his name?”

“Adam.” Her phone buzzed again and she glanced down at it, and then typed again.

“Right, Cass, five more minutes of texting. Then you need to say goodnight to him.”

“Okay.”

“Night, honey.” Nate pulled her into a hug, glad when she squeezed him back.

“Night, Dad.”



On Thursday evening Nate was down in the living room with his mum and Cass watching TV. It was unusual for them to all watch something together, but it was a documentary on BBC One about transgender parents and even Cass had wanted to see it. As usual there were some aspects of the programme that Nate had issues with—too much gratuitous focus on surgery and the medical side of transition—but overall it was fairly positive and balanced.

Nate’s phone buzzed in his pocket just as the programme was nearly over, so he pulled it out to read immediately. It was from Jack.

My parents are both out on Friday night till late. You want to come over again?

Of course, Nate replied, trying to keep his face neutral.

“Dad, stop texting. You’re such a hypocrite.” Cass raised her eyebrows in challenge.