Bleary eyes rolled up her body, stopping at her mouth for a moment before meeting her glare. ‘Beth. Hi.’
Beth stilled on noticing how drained his face looked, then ruby-red lips caught her attention as they moved into the frame. Ignoring the woman, she focused on Spencer. ‘I’m just heading home,’ she said softly. ‘You have the keys.’
‘Oh.’ He patted his pocket. ‘Right, yeah.’ He went to stand, but Beth placed one hand on his shoulder.
‘You can stay if you like. I don’t mind.’ It was such a fib, but she could hardly say she felt jealous.
‘Is this your wife?’ asked the woman.
Spencer gazed at her as though just realizing she was there. ‘What? Oh, erm, no.’
It was the truth, but for some reason, Beth felt as though he’d just whacked her in the gut. The worst part was him not bothering to introduce her at all. She took the keys and made a quick exit, wanting some fresh air.
It took a moment before she slowed her pace, mentally shaking her head at herself for being silly. She had no claim over Spencer. They were Archie’s parents, that was all. The man had every right to chat up women in pubs. She couldn’t expect him to stay single forever. After all, he had told her she was the last woman he’d slept with, and that had been quite some time ago.
Beth took a calming breath as she strolled to the chip shop.
‘Hey, Beth. Wait,’ Spencer called.
She peered over her shoulder but carried on moving forward, still not stopping when he caught up to her.
‘Oh, hi,’ she said casually. ‘I thought you were staying in the pub.’
With your new friend.
‘No. I was helping Robson with some chairs, then got chatting and was given a drink, but I couldn’t face it. I was about to head back to the tearoom.’
Beth brought the pram to a halt so she could face him. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Just tired. I did feel like drowning my sorrows as soon as I sat down, but the whisky put me off.’ He breathed out a small laugh, then gazed down at Archie, staring back at him.
‘You’re really taking Ryan’s accident badly, aren’t you?’
He shrugged one shoulder. ‘It’s made me rethink my job at the centre.’
Beth shook her head. ‘If you’re going to work with kids, you’re going to have to deal with accidents happening. Trust me, I work in a primary school.’
‘I just feel really bad it happened on my watch.’
‘You do feel that way, but these things happen. Spence, it’s not your fault.’ She watched him sigh deeply as he stared out to sea.
‘If I can’t handle seeing kids get hurt, I won’t be able to work with them. It’s not something I thought about when training, and I did first aid courses as well.’ His shoulders slumped as he held the pram. ‘Oh, I don’t know, Beth. Annette blaming me for Ryan not swimming is rattling around as well. My head feels all over the place since it happened.’
‘So you thought it best to get drunk and have a one-night stand?’
I shouldn’t have said that.
She went to apologize, but Spencer got in first.
‘Really? That’s what you saw when you came in the pub?’
It was what she’d assumed but words were suddenly failing her. Most probably due to the hurt flashing through his eyes.
‘I was talking to Robson, then he went back to work, and some lady sat next to me.’
‘It’s none of my business,’ were the only words that seemed to blurt out from nowhere.
Spencer quirked one eyebrow. ‘Well, I’m making it your business. I don’t want you thinking I’m that person again. I don’t want anyone thinking that of me. I spent a long time cleaning up my act, and barring the mistake I made with you, I’ve been doing—’
