Something Real

by Ariadne Wayne

  “Come and play with us,” Jack called out.

  I bit my lip. I didn’t mind running around with them by myself, but I hadn’t really come prepared.

  “Just leave my jacket on the bench,” Logan called.

  The lure of playing and having fun with my boys outweighed the thoughts of making a dick of myself running around. I shrugged, dropping my bag and Logan’s jacket, and ran out. At least I’d worn flat shoes.

  Jack laughed, kicking the ball to me, and then launched himself in my direction. I kicked to the side toward Logan.

  “So, are you any good at soccer?” he asked.

  “Football.”

  He cocked an eyebrow, fending off Jack and kicking to Thomas. “Like that, is it?”

  “My parents used to have that argument. Mum called it soccer, Dad called it football.”

  Logan grinned, the ball flying toward him again. Jack and Thomas piled on top of him, knocking him to the ground as he laughed. “You’re not supposed to tackle me. We’re not playing rugby.”

  “It’s fun.” Thomas laughed.

  Nothing could be sweeter, hearing the laughter, seeing the smiles.

  Watching the ball and not looking where I was going, I crashed into Logan, falling down in a heap at his feet. He fell too, landing almost on top of me, and we found ourselves nose to nose, looking into each other’s eyes.

  “Sorry,” I said.

  “I’m the one who’s sorry. I clearly wasn’t paying attention.”

  My breath hitched as I looked at him. His body was pressed against mine, albeit at an awkward angle, but he smelled so good, like musky good, like oh-my-God-I-want-to jump-your-bones good.

  “Olivia,” he whispered.

  “Yes?”

  “Your shoe is sticking into my leg and it really freaking hurts.”

  I burst out laughing, kicking my shoe off from the half on position it was in. I couldn't feel it wedged into his leg, but I hoped that helped. He pushed against the ground and off me, my chest feeling as if it were releasing air for the first time in forever.

  He stood, offering his hand for me to grab hold of. “Come on. I think that’s going to be it for the day. Let’s get you home.”

  I took his hand, pulling myself up and dusting myself off. We’d played for more than an hour, kicking the ball between the four of us. We felt more like a family than we had in a long time. All because of Logan.

  “I think I need another shower after that. The ground is a bit dusty.” I looked toward the boys, who stood a few metres away. “Come on guys. Let’s get going.”

  “Awww, Mum,” Jack moaned. As usual Thomas followed his brother’s lead, but I shook my head.

  “Come on. I’m sure Logan has other things to get on with. Let’s go home and I’ll make some lunch.”

  “Will you make me lunch too?” Logan asked.

  I laughed, nodding. “Sure. I hope you like peanut butter sandwiches.”

  “They’re the best,” he said.

  As we walked back to the apartment block, the boys wouldn’t stop talking, chattering excitedly about the game. It warmed my heart to hear them, especially my quiet, little Thomas, who seemed to hang onto every word Logan said.

  In one morning, Logan had paid more attention to my family than my husband had in years. And for that, I would be eternally grateful.

  When we got to the road, I swear my heart stopped. Logan held out his hands for the boys to take and led them across the street. There was no hesitation on his part, and the three of them continued their chatter as we walked.

  He just fitted in.

  Two very tired boys slowly climbed the stairs back to our apartment. There weren’t that many, but they were worn out from their play, and I teased them as I came up behind.

  “Come on, you two. You’ve got young legs. You should be racing up these steps.”

  “Mum,” Thomas whined.

  “It’s okay, buddy. Once we get inside you can have something to eat and have a rest.”

  Arriving at the door, I unlocked it, opening it up, and the boys raced in, both jumping at the couch. “So now you have energy.”

  Logan laughed. “So, are you really making me a sandwich too?”

  “If you want one.”

  He leaned against the doorframe, smiling as I followed my children.

  “I should probably go and do some work, but I’ll take a raincheck.”

  I turned. “Maybe I’ll pack you a lunchbox someday.” His eyes bore into me, and I shrunk back, wanting to go back inside before I turned the colour of a fire truck.

  He nodded. “Thanks for this morning, Olivia. Your boys are so much fun. I hope they enjoyed themselves.”

  “I think they’ll be sleeping very well tonight, thank you.”

  He opened his mouth, looking as if he were about to say something before closing it again.

  “I bet. See you ’round.”

  “Sure thing.”

  I closed the door behind me and turned toward the boys. One lay on the couch, the other on the floor.

  “Tired, you guys?”

  “Can we have lunch?” Jack asked.

  “I’m just going to make some now.”

  As I grabbed the bag of bread and the jar of peanut butter, memories of the morning gave me a warm glow. Whether Logan was interested in me or not, my boys were happier than they had been in ages. Remembering what it felt like to be pressed against Logan made my heart race all over again. It had been so good to be so close to him; that smell would stay in my memory forever.

  Whatever happened from here on in, this was one very special day.

  Chapter Ten

  By Monday, I was still pondering our little outing, and wondering about Logan’s motivation. Was he just saying thank you, or had there been more to it? Had I had my head stuck in my stories for too long? More than once, I found myself daydreaming about those muscular arms and how they’d feel, holding onto them while he …

  What the hell was wrong with me? I’d spent more time in the past few months writing about sex than getting anywhere near having it. And before that, my sex life with Evan had been nowhere near as exciting as my imagination.

  “You ask me? You need to get laid,” Rebecca said, wagging an index finger at me.

  “By who? I’m not in much of a position to meet men. Besides, I don’t want any complications. I don’t want to confuse the boys by throwing someone new into the mix.”

  “And yet, you took them to the park with your next-door neighbour and rolled around with him on the ground.”

  I buried my face in my hands in embarrassment. “That’s not quite what happened. I should never have told you that.”

  “What about What’s-His-Name?” she asked, shrugging.

  “Who?”

  “That woman who your husband ran off with, her partner. He’s alone.”

  I gaped at her. “You really think I should just sleep with someone? He’s a nice guy, but I’m not interested in him in that way.”

  She sat down in a seat on the other side of my desk and put her feet up. “Your neighbour sounds interested.”

  Yeah, and I’m interested in him.

  “I’m not his type.”

  “Really? Do you think that guys who think girls aren’t their type take them and their children to the park just to hang out?”

  I twisted my mouth, trying to think of what to say.

  “Hey. Seeing as you’re my boss, shouldn’t you be leaving me alone to get on with my work?” I smiled sweetly, and she smirked.

  “Nice avoiding the question, but yes, I have work to do too. Talk to you later.”

  Her feet slid off my desk, and she winked as she looked back at the door. “Maybe you’ll have some gossip then.”

  If I’d had something soft, I probably would have thrown it at her.

  * * *

  Later in the week, I pulled into the car park, sighing as I opened the door to let the kids out. This routine was really getting to me; having to do things
by myself was getting more and more exhausting. We'd had cocktail sausages and two minute noodles far too often lately.

  I loved my job, my new friends, the life I'd made for myself. It was being alone that was tiring.

  Lost in thought, I didn’t see Logan at first. I looked up when the boys called his name and ran to where he knelt, doing something on what I assumed was his car. I wasn’t much for noticing cars, but Evan always had his heart set on one of these and we could never afford it. It was a HSV Clubsport with full leather interior, painted silver, and pretty good-looking. If you liked that kind of thing. I bet it ran much better than my dirty old Mazda.

  “Hey,” I said.

  “Hey Liv, how’s things?”

  I nodded. “As good as they're going to get.”

  His face lit up with a devilish grin, as if he were about to suggest something wicked, but he looked down at the boys, who were all but clinging to his legs.

  “What are you two up to?” he asked.

  “What you doing?” Thomas spoke up. He was growing in confidence all the time. I couldn’t be more proud.

  “I went to start this thing and she wasn’t very happy. So, I went and got a part to fix her.”

  Thomas nodded, his big blue eyes gazing up adoringly at the man who had just answered his very important question.

  “Mum’s car sucks. It doesn’t work very well,” Jack spoke, looking at Logan with the same adoration his younger brother displayed.

  “That’s no good. Want me to look at it?” The question was directed at me, and I fell back under that intense gaze. I tried so hard not to look straight at him. With those black jeans and singlet, which showed all those impressive arm muscles, I’d be hot under the collar in seconds.

  I shrugged. “It’s just old. I’ll probably drive it until it dies for good.”

  “If you ever need a hand looking for something new, I’d be happy to help.”

  “Thanks. I don’t think that will happen any time soon, but I appreciate the offer.” I smiled at him and he cocked his head, as if he were about to say something else, but he seemed to think better of it, looking down at the boys again. This seemed to be a habit of his. Wonder what he wants to say.

  “How about we get inside and I’ll get dinner started?” I said.

  “Aww Mum,” Jack said.

  “You take care of your mother. She looks like she’s had a long day,” said Logan.

  Oh great, I must look like crap.

  They trailed along reluctantly behind me as we went up the stairs, and I paused to let them in the apartment first. I’d quite happily just heat up some frozen meals and collapse into bed tonight. At least it was nearly Friday.

  “Olivia.” I heard a voice behind me, and turned to see Evan walking in my direction. Nausea washed over me, I hadn’t heard from him in months; what could he want now? He could leave my kids alone, that was for sure. I’d go into debt forever if I had to fight him for them.

  “Evan?” I swallowed it down. Whatever he wanted, I was in the right. I had to remember that.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” he asked.

  I looked at him, confused. “What do you mean? We live here.”

  “I got your forwarding address from our old neighbour. There’s some other people living in our house.”

  I took a deep breath, exhaling with a loud sigh. “It was our house. It stopped being our house a long time ago.”

  “So where’s my money?”

  “What money?”

  “Well, if you sold the house, there’ll be money from the sale. Where’s my share?”

  I shook my head. “There is no money. What I got for the house just covered what was owing. I am happy to show you all the paperwork, Evan, but there is no money for either of us.”

  His breathing quickened. I wondered for a moment if he’d been drinking—his eyes were that bloodshot. He raised his hand, and in an instant I thought of the fights we’d had over the years. So much yelling, him telling me how useless I was, calling me every name under the sun. The only thing he’d never done was hit me, and now that was about to happen right outside my apartment.

  “Evan,” I whispered.

  A large hand appeared out of nowhere, grabbing hold of Evan’s arm and pulling it back and away from me.

  “What the hell?” Evan exclaimed as Logan came up level to him. Evan was tall, but Logan was taller, and he looked down at Evan with a scowl on his face.

  “You really want to try that?” Logan asked.

  “Get lost. It’s none of your business. I’m talking to my wife.”

  Logan looked at me with an eyebrow raised before looking back at Evan. “You’re almost on my doorstep. I think that makes it my business.”

  Evan shrunk back. “Olivia?”

  “Go away, Evan. There’s nothing here for you.”

  I felt someone behind me, and looked down at Jack, peeping out around the door. When he saw it was Evan, he disappeared back inside, and his reaction was enough for Logan.

  “Olivia, if you want to talk to him, I’ll stick around if you need me.”

  I shook my head. “That’s not necessary. Evan is leaving.”

  I met Evan’s eyes, and all I saw was irritation—not love, not regret, just annoyance that he wasn’t getting anything from me.

  He just looked at me for a moment. My skin crawled at the thought of him ever touching me, ever being that close. How on earth did I ever love him? “Whatever,” he spat the word, turning on his heel. I watched as he went back down the stairs and across the car park, never looking back at the family he’d left behind. Typical.

  As I turned, I realised Logan’s gaze was on me. His eyes were full of far more compassion than my husband’s had ever been.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “Thanks for showing up when you did.”

  “Has he hit you before?”

  I shook my head. “Never. Our relationship was broken for a long time, but he never laid a hand on me.”

  “Sorry for prying. I just don’t get someone like that. To walk away from a family like you have. Man must be a total idiot.”

  I smiled, biting down on my lip to stop laughing. “You could say that.”

  “Any time you want to talk, Liv, I’m here.”

  I watched as he walked back downstairs to his car. He’d given me more in the way of friendship and companionship than my husband had in years.

  We still barely knew one another.

  * * *

  Snuggled up on the couch with the laptop, I stared, lost in thought, at the screen. The boys were fast asleep, and I was forming an idea for a new book.

  As much as I fought the idea, Logan had stirred feelings in me that I hadn’t felt in forever. If I ever did at all. Now to put the words together.

  I looked up as the phone rang and sighed. Who could that be? It meant moving from my comfy spot. Then again, it could be important.

  I shoved the laptop off my lap over to the other side of the couch and got up, making my way across the room to the phone.

  I really should get another base unit to sit on the coffee table.

  “Hello?”

  “I thought it was about time we celebrated your moving with a bottle of wine.” Rebecca’s voice nearly deafened me, and I franticly pushed the volume button to quieten her.

  “I don’t know, I …”

  “Open your door.”

  There was a short knock on the door, and I rolled my eyes, grinning. There would be no waiting for her to arrive.

  Sure enough on the other side of the door she stood with a wine bottle in one hand, her phone in the other. We hadn't had an evening together since I lived in the old house.

  I looked at the phone in my hand and pressed the hang-up button.

  Wagging my finger at her, I laughed. “You know, this is becoming a habit."

  She shrugged. “At least I’m not drinking alone. Just one glass and I’ll leave. I really wanted to come and check out the pl
ace.”

  “Welcome to Chateau de Grant.”

  Rebecca laughed. “Better tell the lord of the manor to fix this light along the balcony. It’s not safe to have this big dark patch.”

  “Come inside where it’s safe, then.”

  She looked around as she entered, her expression blank. I was pretty sure she was hiding that whole underwhelmed feeling. “Cosy.”

  “Yes, I know it’s smaller than the last place.” I closed the door, going to the kitchen to fetch a couple of glasses for us to use.

  When I came back, the bottle was on the coffee table and she’d picked up the laptop. “Working on something new?”

  “Yeah. I kind of got inspired today.”

  The cork flew out of my hands as I opened the wine, flying across the room and hitting the wall between my apartment and Logan’s with a thud.

  “Inspired by anything in particular?”

  I laughed. “Maybe.”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Pretty sure that shade is called fire-engine red.”

  My face felt as if it were melting. “Evan came by—”

  Her jaw dropped. “No. You have not got back together with that cocksmack.”

  “No! Oh good grief, no. Never in a million years, no. But, anyway, he got all angry at me for selling the house. You know, the one I saved for and paid the mortgage on. I told him there was no money for either of us and he nearly hit me.”

  Rebecca placed the laptop on the table, frowning as I sat beside her, pouring the wine.

  “I hope you called the police.”

  “Turns out I have a guard dog next door.”

  At that she squinted, obviously curious. “What?”

  “My neighbour came to my rescue. Anyway, he stopped Evan in his tracks.”

  “Is this Mr Hot Neighbour who took you and the kids to the park?”

  I grinned. “The very same.”

  “I have got to see this guy.”

  As if on cue, there was a knock at the door.

  “You are popular tonight,” Rebecca said, leaning back on the couch with her glass in her hand.

  I went back to the entrance. “Who is it?”