Read Online Another Cup of Coffee by Jenny Kane - Free Book Online Page B

fine, but at night, as he watched her sleep, usually content after sex, a growing sense of discontent, suffocation, and guilt would engulf him.
    He had almost told Kit that he suspected he was gay twice before. That when he shagged her, his mind was full of images of the various fit men he’d seen walking around the city, but each time he had shied away from a confession at the last minute.
    How could he be gay anyway? He’d loved Amy, and he adored being with Kit. Why throw all that away? Why give up on a more accepted life on the off-chance his suspicions were correct? Perhaps he was bi? Yet the vision of the men dancing before him at the club in Nottingham haunted him, and in the dead of night, Jack knew he was kidding himself.
    Their discussion last night about music had prompted Jack to remember one track in particular. As Kit’s unconscious body turned away from him, he wondered if he should use the opportunity she’d unwittingly presented him with to tell her about it. To help him come clean.
    Only minutes after waking the following morning, Kit sat abruptly up in bed. The cool of the room made her exposed nipples stand to regimental attention as she blurted out two more song titles.
    â€˜â€œCome on Eileen”, by Dexy’s Midnight Runners, and “Gypsy Woman” by Don Williams.’
    Jack, who had only just dropped off to sleep, rubbed his eyes as his brain frantically backtracked to what they’d been discussing the night before. He spoke with incomprehension, wishing, not for the first time, that Kit wasn’t so lively first thing in the morning. ‘What? “Come on Eileen”? You must have been about eight years old! And who on earth is Don Williams?’
    â€˜â€Eileen£ was on almost constantly when I was at college. I loved the oldies nights we had there! And Don Williams is a really famous country-and-western singer. I’m amazed you haven’t heard of him! His song “Gypsy Woman” reminds me of my Dad. He loves Don Williams. It reminds me of being a kid.’
    Jack propped himself up on one elbow beside her and laughed. ‘You’re priceless.’ Tucking her straggly red hair behind her ears, abruptly serious, Jack’s heart was pounding so fiercely he could almost hear it, as she said, ‘You’ll want to know one of mine now, I suppose?’
    â€˜Yep. But I’ll allow you to put the kettle on at the same time.’
    â€˜So gracious.’ Jack put the kettle under the tap, his thoughts in a quandary. Should he tell her about the tune that was whirling around his head? It could ruin everything, yet he had to. Every day he ignored the facts he was misleading her, not to mention himself. Keeping his back to Kit, Jack inhaled deeply, ‘I guess one of mine has to be Kylie’s “ Better the Devil You Know”.’
    Kit pulled one of Jack’s old oversized T-shirts over her head. ‘Kylie? You’re kidding me. How textbook camp are you?’
    Jack spoke levelly, knowing she had given him a second perfect lead into a confession. His brain remained undecided about whether to say anything more, but his mouth carried on regardless. With his eyes cast down he replied, ‘Well, my tastes are pretty camp to be honest, although I’m not sure about the textbook bit.’
    Kit moved closer to him, refusing to acknowledge the tension which had filled the room. She spoke softly and carefully, already sure of what he was going to admit, ‘Tell me.’
    â€˜I heard it when I was in that club in Nottingham.’
    â€˜The gay one you went to with your mates for a laugh?’
    â€˜Yes. Look Kit, I need to come clean about something.’ Jack put down the mugs he’d been fiddling with and sat on the edge of the bed. He wanted to study her, gauge her reaction, but he couldn’t bring himself to see the expression on her face. ‘The thing is I, well. First I … I do like