“I'm almost there. Two minutes and I'll be outside.”
I disconnect the call and round the corner, heading for my favourite bar.
This past week has been exhausting with a lot of trial and error to get my schedule planned out but by the time the weekend rolls around, I'm excited to get out and enjoy my first day off.
So far, my days have consisted of waking up at seven thirty, getting a quick twenty minutes of yoga in, followed by a shower. Once Madison is up, we have breakfast, I get her ready, walk her to school and then come back and potter around until it's time to collect her. Then I entertain her until bedtime.
Figuring things out with Madison has been the easy part, the main struggle has been getting used to the ridiculous safety procedures that Ethan insists on. It literally takes me about half an hour to lock up and open up in the morning thanks to all the locks and alarms. The man has serious paranoia.
Since that first night, I've hardly seen him. Training for a total of five hours each day keeps him in his training area for most of the day, and the rest of the time, I hide in my room.
Luckily for me, today is Saturday and Ethan is spending the day with Madison, so I am walking through town to meet Lexi and my best friend Cristian for drinks.
Cristian has been bugging me for details, and I told him I needed more time to settle in, but he's as stubborn as Lexi when he wants something.
As I enter the bar, I see them both laughing in our usual spot. A quiet little booth in the corner next to the open fireplace, with a great view of the bar, so they can ogle the guys that come in.
“Hey girl, about time you got here.” Cristian stands as I approach, throwing his arms around me and pulling me in for a hug.
I've known him as long as I can remember. Ever since school, where he took pity on the quiet little kid that was always getting bullied. For years, I thought it was because he had a crush on my sister who was in the year above us, but she is definitely not his type. He prefers big, burly men with scruffy facial hair. Bears, I think he calls them.
“Hi, sorry I'm late. That bus journey is a nightmare.” I sigh as I slide myself into the booth opposite two of the most beautiful people I know. Seriously, the two of them could be on the cover of vogue without looking the least bit out of place.
“You know, you really should get yourself car now that you live all the way out in the country and have a job.” Lexi teases as Cristian just nods his head.
“Well, what's the point of me learning to drive when my sister comes to visit at every opportunity?”
“Ooh, that's only, so she can get an eyeful of that hunk you're living with.” Cristian pokes Lexi in the arm playfully, and she pulls a face at him then childishly runs her hand through his hair, messing up the caramel brown quiff that he no doubt spent an hour perfecting before leaving his house.
God, they both look so amazing.
To an outsider, I must seem like a total intruder, but the truth is, as different as we are, they are there for me whenever I need them and are probably the best friends I've ever had. Which doesn't say much because I'm not the type of person who makes friends easily and a lot of the ones I had, I lost in the break-up.
“So, how's things going with the new job.” Cristian winks. I know he's looking for some juicy gossip about Ethan, but I've barely seen him. By the time I get up, sort Maddie out and get back from the school run, he's in the gym training, same once I've picked her up. Then when he reads her a bedtime story, I retreat to my room for the night.
Three mojitos later, a familiar figure enters the bar making the hairs on my arms stand to attention. I slide down into my seat, trying to make myself as small as possible.
What the heck is he doing here? He knows this is our spot.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Cristian rolls his eyes and Lexi looks like she's preparing for battle.
“It's okay, I'm fine.” I lie. “It's fine.”
He's standing at the bar with a group of friends and luckily, he hasn't noticed me. It's been six weeks since I last saw him, and he hasn't changed a bit. Still as handsome as ever.
His almost black hair is slicked back off his angular face, and he's wearing a pair of chinos with a suit and tie. He must have come straight from work.
“I don't know what I ever saw in him.” I think I'm trying to convince myself more than anything because I know deep down that I'd take him back in a heartbeat if he asked. The pair look at each other a burst into a fit of laughter.
“The list!” They chant in unison.
Ever since I was young, I've had an idea of the kind of man I will end up with and when mum introduced Peter as a medical student working in her department, he ticked every one of my boxes. Kind, caring, generous, loyal with good career prospects and traditional values. Until he cheated on me that is!
“We're heading to Centre Stage after this, you coming?” Lexi changes the subject, sensing my discomfort when she catches me biting my fingernails.
“Got to be up early in the morning for nanny duty, so I think I'll just head back.”
“Oh, come on.” He whines, “Winnie's making a cameo tonight.”
As much as I love seeing him prancing around the stage as his alter ego Winnie Bagel, I need to get back. Taking care of a seven year is not something
