‘Keep to the side of the road,’ Noms hollered after him.
‘He’s fine, honey, don’t worry. They bounce at that age anyway, don’t they?’
‘I hope so. You realise you won’t get a word out of him now, don’t you?’
‘I’ve brought a picnic, too.’ Noms had failed to spot the rucksack on Leo’s back.
She laughed. ‘I’m impressed.’
‘Don’t be. The hotel sorted everything.’ He smiled. ‘So how you doing, Noms? Coping?’
‘I’ve managed OK for the past six years.’ She realised how abrupt she sounded and tried to start again. ‘Leo, I can’t thank you enough for the money. It has made our lives so much easier.’
‘I would never have not helped, you know that, one-night stand or not.’
‘Well, it is appreciated.’ Noms felt a sudden calmness.
‘It was a bloody fun night we had. I still think about it sometimes.’
Noms thought back to the champagne and coke-fuelled night on the deserted beach in Croatia. ‘I guess it was. My love life is so much more staid now.’
‘We all have to grow up, even Peter Pan here.’ Leo smirked.
‘So, why the interest in seeing Jack now?’
‘I’m not getting any younger. I haven’t met “the one” yet and, to be honest, I’m not sure if I want to start a family now. I’m too frickin’ selfish.’ Leo looked ahead and smiled at his now- whooping son.
‘Your honesty is refreshing, Leo.’
Jack was careering back towards them down the hill.
‘Jack, slow down!’ Noms shouted.
‘Wheeeeeeeeee.’ He met them at the bottom of the hill, gave Leo a high five then turned around and sped off again.
‘It’s weird, isn’t it? People’s interpretation of what a Hollywood superstar should be like.
I’m just a normal guy who happened to make it big. I eat, sleep, talk, walk. There ain’t nothing special about me, sweetheart – it’s everyone else who thinks there is.’
‘The special thing is you are my boy’s dad and that won’t change.’
‘Exactly. I’m rich in material wealth, Naomi, but blood and friendships are worth far more to me now. He’s a great lad. It seems like you’ve brought him up really well.’
‘Thanks. It’s not always easy, but I try my best.’
‘And I can hopefully help make it even better now, if you’ll let me.’
‘We can make it work, I’m sure.’
Leo’s face lit up in a huge grin. ‘You have a new man now, I take it?’
Naomi flushed slightly. ‘Um. Not really.’
‘Just an afternoon play date the other day, then?’
‘Something like that. If you really want to know, I’m attracted to women these days.’
‘Really? So you were in bed with a woman when I turned up. I wish you’d said, I’ve have jumped in too.’
