Page 212 of The Bonus

My eyes widen in horror and I begin to shake my hand around again. “No, no.”

He stops talking. “What, Mom? Why can’t I tell him that?”

For fuck’s sake, Dominic.

“Tell him you’ll call him back later,” I say.

“I’ll call you back later, Dad.” He smiles, he’s so excited that even my frozen heart feels it. He hangs up and Lucia’s phone immediately rings.

“He’s calling me now,” Lucia gasps as if this is a total surprise.

“Answer it,” Dom instructs her. He snatches the phone from her and swipes it before handing it back.

“Hi, Dad.” Lucia beams.

“Uh-huh.” She takes the phone and walks out the back and down to the lake, she paces as she talks to him with a huge smile it’s obvious that she wants him and their conversation all to herself.

I watch her through the window, she’s probably down there telling him every sordid DILF detail.

This is just great, I’m on the outside in my own house.

Gabriel

I pull into the school parking lot just at three. I made it in time; the bell hasn’t gone yet.

I get out of the car and stride up to the gate, I want to be there when they come out. I left work early. I really wanted to pick them up today. Don’t ask me why this felt so important, it just did.

I arrive to the gate to see a group of women standing around.

Ugh…

I glance around for Grace. I purposely didn’t tell her I was coming in, hoping I would see her too.

Where is she?

“Gabriel,” I hear a voice call me from behind, and I turn. It’s that woman, the hot annoying one…what was her name? “Hello.” I smile.

She looks me up and down as if I’m her next meal. “Wow, what a beautiful suit. Is it cashmere?” She runs her hand up my arm, and from the corner of my eye I see Grace’s ponytail swing as she swiftly walks past us.

Fuck it.

“Who knows,” I snap as I watch the back of Grace disappear into the school. “Great to see you…” I frown as I try to remember her name.

“Felicity.” She smiles. “Are you here for the weekend?”

I look in the direction of Grace. “Yes.”

“Let’s have a coffee tomorrow?”

“Sorry, I can’t. Very busy.” I look between the women she’s standing with but never introduced me to and I nod. “Goodbye.”

“Bye,” they all call.

I stride after Grace to the kids’ classroom; I find her standing to the side. With her arms crossed, she glares at me and snaps her eyes away.

Great, I’m ignoring you first…you can’t ignore me. I go and stand beside her. “I didn’t see you walk in.”

“You were too busy flirting.” She raises an unimpressed eyebrow.

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