by Emma Hart
“I’m starting to get used to it. I actually called soccer ‘football’ the other day and I think I almost gave Dylan a heart attack.” She paused. “I might need him to move out soon. He’s breaking me.”
I put the rubbish in the bin with a laugh and grabbed my keys and phone from the table. “I’m going back to work. Want me to pass a message onto Dylan?”
“Yes. He needs to learn to clean and bring cupcakes spontaneously.”
“Noted. Anything else?”
“Yes. Are you leaving those cakes?”
“I am.”
“You’re my favorite Brit.” She looked at me. “Favorite with a ‘u’.”
“Damn, Saylor. If you were already taken by one of my closest friends, I’d whisk you away to paradise myself.”
She fanned her face. “It’s fine. We can still go. It’s just a straight swap for me.”
I met her eyes, and we both burst into laughter. “You’re a riot.”
“I try. So when are you going to ask London out?”
I froze. “What do you mean?”
“London. You’ve got a crush on her. When are you going to ask her out?”
“I’m not asking her out.” I shook my head. “Her son is one of my kids. I can’t get involved with her like that.”
“You will.” She smiled knowingly. “Whether you want to or not.”
CHAPTER FIVE – LONDON
RULE FIVE: SPEED DATING WOULD BE MORE FUN IF YOU GOT A SHOT EVERY TIME YOU HAD TO MEET A NEW DATE.
“Christopher,” I said pleasantly, opening the front door.
My ex-fiancé grimaced when he met my eyes. “London. You look well.”
“Thank you. So do you. How was your flight?”
“Far too turbulent to be enjoyable in the slightest.”
“You’re early.”
“I thought I would stop by and get Leo’s things before I picked him up from school instead of getting it later.”
“Oh. Sure. Come in.” I stepped to the side and let him in. “I’m not actually done yet, but I don’t mind if you wait.”
“Thanks.” He followed me into the kitchen. “Nice house you’ve got here.”
“Well, that’s because I’ve spent half my day collecting your son’s socks from various orifices around the house,” I said dryly. “So make sure you check every inch of your rental before you leave so you don’t leave the owners several very stinky presents.”
“Duly noted.” His blue eyes twinkled with laughter. “So… How are you?”
“We don’t have to make small talk, Chris. It’s fine.”
“I haven’t seen you in months, London. Can I not care about how you are?”
I swallowed back a sigh and looked at him, giving him a tight smile. “I’m good, thank you. Busy, but good. How are you?”
“Same here. Leo’s doing well, isn’t he?”
“He is. Coffee?”
“Please.”
I turned to busy myself with the machine. “Leo’s doing really well. Not a big fan of math and it’s almost impossible to get him to learn multiplication unless the sums are on a soccer ball.”
Chris laughed. “Kind of important, I’ve found.”
“Indeed.” I put two sugars in his mug and set it on the table in front of him. “You’re good at math, so if some of your father-son quality time this weekend could include some multiplication practice, I would appreciate it.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” He grinned lopsidedly. “Do you have any plans with your free weekend?”
“Well, I’ve been roped into a speed dating event at Aunt Jasmine’s bar tonight so I’ll probably spend tomorrow morning wanting to bleach my brain,” I answered. “Other than that, no. I have work to do.”
Sadly.
Today’s plan with Sebastian to do the interview had fallen through when he’d had something else come up, so that was now Sunday’s plan. Since I knew Chris was dropping Leo off at school on Monday, it gave me more than enough time to hopefully do everything I needed to do.
And, thankfully, Sydney the photographer was available.
Sure, I’d hoped to spend my free Sunday with a good book, but we didn’t always get what we wanted.
It was most definitely going to happen next weekend.
“Shame you can’t enjoy your freedom.”
“I’d only end up catching up on laundry.” I shrugged. “Are you okay here if I finish getting Leo’s stuff together?”
“I can help you.”
“No, it’s fine.” I waved him off. The last thing I wanted was Chris lounging around upstairs in my house and getting too familiar. I wasn’t exactly happy with him being in my kitchen, never mind anywhere else.
I went upstairs and headed into Leo’s room where I’d been packing a bag. I still needed to get all his soccer stuff together, so I grabbed a backpack for those things. Thankfully I’d been on top of his sports laundry this week, so it was an easy job for me to put it all in the backpack and finish up getting everything else ready.
That didn’t mean I didn’t drag it out, though.
I did.
Riiiiight out.
I carried the bags downstairs to where Chris was waiting for me. “Here. This one has his soccer stuff in. It it’s possible, can you please wash it? Otherwise it just stinks the entire house out.”
He took the bag from me. “There’s a washing machine at the rental. I’ll throw it in when he gets home. Shoes, too?”
“No, they’re fine. Just everything else. And make sure he showers. And brushes his teeth—dear God, getting him to brush his teeth properly is like telling a cat to get off the sofa.”
Chris’ lips twitched. “Anything else?”
“No sugar after eight. If you think the morning tooth brushing is hell, try the evening tooth brushing fight. Make sure there’s at least one bottle of miniature hard liquor for that, because you’re gonna need it.”
“Hard liquor. Understood.”
“And he’s, um, still not a big fan of Carrie.”
Chris rubbed his jaw. “Not a problem. Neither am I.”
My eyebrows shot up. “I’m sorry?”
“We broke up,” he said, not looking me in the eye. “I ended it, actually. This week, after we spoke. She was mad I was spending my weekends here with Leo instead of going home and accused me of trying to get back together with you.”
I snorted. “Sorry. That was about the last thing, not your breakup.”
His lips twitched. “I figured.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why? She’s been awkward about it for a while and we’d been having problems, but the complaints about the weekends with Leo was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
“Especially since she lives with you and your son doesn’t.”
He actually looked mildly ashamed. “Exactly. Anyway, like I said, we’ve been having problems and it was coming.”
I smiled understandingly, even though there was a younger London inside of me yelling, “Ha! Bitch! Serves you right!”
If you couldn’t guess, Carrie was the reason we broke up.
Cheating bastard.
I swallowed back the very immature pettiness I was feeling. Gloating was not becoming on anyone, and if Chris wanted to be cordial, then I wasn’t going to be a bitch.
Not out loud, anyway.
“Well, I’d say I hope you work it out, but I really couldn’t care less.”
All right, I’d be a little bit of a bitch out loud.
To his credit, he fought a smile. “It’s good to see you haven’t changed a bit.”
“I was taught not to lie.” I scooped up his mug with a genuine grin and put it in the sink. “You should probably think about going. The school know you’re picking him up, but Leo thinks you’re getting him after practice.”
“Gotcha.” His eyes sparkled with a glint of happiness. “It’s good to see you, London.”
“Well, don’t get too used to it. I only intend to have fleeting
visits from here on.”
Laughing, he got up and gathered up his keys along with Leo’s belongings. “Want him to call you?”
“Only if he wants to. I’m obviously not home tonight like I said, but if he wants to say goodnight, text me and I’ll run outside before bed.”
“He’ll want to call you.”
“I know. Bed no later than ten, okay?” I followed him to the door. “Or eleven-thirty at least. I know what you’re like.”
“Popcorn and whatever movie marathon he wants? No, not me.” Chris stepped outside with a laugh, and I joined him on the driveway. “We both know he’ll fall asleep on the sofa at nine-thirty and I’ll have to carry him to bed.”
“True.” That was his party trick. “Well, have fun, and don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
“London, I can manage.”
“I know you can.” I looked up at him. “But I might have forgotten something, so I can always bring it or meet you or—”
“London.” He rested his hands on my shoulders. “I promise I’ll call you in the highly unlikely event that you’ve forgotten something or if he’s missing you and just wants to talk, all right?”
I let out a deep breath. “Okay.”
Chris leaned forward and kissed my cheek, and I narrowed my eyes at him. That wasn’t on my approved list of interactions, but before I could tell him to stop that crap, he was already in his very fancy rental car and pulling out of the driveway.
Well, that was it.
I was officially childless for the weekend.
And now I had to go speed dating again.
Fantastic.
***
“I cannot believe she roped us into this.” Piper paced the length of my bedroom with her hands on her hips. “That’s it. No more free food for Holley. She can kiss my ass.”
“It’s a miracle you make any money with all the food you give away.” I held up two dresses. “Which one makes me less attractive?”
She stopped by the window and studied them. “You could wear a trash bag and you’d be the prettiest person there.”
“Only second to you and your trash bag,” I shot back.
“No joke, I actually considered it for a moment. I don’t want to be here. At all.”
“I’m not particularly up for it, but only because I’ve only done it once. She promised me she’d get better guys this time, but…” I trailed off and shrugged. “I doubt anyone I meet at speed dating is going to be my future husband.”
“Stranger things have happened,” Piper mused. “What do you say? In two minutes? You have about sixty seconds each to get your point across. And wear the red dress. It’s just your color.”
“Mmph. Okay.” I looked at the neckline of it dubiously. I wasn’t sure why it was even in my closet—it might have even been Holley’s, to be honest. I wasn’t that big on the old deep-V necklines.
Mom boobs and all that.
If I wanted to get my stretch marks out, I’d wear a bikini walking down Main Street.
I changed quickly while Piper pulled her curled hair up into a ponytail. That wasn’t a bad idea—the bar could get hot when there were lots of people in it. Considering it was both a Friday night, karaoke night, and speed dating night, it was a recipe for disaster.
I adjusted my boobs in the dress and followed suit with her, grasping a hair tie and pulling my hair into a high ponytail. Mine wasn’t as long as hers, but the effect was still the same.
We finished getting ready with a slick of lipstick—red for me, pink for her—and called a cab. By the time it arrived we’d finished off the bottle of red we’d opened earlier and I was wishing I’d had something more substantial to eat than a salad for my dinner.
Thank God I could get food at Bronco’s, that’s all I was saying.
We arrived at Bronco’s in record time. It was already busy inside, but we had a table reserved with everyone else, so we wove our way through the crowd and headed for the usual table.
How the hell we were going to speed date in all this I didn’t know.
“How the hell is this going to work?” I shouted over the noise. “Holley!”
“We turn off the music!” she shouted back, scooting up a little.
“So there’s a fucking audience? Fantastic!” Piper yelled.
“Oh, sit down and drink up!” Tori tugged her down next to her and put a drink in front of her.
“Excuse me?” I said, motioning to my lack of a drink.
Not my best move.
Ooh, there was food!
I reached over and grabbed a handful of the fries in front of Kinsley.
“What the hell?” she exclaimed. “I was eating those!”
“Piper made me drink and I haven’t eaten enough!” I explained, snagging another. “I don’t want to look like an idiot on this stupid bloody dating thing!”
“Well…” Josh trailed off.
Piper reached over and punched him. “Don’t be a dick!”
“Isn’t it so good to have the gang together?” Colton drawled.
“We’re missing some,” I said. “Ivy, Kai, Seb, and Dylan.”
“And Ollie,” Saylor added. “He’s coming, too.”
Oh, good.
That’s what I needed while drinking.
The very hot British guy I was attracted to who was very very off-limits to me.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
“Where are they? I thought Ivy and Kai were coming tonight,” I asked, sipping from a glass of wine.
“They were,” Holley replied. “But Kai’s sister’s flight was delayed so she couldn’t get into town to babysit, so they decided to stay home instead.”
“Makes sense,” I agreed.
“To look after their child,” Josh said slowly.
I threw one of Kinsley’s fries at him and hit him square on the forehead. “My child is with his father, thank you very much. And that’s long overdue.”
“Stop bickering.” Tori waved her arms around.
“Rich from you,” Saylor shot back.
“Bitch, I will cut you.”
“Cheers!” Colton said, raising his beer. “To friendships that are sustained solely on bitching at each other over beer!”
“Hear, hear!” Saylor raised her glass. “But alcohol in general!”
Oh, dear.
This was going to be a bad night.
Catching the eye of Piper told me she was in full agreement with me.
God help us.
CHAPTER SIX – LONDON
RULE SIX: DESCRIBING YOURSELF IN SIXTY SECONDS IS REALLY HARD.
NOBODY CARES ABOUT THAT TIME YOU HAD A ZIT ON YOUR NOSE ON SENIOR PICTURE DAY.
“Hi, my name is London. I’m twenty-seven, a single mom of a six-year-old boy, a journalist for the White Peak Chronicles, and I have a highly unhealthy relationship with extra strong cheddar cheese.”
The guy opposite me laughed, flipping his dark hair from his eyes as he did. “All right, then. Hi, London. I’m Benjamin, thirty-one, childless, a newly qualified lawyer after a quarter-life crisis, and I, too, am unhealthily fond of cheese. Although I prefer blue.”
“Ooh, sorry, Benjamin. That’s a dealbreaker. There’s enough blue cheese where my kid’s socks are concerned.”
“I can compromise on Brie.”
“What crackers? Do you like a charcuterie board? What are your fruit preferences? This is a loaded subject.”
Benjamin opened his mouth, but the music played that indicated the end of the session. He got up with a shrug and winked at me. “We’ll come back to this.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. I admired his confidence.
The next person sat opposite me. He was tall, lightly muscled, and actually looked like the kind of guy I’d consider dating.
“Hi,” I said. “My name is London. I’m twenty-seven, a single mom of a six-year-old boy, a journalist for the White Peak Chronicles, and I have a highly unhealthy relationship with extra strong cheddar cheese.”
Sue me.
There were only so many ways a person could describe themselves.
The guy opposite smirked. “Hey. I’m Rob, twenty-nine, single dad of two girls aged three and five, a chef in a local restaurant, and I also find myself in a toxic relationship with cheese.”
“I didn’t say it was toxic.”
“It’s always toxic with cheese. First, it’s a grilled cheese sandwich, then the next thing you know, you’re creating platters with your friends that include everything from olives to candy.”
“I like you, Rob.”
He laughed and slipped me his card right as the music rang out again. He disappeared without another word, and I tucked his card into my purse, then looked up to greet my next speed dater.
“Oh. My. God.”
Oliver smirked at me. “Now if I knew you were here, I’d think this was a setup.”
“Who roped you into this?”
“Sebastian. You?”
“Holley. And my aunt. I’m a sucker for my family.”
The music rang again signaling the start of our two minutes.
“Do it,” he said.
I sighed, but I was fighting my smile. “Hi, I’m London. I’m twenty-seven years old, a single mom of a six-year-old boy who is absolutely obsessed with soccer, a journalist for the White Peak Chronicles, and I have a highly unhealthy relationship with extra strong cheddar cheese and charcuterie boards.”
“You edited it.”
“Hurry up!”
Oliver laughed. “I’m Oliver, I’m twenty-nine, a football coach at the new sports center run by Sebastian Stone, and I have to tell you that a charcuterie board consists only of cheeses, cold cuts of meats, bread, and butter.”
“No candy?”
“No candy, no fruits, none of this fancy crap you Americans put on it. Maybe olives if you’re feeling really fancy, but no grapes or chocolate or anything like that.”
“Wow. My world just got rocked.”
“You’re welcome.” He handed me his card and winked, getting up right with the music.
There was no way that was two minutes.
“You’re lying!” I shouted as he got up.
I could swear I heard his laughter, even as the next guy sat down in front of me. He was tall, hot, dark haired, everything I’d be attracted to, but all I could focus on was the dark auburn-haired British guy sitting several feet away from me.
