Page 202 of The Bonus

They both nod.

“Okay then.”

I watch them as they skip off into the distance and I smile broadly, they’re officially the cutest kids of all time.

“Hello,” a voice says from behind me. I turn to see a woman. “I don’t think we’ve met before.” She has long dark hair and is immaculately groomed, attractive, and different from the other women here.

More New York and less Country bumpkin.

“Hello.” I put my hand out to shake hers. “I’m Gabriel.”

“Hello, Gabriel, lovely to meet you. I’m Felicity Fox.” She holds my hand in hers a beat longer than necessary. “I haven’t seen you around before?”

“I live in New York. Well, I’ve just moved here and will be living between the two. I’m Dominic and Lucia’s father.”

“Really?” Her eyes widen as she stares up at me. “Are you back with Grace, or did you move with your wife or…”

“No, I live alone.”

“Oh…” She pulls her hand through her long black ponytail as her eyes hold mine.

Don’t even.

“Nice to meet you, Felicity.” I cut the conversation short. “I have to get going.”

“Bye.” She smiles, all sexy like.

I turn to walk away.

“Oh Gabriel,” she calls.

“Yes?”

“I didn’t catch your surname?”

She wants to google me.

“Porter.”

“Oh…” She thinks for a moment. “I…” She shakes her head as if confused.

“You what?”

“I thought that was Grace’s family name.”

“It is,” I reply flatly,

“Oh, so you two were married?”

Go away, pest.

“I have to get going, nice to meet you. Goodbye.” I purposely don’t answer the question and turn and walk through the school gates as all mom eyes are on me, I feel them watch me all the way to the car.

Ha, country women are horndogs…figures, I guess, what else is there to do around here but fuck, and if Jack is anything to go by on what the local men are like…

Anyway…

I get in and pull out of the parking lot. Now…where do I get a decent cup of coffee in this godforsaken place?

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