Chapter 23

“Relax, kid, I’m not having a go at your mate,” Dad snorted. “Just didn’t figure you’d get on with one of them fluffy pouf types.”

Shane swallowed hard. His fingers were shaking, and he curled them into his palms. “He’s a good friend,” he said numbly.

“Sure he is,” Dad said. “Least you know he’s not going to be going after your girl, eh? She dance there, too?”

“Yeah,” Shane said. “Not today, though. She’s twisted her ankle.”

“Turned out to impress her for nowt, then?” Dad asked, then clucked his tongue. “Better luck next time, kiddo, but don’t let her get used to it or you’ll be stuck in that studio from now ‘til kingdom come.”

Shane turned to stare out of the window, biting his lip. He couldn’t tell him. He couldn’t, Dad would think he was ‘one of them fluffy pouf types’ and he wasn’t, he was just Shane and he liked boys and he loved Luke and that was it, but Dad…