Page 77 of Textbook Romance

‘That it was local.’

‘Yes, very handy,’ she repeats, looking out the back window, almost searching for my shadow.

‘Are you still looking for that fox?’ Brian asks, his gaze following hers. ‘Do you want me to go out and take a proper look?’

‘No,’ she says, smiling. ‘Just leave him be. He’s harmless.’

‘You say that but once they get in the bins… I know what you’re like.’

‘Brian…’

‘Zo…’

‘Not your house anymore.’

And I pause for a moment. He knows what she’s like. It’s condescending to say the least, but I guess there is truth there, too. Here’s someone she’s known for years, a marriage and a history that will always have some hold over her, and for the first time, I feel a little worried about how I will ever follow on from that.

Lottie bounds back into the room. ‘Got them. Let’s go, Dad. You OK, Mum?’ she asks, putting an arm around her again. It’s a nice image, one I’ve only imagined. I’ve heard Lottie’s voice on the phone but she’s as I imagined, a confident young lady who loves her mum to pieces.

‘I’m good. You and Dyl have fun and I’ll see you tomorrow.’

She ushers them into the hallway, and I stand there in the lowlights coming from the house, wondering how I fit into this life of hers. I think I could. I think I could eat breakfast at that kitchen island, I could wake up here and help her with the bins so the foxes don’t get to them. I hope she might let me.

FIFTEEN

Zoe

‘Hold up, he took you where?’ Beth asks me, taking the register for me as we load up this minibus to Winchester.

‘Miss, what happens if you’ve forgotten to pack your lunch?’ Bonnie asks me.

‘Then you’ll likely be sharing my tuna and cucumber roll. We’ll think of something,’ I say, turning back to Beth and lowering my voice. ‘He took me to Laser Tag.’

‘How old is he again?’ she jokes.

I narrow my eyes and shake my head at her. Yes, it was an unconventional date, and I seriously thought my Laser Tag days were behind me, but it was pretty easy to work out the intention, and what he wanted to do was introduce me to his family which, according to those bouncy nephews of his, was quite a big step for him. In any case, the cake was good and despite my limited experience in the dating pool of late, any date that involves cake is a good thing. Beth looks at me; she’s intrigued but also trying to work me out. Whereas Mia thinks she’s wildly smart for orchestrating this set up and Kate feels it’s what I deserve for having been treated so badly by Brian, Beth is still trying to work out if this is a good or bad thing. She’s not the only one.

‘I take it the date didn’t just end at Laser Tag, though?’ she asks me.

Oh no, we shagged in an alleyway, I gave him half a hand job in my kitchen, hid him from my husband in my garden and then we did indeed have sex. In my bed. I can’t really say that with children peering in and out of the school minibus.

‘No,’ I reply, smiling, and she laughs under her breath.

‘Well, then I’m slightly in awe. I was telling my sisters about you at lunch and you are their new hero.’

I chuckle in disbelief that stories of my escapades are being told around tables like some sort of urban legend. Did you hear about that mumsy teacher who got dumped on her ass and then hooked up and found happiness with someone fourteen years younger than her? Yeah, I can’t quite believe it either.

‘And so what do I have to do?’ Beth asks.

‘Oh, Jack was at the house and Brian and Lottie dropped by and so I had to think on my feet and say you’d dropped in for a cup of tea. So, if that comes up…’

‘I will be a very convincing alibi. I take it your kids don’t know?’ she asks.

‘God, no. One step at a time. A lot of people don’t know. I just haven’t worked out if it’s a rebound fling or something more…’ And the fact I’m still debating this makes me feel guilty. Because meeting Jack’s family felt like something bigger, more important than I was expecting and I’m not sure if he wants me to reciprocate. I feel the longer this goes on for, the more feelings are going to be involved and people might get hurt and with what I’ve just experienced with Brian, it feels like it could get too complicated. ‘Can you imagine the things my Lottie would say if she met him?’

Beth scrunches up her face, nodding. ‘So do you think fling because he might not stick it out or because you’re not quite ready for serious yet?’ she asks me.

It’s the ultimate question. ‘Both?’ I suddenly sense his figure appear from around the corner and I stop for a moment, trying to stop looking so damn happy every time he’s in my immediate vicinity. Beth turns to see why my stance has changed and laughs to herself.

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