My phone vibrates again but again I ignore it thinking it’s Freya and I introduce, “I’m Ms. Robins, Caleb’s teacher,” then boast, “you’d be very proud of him, he’s doing amazing and is higher than most his grade in more than half his subjects, though math is his favorite,” and I give the woman who is still scrutinizing me a polite smile.
She hums, “Cheryl,” before saying, “Dirty and I, we’ve been through a lot over the years, but we always seem to come together again. I took his virginity you know.”
Okay, so we’re not going to discuss her son then.
I nod before my phone rings again, confusing me and I frown and mumble, “I’m sorry, I need to get this. It could be Matty about my daughter.”
She nods in response, her body relaxing, which confuses me but before I can question it she struts away and I raise a brow and grab my phone from my pocket.
What a weird woman.
Looking at the screen, my frown deepens when I see a number I don’t recognize. I contemplate not answering, but the call cancels, making the decision for me but before I can put my phone away, the same number calls yet again.
With concern, I answer, “Hello?”
“Well, you’re a hard woman to get a hold of, huh, darling?” his deep voice echoes in my ear, and my stomach tightens as my eyes go to Cheryl talking to some guy at the back of the store, her hand on his chest, while biting her red lip, while the guy's hand is on her butt.
I furrow my brows. I thought she said she and Alex were back together.
Shaking my head, I focus back on the call. “How did you get my number?” I ask because I know for a fact I didn’t give it to him, though his dad…
“My dad,” he admits before I can finish my thought, and I shake my head.
“What can I do for you, Alex?” I ask with a slight smile as I push my cart towards the tills, but then frown a little, “Or should I call you Dirty?”
Everyone else does, including his partner. Wait—are they even partners? She was just with that guy. Maybe they have an open relationship?
Crap.
My stomach drops, and a knot fills as I clear my throat, ready to end the call, suddenly feeling like the other woman as guilt overrides me, but Alex answers, “No, never call me Dirty, you call me Alex.”
Okay then.
I turn and eye Cheryl again and I clear my throat and begin, “Look, I uh, I’m at the grocery store, I just bumped into –”
He cuts me off before I can bring up his partner and how inappropriate this is, and he asks, “Why are you at the store? I thought you worked today?”
I clear my throat, “I was, but Matty messed with the wrong woman.”
He’s quiet for a moment, and I check to see if the call is still connected as I make my way to the front of the line, and I clear my throat again to explain I need to go, but he finally speaks before I can.
“Explain, darling,” he demands as I begin to load up the conveyor belt.
I sigh, “Stalker one oh one, he slept with some woman as a one night stand who then proceeded to barge into my home in front of my daughter and accuse me of sleeping with her man. Which by the way I did vomit a little because eww and even accused Matty of having a wife and daughter until Lyra decided to be the cutie that she is and be honest with the woman who happened to cut her own clothes to make them look sexy, I guess. I don’t know but anyway my daughter decided to give her some home truths and the woman hasn’t left him alone since and now he won’t leave the house because she’s camping outside it.”
I halt my rambling as the cashier, who has bagged my items for me, chuckles, and I wince while Alex laughs his butt off.
Crap.
“That's $42.94, Miss,” the Cashier chuckles, “but uh, are you sure you want extra small condoms? Did you read the packaging properly?”
I hear Alex choke, and I swear my cheeks redden.
Double crap.
“I uh, well, dammit,” I stutter, before I sigh, “Yes, I need the extra small condoms,” and I swear I hear a growl on the other end of the phone.
I didn’t know he had a dog.
