And just like that the air in the room lightens.
“No thanks, but I’ll grab a water,” I say, getting up and walking to their fridge. I pull out a bottle then go and sit back down. I don’t drink anymore, but I try not to draw attention to the fact. It just leads to more questions that I’d rather not answer.
It’s not long before Levi gets restless. “Want to go surf?”
We all stand up and head to the beach.
Chapter Ten
Giselle
As I’m getting ready for my gym session, I hear my ringtone go off.
“Hello,” I say, answering my phone.
“I’m not dropping Justin off this week,” Keira says, not bothering with a hello.
“Why not?” I ask. I know Justin loves spending his Saturdays with Gage, Levi, Parker, and myself.
“Well, I heard that you’re having drama with your baby-daddy, and I just don’t want Justin around that negativity,” she says cattily. Baby-daddy? Is she fucking kidding me?
“So, what you really mean is you’re pissed that Tane didn’t return to you for seconds?”
Silence.
“If I wanted to sleep with him again, I would have,” Keira responded. “I just didn’t want to after you rudely interrupted us.” The beeping on the line indicates she hung up on me.
I shouldn’t be surprised that she could be so selfish and petty, but she shouldn’t pull Justin away from the people he loves, the people who love him, just because she’s a psycho. We’re the only stability he has.
I put my phone back into my gym bag and walk over to the equipment. I punch the boxing bag, working my aggression out and pretending the bag is Keira’s face. Four more jabs, then I start on my kicks.
“I guess this probably isn’t the best time to ask you out on a date, then?” comes a voice from behind me. I turn and face my kickboxing instructor, Greg.
“Really?” I ask, blinking in surprise. I’m sweaty and disgusting right now, red-faced with no make-up, and my hair sticking out in every direction.
Greg smiles. He’s good looking, but he knows it, which kind of puts me off. He works out a lot, and I’ve seen him around the gym flirting with different women. He’s not my type.
Still, I find myself feeling a little flattered, especially since I kind of look like shit right now.
“Why not?” he asks, tilting his head to the side. His eyes peruse my body in a suggestive way, and I clear my throat. Yeah, no thanks.
“Sorry, I’m kind of seeing someone right now,” I straight-out lie. I offer him an apologetic smile, grab my towel, and head home.
After a long shower, I clean the house then pick up Parker from kindy. Tane calls and asks if he can drop in to see Parker. I tell him yes, because what else am I supposed to say? Parker is his son, and it would be selfish of me to keep them apart.
I just hope he becomes a good role model for my son. My biggest fear is that he’ll suddenly decide he no longer wants to play dad, and then Parker is left wondering why he was abandoned and what he did wrong. I can tell Parker loves Tane already. I don’t want Tane to disappoint him. I want him to become a permanent fixture in Parker’s life.
Right on time at six pm, Tane arrives.
“Hey,” I say as I open the door for him. He’s wearing worn jeans and a red t-shirt that fits him to perfection.
“Something smells good,” he says, stepping inside and closing the door. “Thanks for letting me drop by.”
I swallow. “No problem. Parker was asking about you today, anyway.”
“He was?” Tane asks, sounding surprised.
I bob my head. “He was. He’s in the living room, playing with his toys.”
Tane nods and follows behind me. I stop in the doorway and watch Parker as he plays with his toy soldiers. “Do you want to play with him while I finish up dinner?”
“I’d love that,” he replies in a low tone. I nod, force a smile and head back into the kitchen. As I set out the food on the dining table, I can hear their laughter from the living room.
I smile, letting them enjoy their time together for a little while longer before I call them for dinner. After I do, Tane walks into the kitchen with Parker on his shoulders.
“Mum!” Parker calls out, a huge smile plastered on his face. “Look at me.”
“I can see.” I giggle. “Come and eat your dinner.”
“Can I sit next to Daddy?” he asks, wide-eyed.
My eyes dart to Tane, who can’t hide his amazed expression at Parker’s question. I offer him a small smile, which after a few moments he returns. I have never heard him refer to Tane as that before. I never thought I’d see the day when Parker would call Tane his father, and this is a memory I won’t be forgetting.