Page 25 of Ex in the City
‘You won’t find any of that kind of fun here,’ I inform him. ‘The men like to play golf, talk about how much money they have, buy things with their money, complain about the price of things – although it’s never the cost of electricity; it’s things like how much extra they had to pay for twinkling lights in the roof of their car or whatever.’
Dylan chuckles at my description.
‘So, not really my kind of hobbies,’ he muses. ‘Would I have more luck hanging out with the women?’
‘Oh, yeah,’ I quip. ‘If you treat bitching and back-stabbing like Olympic sports, and you think you’re a strong contender for the gold, they’ll love you.’
‘Then I shall stay away from them too,’ he says with a laugh.
‘I wish I could,’ I tell him. ‘But, speaking of the devils, I need to head to the school, to pick up the boys. No doubt I’ll have an encounter with at least one or two of the mums…’
My voice trails off as I frantically search through my bag.
‘Is everything okay?’ Dylan asks.
‘Shit,’ I say as I realise what I’ve done. ‘I forgot to bring my keys with me today – which includes my house keysandmy car keys. Rowan isn’t home, and I need to pick up the boys.’
‘I’ll drive you,’ he replies, quickly and helpfully.
‘Really?’ I ask, surprised by his offer.
‘Of course,’ he says. ‘We’ve just established there is nothing else for me to do in this village.’
‘You’re a lifesaver. Thank you,’ I say before letting my gratitude out via a huge sigh of relief.
‘Back over to mine then,’ he says as we head across the road again to retrieve his car. ‘Thank God I’m living so close, hmm?’
‘Indeed,’ I reply with a smile.
‘Rowan isn’t happy about me being here, is he?’ he says as we strap ourselves into the car.
‘Oh, whatever gave you that impression?’ I reply sarcastically.
‘Hmm, I don’t know,’ Dylan replies in a similar tone. ‘It might have been something to do with his generally hostile tone and the fact that he spent dessert stroking your hair.’
I can’t help but laugh.
‘Yeah, that will do it,’ I reply. ‘Sorry. I suppose, ever so slightly in his defence, you are Dylan King – and the new and improved, super-jacked version, no less.’
‘I guess there’s that,’ he says, playing along.
We arrive at the school with time to spare.
‘Thanks for the lift,’ I tell him. ‘I’ll be five minutes, tops – and I promise not to make a habit of this.’
‘It’s okay, I’ll come with you,’ he insists.
‘Yeah?’ I reply, surprised – I’m constantly surprised at the moment.
‘Yeah, why not?’ Dylan says. ‘I’m practically part of the PTA now.’
‘Okay,’ I chuckle. ‘Let’s do it.’
Walking into the school playground with Dylan, it’s only a matter of seconds before all eyes are on us.
‘I’d forgotten what it was like,’ I say quietly, keeping my smile firmly on my face.
‘What what was like?’ Dylan replies.
