“You think we can try this again? Start over,” he asks.
“I can’t have her around my son, Mason.” My voice wobbles and I turn my head off to the side, angry at myself for having zero control over my emotions.
His hand smooths over my cheek, tilting my head back to him. “I never touched her. I swear to you. There are things I want to tell you but it’s not the right time. Know that when it is, Iwilltell you.” His eyes hold so much conviction, I can’t help but think he’s telling the truth.
“What does that even mean, Mase?”
“You have to trust me.” His thumb skims across the underside of my lip and I pull away.
“That has to stop! You can’t touch me.”
He pockets his hands, running his tongue along the front of his teeth in annoyance. “Fine.”
“And, no turning up here early. We have the days and times planned out. We need to stick to that.”
He nods his head then stares at me, his brows pulled low and his set face hard and brooding. Goose bumps pebble along my arms and I shake my head. “Don’t look at me like?—”
Ellis cries, cutting me off. “Well done. You woke the baby,” I accuse.
“Me?!” Mason blanches, his lip tipping up on one side.
I hurry down the corridor, briefly closing my eyes, as a soft smile pulls at my own lips. This could work. If I know that woman isn’t anywhere near my son, I could deal with this setup. I could see Mason and not want to punch him in the face or jump his bones, right? Switch off my emotions.
I scoop Ellis up into my arms, then grab his overnight bag, walking back out and into the living room.
“That wasn’t a nap.” Mason takes him from my arms and lifts him into the air, rubbing his head on his belly and making him laugh. His hair ends up an unruly mess with strands standing on end.
I watch them, my stomach flipping as I wonder about all the moments we’ve missed over the last eight months. “You can take him early if you want.”
“Is Mummy trying to get rid of us?” he asks Ellis in a weird dad voice that shouldn’t make him hotter but does.
“No, I just?—”
“I know.” He smiles over at me. “We’ll get going. You okay?”
His brows dip low as I nod my head, my eyes welling up. “Yeah, I think I needed to let it all out. I’m sorry I’m such a mess.”
“I didn’t mean what I said,” he reiterates.
“I know.”
“You’ll be okay here? I know you hate it and…”
I wait for him to finish but he doesn’t, awkwardly scratching at his neck with his free hand. “You go, I’ll befine.” I don’t tell him I planned to meet Joey tonight. Maybe we will both have to keep that part of our lives separate from each other.
“See you tomorrow, Mummy.”
“Bye.” I lean in and kiss Ellis, then stand at the door watching as they leave.
L&M fitness suite is nothing like what I imagined it to be. Logan is… well, a bit of a meathead. He lives to lift weights and drink his protein shakes. So when he told me he had a new gym, I thought he meant something inconspicuous on a side street. Not a multi-levelled, glass-fronted building in the centre of London’s financial district.
I stand on the opposite side of the street and check the address one more time, just to be sure.
“Wowzers!” With a renewed spring in my step, I take off across the road and push into the building, my eyes greedily eating up every inch of the sprawling reception area. It could be a hotel. It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before.
“Hi, can I help?”
I recognise the voice immediately, spinning around, I smile wide at Gemma just as realisation hits her. “Nina!” She stands, moving around the desk to pull me into a hug. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
