The three dots indicated that Ben was typing. Jack watched them rise and fall like a heartbeat.

ah nice

yeah, she mentioned that she’d managed to read elias the riot act by getting her dad involved

So they definitely were in touch, Jack thought. He replied, uncertain what to say next.

yeah

Ben did not start typing quite yet. Jack stared at the message box for a minute or so. He tapped the side of his laptop and continued to watch.

so I have a bit of a favour to ask

Jack frowned.

ok

He considered adding a smiley, but refrained. Ben’s response came back instantly.

i was wondering if you could help me get ellen to a pub in new x next week

This was not what Jack had been expecting.

i’d ask alexa but i sort of think it might be better coming from you

trying not to make things awkward between them

bit of a long story, anyway, do you think you could help?

Jack stared blankly at this message for a few seconds, before another appeared.

obv you should come too!!

sorry, feel like i’ve made this quite weird

It was – a little. Jack wondered whether Alexa was coming too, or if it was some sort of trick. Ben was typing again.

look – long story short i’ve managed to sort of work out what happened over the msn messages

so i need to explain a few things to her

Ben was still typing.

it’s more complicated than it sounds

but i owe her an apology anyway

so any chance you could help out?

This sounded like a good thing. Ellen would definitely want an apology from Ben. Maybe it would be good to get them all together in the pub, to clear the air before they returned to 49 Rokeby Close.

Jack stroked the keys of his laptop absent-mindedly for a few seconds, chewing hard on his lip.

ok i will ask her

He worried that this sounded a bit short.

i will let you know when she replies :)

Ben was already typing.

ah thanks mate!

iou a pint for sure

just message me on here when you’ve spoken to her?

Jack replied.

yes will do bye :)

Jack reread the message thread a few times. He wondered what to say to Ellen. He felt uncomfortable lying to her again. Perhaps he should just be open with her, and say that Ben wanted to meet. Surely she’d want to know if he’d found out what had happened with the MSN stuff. And Ben had specifically said that he wanted to apologize.

He closed the laptop lid. Abruptly, it was at peace; the whirring engine paused like a sharp intake of breath. Jack noticed that Trixie the cat was chewing the beads on the ugly new cushion.

He hoped Rich didn’t like the cushion.

30. Ellen