Eye roll. “Typical man.”
“But I’m cute so it’s fine.” He gives me a cheek showing me those dimples I seem to enjoy seeing. “You didn’t agree with me.”
Shrug. “I mustn’t tell lies.”
“Just for that I’m not taking you to breakfast.” He says as he parks between two cars behind the small shopping centre. “You can stay here and starve.”
We climb out of the car and make our way through the precinct. It only takes a few minutes as it really isn’t that big. He wraps his arm around my shoulders to keep me close and leads me onto the high street. I put my shades on to block out the glaring sun and walk comfortably beside him. This is what I should want; this is what is right.
So why does it feel so wrong?
And why does the thought of seeing Nathan again feel so right?
We order the full breakfast. It’s far too much food for me, but it looks amazing. “So, have you always been into baking?” Eric asks, making polite small talk.
“Yes, I took a culinary course in University.” I respond, swallowing my mouthful first. “What about you? I don’t think I’ve ever asked you what you do.”
He smiles. “I’m just a car salesman, nothing fancy. Only took a few weeks of training. Unfortunately I couldn’t even make it through college.” I notice how he seems ashamed to admit this.
“I had to quit university.” I say to make him feel better.
His smile returns. “Rebel.”
“Without a clue.” I nod, flicking my shades back down and posing with my thumb and forefinger along my jaw.
He laughs loudly, startling the other customers around us. “You’re so weird.” His eyebrows wag. “I like it.”
“I need to be at work in thirty minutes.” I say after checking my watch.
“I’ll drop you off. I fancy one of those cinnamon swirls.” He states and pats his stomach. “I can just tell that being acquainted with you is going to make me fat.”
“You could never be fat. You’re one of those lucky people that can eat and eat and never put on weight.”
He scoffs. “Says you. How old is your son?”
“Four months.”
“My mum would hate you. She’s still trying to remove her pregnancy weight and my sister is nine now.” He chuckles and drains the rest of his coffee.
“You have a nine year old sister?”
“Yep; she’s bloody annoying but also remarkably cute and smart when she wants to be. Gullible too, she believed me when I told her that mum found her in the monkey exhibit at the London zoo. It made for an awkward meeting with her teacher at school when my sister got stuck up a tree.”
“You’re kidding?”
“Nope. She wanted to be one with nature, like her primate ancestors.”
“Oh my god!” I gasp, trying not to laugh but failing miserably. “How old was she?”
He quirks a brow and cocks his head to the side. “This was only last month.”
I almost spit my tea on him. “That’s so funny. You meanie.”
“It was totally worth it, until my mum beat me over the head with my cap. I don’t wear hats around her anymore because of this reason.”
“That’s hilarious. I wonder if Dillan will ever be like that.”
“Kids are awesome, unless that child is me. My mum said I was the worst child she’s ever met. I was always in trouble, or dirty, or falling off things. I broke my collar bone twice before I turned ten and my wrist once when I was eleven.”
My mouth falls open. “Seriously? That sounds painful.”
“Yep, it wasn’t pleasant. I was climbing the tree outside my house trying to look in my neighbour’s window. She had…” he cups his hands to his chest. “Amazing boobs. I never thought I’d see better until…” He leans forward, his eyes on my cleavage.
“You’re such a pig!” I choke out around another laugh and throw my teaspoon at him. “Was that your initial thought?”
“No, my initial thought was ‘who’s the idiot that left a ring in my cake?’.”
“I don’t think I like you anymore.”
“And then I saw you and the first thing I noticed was the fact you looked like a female version of Casper. I wondered if maybe you’d rolled yourself in flour. Then I noticed how pretty your eyes are and then…” He holds his finger up and grins wickedly. “I noticed your…” His hands go back to his chest. “Lovely boobs.”
“I noticed your dimples.”
“That’s it?” He feigns offence. “Just my dimples? What about my arse as I was walking away?”
“You have an arse?”
“I’ve decided I’m not taking you to dinner tomorrow.” He responds haughtily, but his dimples remain in place so I know he’s joking. “In fact, I’m never taking you anywhere again.”
“That’s okay. I prefer men with an arse.”
He throws his head back and laughs. “You’re cold.”
“And you’re a pervert.”
“Yes.” His eyes zero in on my chest once more. “Yes I am.”
******
“Going to work.” My mum calls and I hear the door close. She only just got home. Does she honestly think I’m that stupid?
I will be talking to her about this male tomorrow after I get Dillan back. It’s not fair on her that she has to tiptoe around me to be happy. I want her to be happy; she deserves it.
Nathan: I’ll bring Dillan back in a few hours. Setting off shortly, just having lunch first.
Oh crap, I’m supposed to be meeting Eric in a few hours. What do I do?
Gwen: I thought you were having him until tomorrow?
Nathan: I’ve got to speak with a friend in the morning. He’s leaving for Spain in the afternoon. I can’t postpone it.
Gwen: Does this mean you’ll actually be opening the store? :-D
Nathan: I haven’t decided yet. It’s not about that. I’ll speak to you when I arrive.
Gwen: Would you like me to cook dinner?
It was originally for me and Eric, but I’m going to have to cancel that now. Not that I mind. I should, but I don’t.
Nathan: I should say no, but I can’t resist. What are you making?
Gwen: French style carbonara and then chocolate shots for dessert.
Nathan: Leaving now.
I laugh and throw my phone on the table, cursing when I realise I have to call Eric and let him know. Unfortunately he doesn’t answer. He’s probably at work, so I leave him a message and send him a text to tell him how sorry I am. I know I won’t get a response until he finishes at three, as he told me yesterday, so I begin preparing dinner for later.
I’m shocked that Sasha still hasn’t called, a little annoyed too. I’ve texted her a few times and never had a response. It’s true what they say, you do seem to lose people when you have a baby. I just never thought Sasha and Tommy would vanish off the face of the earth. It’s crap.