I hear Ashley’s voice drift from the kitchen. “Owen. Do you want a hot chocolate? I’m making tea.”
I can hear Owen’s little voice from downstairs, too, although I have no idea what he’s saying.
The setting sun is just peeking through the side of the blinds, and I lean over to pick up my phone.
Sunday. 5:00 .p.m.
Fuck.
Where did the weekend go?
Ashley and Owen have stayed by my side, never leaving me for a minute. Ash has looked after me and I have no doubt I would have been hospitalized for dehydration if she hadn’t shown up when she did.
I inhale as I stare at the ceiling above. God, she’s seen me at my worst now.
Naked, soft, and shivering while covered in sweat.
I hear Owen’s laugh ring out and I smile as I listen. Ashley is chasing him and they are screaming and laughing through the house.
What a fucking awesome sound.
I get up slowly, go to the bathroom to shower, and then I head downstairs to find them sitting on the floor with their backs up against the sofa drinking hot chocolate and tea, engrossed in an animal documentary.
“Hey.” I smile bashfully.
“Well, here he is!” Ashley smiles as she looks over at me. “You survived?”
My eyes hold hers and my heart skips a beat. That’s the first genuine smile she has given me in over two months.
“Dad,” Owen calls and jumps up to cuddle my leg.
“Hey, mate.” I rub my hand roughly through his hair. “Sorry to wreck your weekend.”
He smiles and takes a seat back on the floor next to his mom.
My eyes hold hers. “Thanks, Ash.” I pause. “You don’t know how much I appreciate you staying.”
She smiles and sips her tea. “That’s okay. I’m sending you to the pharmacy next month to buy my Tampax as pay back.”
I smirk.
“What’s Tampax?” Owen asks as his eyes roam between us.
I raise my eyebrows. “Weird girl things,” I reply dryly as I lie on the sofa behind the two of them. “What are we watching?” I ask.
“Meerkats,” Owen replies. “But this girl’s been a naughty one and the mother is getting angry. It’s a big family fight,” he explains as he points to one of the meerkats who is circling another.
I smirk as I watch the screen. I don’t care what we are watching, or whose family is attacking each other.
As long as it’s not mine.
The reflection of the fire lanterns flickers across the pool. The sun has set and the cocktail waiters are circling. I’m at Carson’s house at a party.
I’m here with my friends and Joshua, although he’s leaving around nine to go and have drinks with Tash and Murph who are out at dinner.
He doesn’t stay long at these parties anymore. He hasn’t since he settled down with Tash.
It’s funny, you know. I could never understand why he would rush home to be with her when he sees her everyday—why he couldn’t stand to be away from her for more than a few hours at a time. It only got worse when he had kids, and for a long time, he went nowhere without them.
I get it now.
Since Owen came into my life—and Ashley—these parties hold no interest for me anymore.
Beautiful women are approaching me every ten minutes, and all I can do is keep looking at my watch to make sure I don’t miss ringing my son to say goodnight at eight o’clock.
What the hell has happened to me?
“Hey, Cam,” a voice calls from behind me, and I turn to see Celeste in a tight, smoking hot gold dress. She’s smiling sexily up at me.
“Hi.” I smile and bend to kiss her cheek as a greeting.
“Hi, Stan.” She smiles at Joshua.
He nods and smiles politely. “Hello.”
“Do you want to come inside for a drink? It’s been months since we spent any time together,” she asks hopefully.
I smirk, knowing that was code for it’s been months since we fucked.
I narrow my eyes as I contemplate the offer. “Ah, yeah. Maybe later. I’m staying out here for a while.”
She smiles. “Come looking for me when you’re ready to catch up.”
I raise an eyebrow. “You know I will.”
She walks off and Stan’s eyes and mine follow her as she glides through the crowd.
“She’s fucking hot,” he murmurs.
I exhale. “Yeah, she’s okay,” I reply, bored as my eyes glance around at the crowd.
He narrows his eyes as he watches me. “What’s up with you lately?”