Tasha and Jack arrived at GloBar and managed to duck in unnoticed. She had been so concerned by his up and down moods recently and when he'd asked to talk, she knew calling the paps was an absolute no go. She'd known him long enough to know when not to push it.

'So, are you finally ready to tell me what's been eating you?' She asked.

'Let's have a couple of drinks before we get to the big stuff ay?' He sighed.

'No problem' she replied. This must be serious for him to need a spot of Dutch courage first.

*****

By the time Chris and Charlie had left Josh and Anna's, it had just passed 7pm. She looked at the clock longingly, knowing that she should have been meeting Jack right now. She imagined how it would have gone, they'd have flirted, they'd have held hands, they'd have kissed, maybe even gone back to his place where she'd have let him do whatever he wanted to her body.

Except, back in the real world, she had Chris, and he had Tasha. Paris just gave people thoughts and ideas that they shouldn't ever have had. No matter how good they felt at the time.

'Are you okay?' Asked Anna, when she finally got Jay alone. 'You've been in another world since you got back'

'It's nothing' replied Jay, trying to sweep it under the carpet.

'When people say it's nothing, it's always something, and I know you better than that, now spill' Jay looked at Anna and knew from her face that she wasn't going to let it go.

'I've got feelings for someone at work, and things got a bit heated in Paris'

'Oh my god, you slept with Jack Grealish' Anna said a little too loudly.

'Shhh' said Jay.

'You did. You so did! Was he amazing? Was it as big as they say it is? Tell me everything!' She demanded wide eyed.

Jay began to reminisce.

'Okay, it was amazing. He was literally the biggest I've ever seen and I can't stop thinking about him, but Chris'

'Oh I forgot about him' said Anna, suddenly understanding why Jay was so conflicted by it.

'Yeah, well that was my problem too, and then I came back here, back to real life and there's Chris in the living room being the boyfriend that I've always wanted. So why am I sat here thinking about Jack?' Jay felt the tears running down her face. 'And Jack's girlfriend, who he incidentally lives with, is a full blown model, how can I even begin to compete with that?'

'So this isn't just about Chris then?'

'Maybe, I don't know. I've never been in this situation before' Jay sighed. 'I've never felt like this before' she admitted.

'I can't tell you what to do or how to live your life Jay, but life is too short to be unhappy'

'I know' said Jay, nodding her head in agreement.
'It's short, but bloody hell, why can't it be less complicated?'

*****

'So we're agreed? We'll tell our families after Christmas? Mums put in so much work, I don't want it to be overshadowed' said Jack, smiling happily.

'Yeah, definitely. We need to let her have her moment' Tash replied, reaching over the table and holding his hands. 'I love you Jack, you know that, don't you?'

'And I love you too Tash, always will' he said squeezing her hands. 'I've not always been the best to you Tash, and I'm truly sorry for that'

*****

Jay made sure to get to work early so as not to bump into Jack. She rationalised it in her head by saying it was best for both of them to stay apart.

'You're early' said Rachel, squinting at her in surprise. 'Like, not just early, but stupidly early'

'Yeah, I had to get the early bus. I've just got a few bits to do before I've got a lesson with Ferran' she lied, well it was just a little white lie so it didn't really count.

'Cool. Why don't me and you have lunch? It feels like forever since we caught up and we need to discuss what we're wearing to the Christmas party, it's only 3 weeks away, can you believe it?'

'Yeah, why don't you grab us something from the cafe and we can eat it in my office, it's quieter there, better for talking and we can look at dresses online' Jay suggested. Casually forgetting to mention the fact that she would have suggested sitting on the roof if it meant avoiding Jack.

****

Ferran arrived early for his lesson. He walked into her office and closed the door behind him.

'Everything okay?' She asked.

'Yeah, I had some news yesterday and I just wanted to tell you first. Barça are putting a serious offer in for me. It looks like I'll be leaving in January. You can't tell anyone, not even Pep knows yet'

'No way Ferran! I mean, I'm delighted for you, but gutted for me. I'm really, really going to miss you' she sighed sadly.

'I'll miss you too Jay, but Barcelona isn't too far away and we have more sun than here. You can come and visit any time you like. You've been a good friend to me and I won't forget you'

'Stop it! You'll make me cry!' She warned him.

*****

After his lesson, Jay successfully kept herself busy all morning. She checked her planner, it was just gone 12, so Rachel would be up with lunch in a minute, then it was a lesson with Theo and Ralph, then home. Well, sort of, Chris was picking her up from work to go to the cabin at 3. Thankfully, Jack wouldn't finish training til 4 so she'd miss him totally. Perfect. No Jack related complications for the day. She knew she was being ridiculous, but it was for the best. She just needed to keep reminding herself it was for the best.

Rachel arrived with two panini's and a salad for them to share.

'What a day!' She exclaimed, throwing herself down on the chair dramatically. 'There's been so many people asking stupid questions this morning it's ridiculous, but at least the tea about you and Jack has kept me amused'

'The tea about me and Jack?' Asked Jay. 'I haven't heard anything. What's been said, I mean, you can't believe everything that you hear' she was panicking, who had seen or said what? She hadn't told anyone, so it must have come from Jack.

'Yeah, you trending on Twitter as 'hot Man City translator girl' and Jack apparently getting engaged to Tasha last night. Someone saw them in GloBar, and apparently he got down on one knee and popped the question. There's pics of it all over social media! How cute is that?'

'Engaged? Wow! I definitely didn't see that coming' Jay gulped.

'I don't think anyone did. Seriously, there's a rumour it's because she's pregnant, but I don't know, and I don't like to gossip' Rachel said.

'YOU don't like to gossip?' Jay laughed.

'Let me pretend for gods sake' shrugged Rachel. 'Oh! And I heard from Nadia, she's taken a week off to look after John. How sweet is that? Like that's true love. And then your Chris taking you away. Oh, do you think he's going to propose to you?'

'No! No way, we've hardly known each other. We haven't even slept together yet. I'm definitely not going buy before I try' she said, completely horrified at the idea.

'Maybe not a proposal then, maybe Chris is just planning a lotta love making in the hot tub. Jays getting laid!' Rachel said a little too loud.

Jay burst out laughing at her friends enthusiasm over her sex life. She could only imagine what she'd say I'd she knew about Jack.

Jack had gone up to see if he could speak to Jay in his break, to explain the truth behind the rumours, but instead he overheard what Rachel said and the two of them laughing. It all made sense now. Paris clearly didn't mean anything to her.