J.G.Priv: how's your dad today? Been thinking about you x

JaymeDee: Much better, he's getting home today. Me and Josh are getting the train back on Sunday x

J.G.Priv: do you want me to pick you up from the station?x

JaymeDee: it's okay, Anna's getting us but I'll see you on Monday with your irn bru x

Josh was starting to feel like Jays message tone was going continuously as they drove to the hospital to pick their dad up.

'Let me guess, Jack?' said Josh, giving her a look.

'Yes, Jack. And what about it?' She replied.

'Well, since we've been here you've pretty much been texting him every minute that we've not been with Dad' pointed out Josh.

'Hardly, he just asked how dad was and I told him' she huffed.

'Jay, is there something going on with you and Jack? Because if there is, then you need to tell Chris. He's been through enough without getting dragged into whatever it is that's going on between you and Jack'

'We're just friends Josh' she said firmly.

'Well does he know that? Because he seems to want to do a hell of a lot to make you happy. Hiring private planes and turning up at Olly's games with Pep flipping Guardiola, I mean come on Jay, that's above and beyond'

'He was just helping us Josh, why does there have to be more to it than that?'

'Because Anna told me what happened in Paris. Jay, you're playing games with other peoples hearts and that's not the you that I know. You need to make up your mind who it is that you want and stop playing games. If this thing with Dad has taught us anything it's that no one knows what tomorrow brings' he sighed.

'But Jack has a girlfriend' she answered without thinking.

'And there you have your answer. Right, conversation closed, let's go and get dad. He won't want to know about your nights of passion with an English footballer, he'll be horrified. He'll be asking you what's wrong with Meatball McGinn'

She had to laugh, but he was right. Annoyingly, he was very right.

'I'll take Chris to the Christmas party and if I'm still not feeling it then I'll tell him, okay?'

'Good, now shut up eh' joked Josh.

*****

Nadia and Rachel headed out dress shopping as planned, only without Jay, but it wasn't quite the same. It did however give them a chance to talk about her.

'Rach, do you think she's into this Chris guy as much as she's making out?' asked Nadia.

'I dunno, but what I do know is there is some serious chemistry going on there with Jack. Honestly, the way they look at each other....romance, just pure romance' sighed Rachel.

'John's being saying the same thing for ages. He reckons we should try and get them together, but then there's Tasha and Chris in the mix and it just seems a bit disrespectful, don't you think?'

'Yeah, and now he's engaged to Tasha as well, that makes it more difficult' Rachel admitted.

'Nah, that was just a rumour, John asked him on Xbox and he just laughed it off, and she was in the background so she surely would have said'

'Hmm. They just seem like a proper odd pair, you never see her round the Etihad like the other Wags'

'There's something very strange' admitted Nadia.

As much as it wasn't the trip they'd planned, they both found their dresses- Rachel was going to be wearing a short pink strappy dress and Nadia's was a thigh length dark navy blue body con number.

'Quick, send Jay a picture and tell her she'd better get her skates on if she wants to go to the ball' laughed Nadia.

*****

Jack was figuring out how to broach the subject of the Christmas party with Tasha. Since it was his first Christmas at City, she had no idea about it, but he felt obliged to ask her. There would be questions asked if he turned up without her though.

'Erm Tash, there's a Christmas party thing on at the club for the players and staff and all that. Sounds pretty boring, but I kinda have to go and there's an invitation for you too' he said.

'When is it? I've got a load of shoots on Jack. So I dunno if I'll manage'

'A week on Saturday' he said tentatively.

'That's lucky, the photographer just rearranged that shoot. Means I'll be able to come. Thanks babe' she said, kissing his cheek. 'But can you remember to wash your dishes in the morning. I'm doing a bit for my vlog on how to make the perfect morning Matcha green tea and the last thing I want in the background is your half eaten bowl of coco pops again' she warned him.

'Sorry Tash. I'll have cornflakes instead if that helps'

She went to have a go at him, but realised he was joking. He definitely seemed to be a lot happier.

'Jack Grealish, you'll be the death of me' she laughed. 'Anyway, Boohoo just sent me a whole rail of dresses to model on my socials, so I'm sure one of them will be perfect for the party. What are you wearing anyway?'

'I was thinking I might make a proper effort actually, maybe even suit jacket and that, with a pair of trainers though. Don't want to go too full on fancy'

'If I didn't know you better than I'd think there was someone you were out to impress' she said, looking at him quizzically. 'Or is there '

'Shut up Tash' he laughed. 'You're being ridiculous'

She left it there. For now, because she didn't for one minute believe his denial. When she thought about it, it all added up, he was having it off with someone at the Etihad.

*****

After they got their Dad home from the hospital, Jay had cooked them all a healthy dinner of grilled chicken and vegetables.

'What the.... Did you just go in the garden and pick a load of plants and stick it on my plate?' Huffed her Dad, as she placed it in front of him.

'No, I went shopping and bought healthy things for you. You heard that doctor, you need to improve your diet and move more' Jay scolded.

'I fancied a chippy tea after that hospital food' he groaned.

'You're worse than Olly' laughed Josh. 'Even he knows you eat what's in front of you'

'It's so good having you both home' said their Mum suddenly. 'It's just like old times. I don't like to moan, but I really wish you'd come home more often, we miss you both'

'And you can come to us as well, as soon as Dad's better, we'll get you down for the weekend' promised Josh.

'Yeah, you take the spare room and I'll bunk in with Olly. Josh is always saying it's like having two kids around, with me staying there anyway'

'I know, I can't believe you're still staying there, I'd have thought you'd have found your own place by now' said her Mum.

She didn't mean it the way it came across, but it certainly felt like a small stab in the heart. What's worse was that it was true, Jay was 27 and sleeping in her brothers spare room, whilst lusting over a footballer. She silently made an early New Years resolution to sort her bloody life out. In the new year, obviously, these things took time.