AllFreeNovel
Share Us
NINETEEN
Mel
It’s a bitterly cold afternoon standing in the shade at the park. Huddling into my jacket, I pull my scarf up to cover my face a little more. It’s still better than being cooped up at home with the kids fighting, though. Sometimes, Sunday afternoons feel long and I don’t want to wear out our welcome with Kalli and Rin.
“Mom.” Damian runs over and tugs on my sleeve. “Can we get ice cream?”
I shake my head. “It’s too cold. Besides, you already had chocolate today.”
He scowls. “Awww, no fair. I wanna go back to visit Jarradek. He gave us ice cream and chocolate.”
I roll my eyes. This must be the fifth time Jarradek’s name has been thrown at me because I’ve made a decision that didn’t go Damian’s way. I wonder if it’s partly a reaction to having a fun male figure in his life for once. The twisted feeling pulls at my guts again when I think about the custody case, but James has never been fun or positive. I have to remember that.
“I’m bored.” Damian crosses his arms across his chest and stomps his little foot. “I want ice cream!”
“Well, hullo. I definitely thought I recognized that little squirt.” I have a second to process the rich, masculine tones of a voice I’m becoming far too familiar with before Jarradek reaches down to ruffle Damian’s hair. My son’s scowl turns into the biggest grin I’ve ever seen and he squeals with delight.
“Jarra!”
“Where’s your sister?”
Damian points at the playground where Elsa is swinging on the swings with another little girl.
Before I can stop him, Jarradek waves at Elsa, who immediately jumps off the swing and runs over.
“Jarra, Jarra! Do we get to come back to your place again? I want to swim in your pool.”
He laughs and I shift awkwardly, putting a hand on his shoulder and answering before Jarradek can. “Not today, sweetheart. I’m sure Jarradek is busy today.”
“Actually, I have just snuck off for a moment of peace, but I do have to get back.” He points across the park where a trestle table with lots of bright bunting is set up beneath a sign with his face on it.
“No fair! Mom is always talking to you. Why don’t we ever get to join in?” Damian is back to scowling.
Elsa elbows him. “No, that’s not it. Mom’s not always talking to Jarra. Auntie Kalli says Mom always wants to.” She gives me a far too innocent look that I’m not buying at all. Little ratbag!
“We were just leaving ourselves, actually,” I say to Jarradek. “So nice to run into you. We’d better let you get back to it.”
Jarradek quirks a brow at me. “What? Now? Before the kids have a chance to tell me exactly what Auntie Kalli says? I was hoping you could rescue me from work like last time we met in a park.”
That’s just what I need. My kids blabbing about how Kalli has been ruthlessly teasing me about my growing crush on Jarradek. “Sorry. Not this time. We have errands to run.”
“Mom! I thought you said we could stay at the park for ages.”
“Look at the time. It has been ages.” I hustle them into finding their drink bottles and tow them by the hands out of the park while they twist their heads to look back at Jarradek.
He gives me a cheeky grin that tells me I haven’t heard the last of this and I squirm inside. He’s going to make fun of me, isn’t he? If he even calls me at all. If he thinks I’m falling for him, maybe he won’t call. Maybe that will be enough to put him off.
Damian tugs on my hand. “I don’t wanna go.”
