Page 38 of Pelvic Flaws

I looked at the house and then back to Dex. “Would you like to come in for a coffee? Unless of course you need to get home, I guess you’ve got to be up early for work tomorrow.”

“Nope, not too early. A coffee would be great.”

“Great,” I said, trying not to sound too excited.

Stuff that I had to be up at half past six in the morning, I could grab a snooze in my car on my lunch break.

As we walked up the drive, Dex tapped the roof of my car.

“This all okay now?” he asked.

I smiled at him over my shoulder. “Yes, it is. Although Barry doesn’t think it will get through its next MOT without a lot of work being done to it.”

Dex didn’t say anything but nodded.

“I have told Carl and he’s going to start looking for another car for me.” I didn’t know why I felt the need to explain to Dex, or to even stick up for Carl. The car was crap and Carl should have put more effort into getting me something decent.

“He paying?” Dex asked, as I put the key into the lock.

I froze. I hadn’t even thought to ask, I’d just asked him to look out for something for me.

“I don’t know,” I replied, turning the key. “He bought that just as we were splitting up, but I’m not sure I should expect him to buy the next one.”

I knew if I was Sophie, I wouldn’t want him to be buying his ex-wife a new car every time she needed one.

“If it’ll help, I’ll ask Barry to keep a lookout for something good at a reasonable price.”

I opened the door and turned to look at Dex, whose jaw looked a little tight for some reason.

“That would be great, thank you. Well, come on in.” I moved up the hall into the lounge, flicking on the lamp by the door. “Take a seat and I’ll sort the coffee out.”

“Instant is fine, darlin’,” he said.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’ll take too long to make the real stuff.”

I gave him a tight smile and left.

Shit, I thought, as I spooned coffee into two mugs, he doesn’t want to hang around any longer than necessary. I doubted he even wanted to come inside in the first place. He certainly didn’t look too happy about it.

As I waited for the kettle to boil, I heard my phone ping. I reached inside my bag and pulled it out. I’d got three text messages, the one that had just come in from Mandy.

Mandy 23:35: Hope it went well. Ring me ASAP in the morning. I need details X

I smiled and read the other two messages.

Carl 22:00: Annie said you were out so just to let you know, took Charlie home at about 8. He said he didn’t feel well and wanted to come back. Tried to get him to stay, but he wanted you.

My heart started to thump wildly. Charlie had been ill and Carl hadn’t thought to call me, but just sent a bloody text. What the hell was he doing letting him come home anyway? I wasn’t here, Carl should have made him stay there. The bloody idiot.

I quickly scanned the next text as I made my way to the kitchen door.

Annie 20:10: Mum, Charlie came home. Got stomach ache. He’s fine in bed now asleep. Will call you if need you to come home xx

How the hell had I missed the messages coming in? It was quite a noisy bar, and my bag was on the floor by my feet, but I should have been more alert. What the hell was I doing, going on a date at my age, especially when I should have been here with Charlie.

The coffee forgotten, I went back to the lounge to tell Dex that we’d have to call it a night – well a day really. I couldn’t see him again, he didn’t need to be ‘dating’ someone who had to do school runs, and football practice, or be home by ten to make sure her kids had done their homework. I was bloody forty-five, I had responsibilities, what on earth had I been thinking?

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