Page 23 of Then Came You

They’d see an older man going through a midlife crisis, trying to get his youth back by banging the hot hairdresser, who has dollar signs in her eyes.

Optically, it wouldn’t look great, but fuck optics, right?

I ponder some more, casting my eyes to the sky, seeing the clouds rearrange themselves into fluffy lambs. “I don’t know. I don’t care what anyone thinks about me except my kids, but I wonder if she’d be able to handle the demands that come along with being with me.”

“Like what?”

“Like the fact I have two kids. I travel a lot for work. Science and advancing medical research are my life. All the events she'll be subjected to come to. You know how our social scene is. I can’t imagine her at the Country Club. But more than that, and I feel like a fucker for thinking this…but I just know my reputation, experience, choices would all be thrown into question just because of who I’m dating.”

Alex again leaves me in a void of silence while he guzzles more of his water.

“What do you think Mum would say about her?”

“I think she’d prefer her for Zee.”

“So, introduce her to Zee.” He shrugs as if that’s the greatest solution.

The death stare I give him tells him my level of hatred over his suggestion. “What in the absolute fuck? What kind of sage advice is that?” I spit.

“It was a test. You passed. You clearly like this chick, so just see where it goes and don’t think too hard. This is supposed to be the fun stage. The serious shit will come later. Take it slow and enjoy the ride.” He’s so easy-breezy about the whole thing, but what else would I expect? He’s happily married to my sister-in-law, Syd.

He is right though, maybe I’m overthinking it.

Chapter 9

Row

Blade asked for my number, but he hasn’t made plans to see me again. We’ve exchanged the occasional chit-chat through text, but it has been very surface level, and nothing like those breath-hitching moments we seem to have in person.

With everything else going wrong in my life, I don’t need to add to the list of wondering if Blade is interested or not.

To distance myself from more abuse at home and to distract myself from Tori being in isolation at the hospital, I made plans to tag along to the markets at the Rocks with Xan and Cindy. Except, Xander has just texted that he has to postpone, leaving me alone with Cin.

We were both already there when we received Xan’s text, so we couldn’t exactly bail on each other. I’m rarely alone with Cindy unless I’m doing her hair, so spending the morning with her might help us become closer.

“Row, you're no fun. Why are you such a Debbie downer today?” My eyes widen, and my jaw drops, while my face pales at her rude comment. It’s difficult for me to talk to her when she doesn’t really see me or take me seriously.

I’m too cowardly to say anything, so I apologise.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m just overworked and worried about my sis.” It’s like I haven’t even spoken the way she meanders through the stalls, ignoring my problems.

“And have you spoken to that guy again?” Her eyes slit together as she turns to look at me. I nod slightly.

I hadn’t updated her on purpose because a piece of me felt territorial over Blade, and I don’t like how she twists my memories.

She stops in her tracks, whipping her creamy mane and slapping the side of my face.

“And did you kiss?” I nod again. She places her hands on her hips as if she’s about to lecture me.

“So let me get this straight. You gave away the milk for free?”

What. The. Fuck.

“No! We just kissed.” I defend, intentionally leave out the rest.

“So what? He’s your sugar daddy? Or is he just using you so he can say he tapped some young ass down at the country club to all his buddies? I bet he’s not even divorced. Seriously Row, I thought you were better than this,” she snorts in disgust.

Despite the volcanic heat of today’s weather, it’s glacial at the markets. Even my sweat has frozen over at her frosty words.

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