Page 40 of Ex in the City
‘Well, I knew we were doing something,’ he tells me. ‘I just wasn’t sure what but I had your back, like I always do. Did I miss any others?’
‘I wrote “wanker” on his car door,’ I confess. ‘I intended to do it with a dry-wipe pen, so that it would rub straight off, except in my hurry I grabbed a marker pen by mistake – he had to take it somewhere to get it fixed.’
Dylan laughs.
‘That’s my girl,’ he tells me. ‘Can I ask why you broke up? And, more importantly, why you’re still there?’
‘Things were great when we first met,’ I begin, the words coming without much effort, because I’ve always found Dylan so easy to talk to. ‘And, after we dated for a while, I met the boys and I was kind of freaked out that he already had kids – their mum sadly passed away when they were really young – but they’re such great kids, I liked having them around. Things just moved so fast after that, I was living with him before I knew it, and he used to talk all the time about us getting married. He would even refer to me as Mrs Nutter.’
‘His last name is Nutter?’ Dylan says in disbelief. ‘Nicole Nutter?’
‘Right?’ I reply.
‘You’re not a Nutter, you’re Wilde,’ he replies with a laugh. ‘But it’s easy for me to say, I’m blessed – I’m a King.’
‘That you are,’ I reply, allowing myself a moment to smile. ‘Anyway, his job is basically making money on social media, sponsored posts, ads on his YouTube videos – that sort of thing. One day he started working with this woman called Carrie who was something to do with protein powder.’
‘Why is it always protein powder with guys who look like that?’ Dylan asks.
‘I will never understand why gym boys are so obsessed with it,’ I reply. ‘But Rowan was way into it. He started acting a littlesuspiciously, short-tempered, sneaking around. So, you know me, I start snooping around and I find out that not only is he involved in some kind of scammy scheme, but he’s put money of mine into it.’
‘The bastard,’ Dylan says. ‘Did you get it back?’
‘Yes, but only recently,’ I reply. ‘That’s why I stuck around, to get my money back, and to make sure other people got their money back. At first, when I was angry, I thought to hell with Rowan, he can sort his own mess. But not only did I worry about leaving the kids with a dad who could lose everything, I realised how terrible it would be for my business, if I had my own scandal going on inside my house, right under my nose – and that’s if people believed I wasn’t actually involved in it all.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t lose any money in the end,’ Dylan says. ‘That’s something.’
‘Yeah, I didn’t lose any money, but what a way to lose your boyfriend, your home, the kids you’ve been raising…’
My voice trails off.
‘Yeah, well, I know a thing or two about the fun and games that come with having a relationship with someone who has kids that aren’t yours,’ he reminds me, referring to his very brief marriage from a million years ago, when he thought he was going to be a dad.
‘I’ve had time to get used to the idea,’ I tell him. ‘As sad as it sounds. And things are pretty much wrapped up now. I knew the time to leave was coming. I guess it’s sort of snuck up on me. Of course, now my bestie has moved in across the street, and started working at the boys’ school, I have something to lose again.’
Dylan laughs. As his face straightens up again, he wraps an arm around me and pulls me close.
‘I’m so sorry all of this has happened to you,’ he says. ‘I would offer to go over there and punch him but, not only have Inever really been any good at fighting, but I’m pretty sure as the person who is reforming my public image, you would advise me not to do that.’
‘Wow, you are learning,’ I say with a smile as I snuggle in closer to his embrace. ‘Did you ever think we’d end up back here?’
‘What, together, talking about what a mess we’re in?’ he asks through a laugh. ‘Yeah, of course, we’ve always been like this.’
I laugh too.
‘That’s the spirit,’ I say. ‘Glad to be in it again together – and in case I didn’t say it before, thank you so much for ruining his shirts.’
‘Any time,’ Dylan says. ‘Actually, I might have another offer for you. How do you fancy a night out in London tomorrow?’
‘I’m listening,’ I say.
‘I’m going to check out a support band with the rest of the lads, you could come with us,’ he suggests. ‘We’re going to a gig, then we thought we’d have a night out, before things hopefully get crazy again. Fancy it?’
‘I would love that,’ I reply. ‘I think a night out is just what I need.’
‘When was the last time you had a wild night out?’ he asks.
I think for a moment.
