“He’s a tryer, that's for sure,” I mutter. “He won’t take a hint.”
“He might find a gorgeous man who’ll look after you,” says Leia.
“I don’t need looking after,” I say firmly. “I have my own business and my own mind. Any man who comes into my life will be because I want him to, not because Vinn set it up.”
Blade passes, getting my full attention. I watch his sexy ass all the way to the bar and then I follow. “Blade,” I say with a smile. He glances at me with a wary look on his face. I have flirted my ass off for this guy and he gives me nothing in return, but I’m not one to give up and so I place my manicured hand on his bicep. “Do you fancy getting out of here and taking me somewhere for a quiet drink?” I ask.
“No. I’m seeing the guys tonight,” he says distractedly. Frankie hands him a bottle of beer and he takes a long pull on it. “Another time.”
“You keep saying that and I’m still waiting,” I say with a small laugh.
“Then take the fuckin’ hint,” grumbles Blu. He’s sitting at the bar, staring down into his pint glass.
“I’m sorry but I wasn’t talking to you,” I say.
“Apology accepted and I don’t care,” he says without bothering to look up.
“Every time I see you, you’re just that little bit more rude,” I snap.
“And every time I see you, you’re that little bit more desperate,” he retorts. I feel my face redden with anger. “Blade isn’t interested. He can’t be any clearer,” he adds.
Blade smiles awkwardly and then pretends to see someone across the other side of the bar before mumbling some excuse and rushing off. “Now you’ve scared him away,” I hiss.
“No, darlin’, you did that with your desperation. You may as well get on your knees and beg him for a fuck,” Blu mutters before downing the rest of his pint and tipping his glass to Frankie for a top-up.
“I feel sorry for you,” I snap. “You must have got hurt real bad by someone to make you so bitter and nasty.” I turn on my heel and stomp back over to the girls, who have all witnessed my humiliation. “Not a word,” I mumble and they rush to make new conversation.
BLU
I don’t know why Gia pisses me off so much. Yeah, she’s a mafia princess, but she ain’t that bad and yet I still feel the need to belittle her at every opportunity.
Riggs joins me, cradling his new baby girl in his arms. “I got a job for you tomorrow,” he says.
“Monday isn’t great for me, Pres. I need to be done by five p.m.”
Riggs eyes me for a few seconds. “It’s a big job, a good pay-out.”
“I can’t change the thing at five. You get me done by then and I’ll happily do it. If not, then ask Chains,” I say, pulling out my phone and checking it.
“What can you possibly be doing that speaks louder than money?” he asks, shaking his head. “In fact, don’t answer that. Maybe I’m better off not knowing.”
I drain the rest of my drink as I stand. “I gotta run. Let me know if you need me before five tomorrow.”
I stop my bike outside Hannah’s. My ex opens the front door before I’m even off my bike and leans against the door frame. I slip off my helmet and head towards her. “You look tired,” she says thoughtfully.
“Good to see you too,” I say, sarcastically. I follow her inside to the kitchen, where the smell of meat roasting fills my nostrils.
“A sucker for a roast dinner,” says Alice, looking up from her laptop. “You look tired,” she adds and I roll my eyes.
“Aren’t you sleeping well again?” asks Hannah. I take a seat at the table, opposite Alice. “I have some herbal remedies we can try.”
Alice then rolls her eyes and we share a smirk. “I’m good, thanks. Where’s Molly?” I ask.
“Time out,” both the women say together and then laugh at their accidental sync. “She wasn’t very kind to another kid at the park today. I’m dreading her starting the new school tomorrow,” says Alice.
“What did the other kid do to her?” I ask and Alice glares at me. They always tell me I’m too quick to defend her, but she’s my kid, that’s my job.
“She’s got to learn to play nice with other kids, Blu. It would be helpful if you could tell her that instead of making excuses for her,” says Hannah sternly.
Alice closes her laptop and begins setting the table for dinner. After me and Hannah split two years ago, I was pissed when I found out she was dating. Then finding out she was dating a woman, well, let’s just say my pride was dented massively. We soon learnt to live in harmony for our little girl because drama brings nothing but sadness and misery and I face enough of that every day.
I head upstairs to the bright pink fairy-themed room where I find Molly curled up on her bed, pouting. “What’s going on, Molls?” I ask and she smiles wide when she hears my voice.
“Daddy!” she squeals, throwing herself at me. I smother her chubby little face in kisses and she giggles, pushing my head away.
“Why are you up here in time-out?”
Her pout returns. “Alice didn’t listen to me,” she mutters. “The boy was being mean.”
“What did he say?”
“That I wasn’t allowed to play with his friend. I was trying to be a nice girl.”
I try to hide my smirk at her five-year-old outburst. “Start it from the beginning.”
I take a seat on her princess bed and she stands before me, hands on her hips, with a sassy attitude she gets from her mum. “I was playing on the slide with a girl and then the boy came later on and told her she had to go with him. I tried
