I rolled my eyes. “You’ll probably do something wrong, who doesn’t? You won’t get fired.”
She smiled and her shoulders relaxed. Wow she was really worried about messing up. Christ if I had a pound for every time I screwed something up I’d be rich.
“Thanks, Jasper,” she said. Her eyes had less black kohl around them today. It made her look softer and not like she was about to gut me and eat my insides.
I grinned, winking, which made her blush again.
“Alright, if you click booking...”
When I’d finished being Holly’s teacher, I left The Centre and went home to see if my wife was back yet. Her car was in the drive, along with another one I didn’t recognise. My heart beat at a thousand miles an hour. Who the hell was that? I didn’t want to think the worse. I’d forgiven her and we’d agreed to move on, but I couldn’t help it. Recently I’d been wondering if she was bored of me and looking elsewhere.
Opening the door, I slowly walked inside.
“Jasper, in the kitchen,” Abby said. It couldn’t bad if she yelled to me.
A guy was sat at my kitchen table. Brett? What the hell was he doing here if they’d sorted everything out at the café.
“Hey. Babe, this is Brett and, Brett, this is my husband Jasper.”
I held my hand out, and we shook, both squeezing slightly to test who had the biggest balls.
I won.
“Brett.”
“Good to finally meet you, Jasper. Abby’s talked about you a lot.” Saying what?
“Really.” I wanted to say she’s not mentioned you much at all, but that would make me a child. “You two get the trip stuff sorted?”
Abby nodded, flicking the kettle. I looked in Brett’s mug – my mug – and saw it was empty. Was he staying for another one?
“Want one, babe?”
“Please,” I replied, even though I didn’t.
“Brett?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to get in the way.” Good. Fuck off then.
Abby frowned and waved her hand. “Oh, you’re not in the way.”
Speak for yourself.
“Did you go to Oakley and Cole’s?” Abby asked, grabbing the mug off Brett to refill it.
“Yeah, took Everleigh for pancakes.”
She smiled. “I bet she loved that. Your bacon rolls are in the fridge.”
“Thanks, I’ll eat them later.”
Brett stayed silent. See arsehole, our lives may not be rock n roll, but we work. Back off. I wanted to laugh at myself. Technically he hadn’t done anything wrong, but I didn’t like his pissing-contest handshake. She was my wife, and he needed to back the hell away.
Brett stayed for one more cup of tea, and the whole time was in a deep conversation with Abby about work before he left. They’d occasionally tried to include me, but I didn’t work in a school – thank god or I think I’d end up killing some of them – so I didn’t have much to say. I did try to talk sports with him and make an effort but apparently he didn’t follow any of it.
Abby turned and handed me a box. “Here,” she said.
I frowned, taking it from her. Shit, had I really missed something? I opened it, and that watch stared back at me.
“What’s this?”
“It’s a watch, Jasper,” she replied sarcastically. “I know things have been a little strained recently, there’s a lot going on at school. I just want to show you how much I appreciate your support and understanding. I love you, baby.”
I am the worst man on earth.
“Abby,” I muttered. Damn all this time I had been thinking the worst in her. I’m such a dick!
“Do you like it?”
“I love it. Thank you.” Grinning, I pulled her into a kiss.
Work got her for the morning, but for the rest of the day she was mine.
Chapter Five
I woke up on Monday morning, and after a long night of what could only be described as crazy animal sex, I was pretty fucking happy. Abby was already up and in the shower; I could just about hear her strangled-cat singing.
It wouldn’t be long before Oakley would call and yell about me being late, so I dragged my satisfied arse out of bed and went to the bathroom. My naked wife was facing the tiled wall; her body was lathered up, completely covered in bubbles. I watched her with wide eyes and an open mouth as she ran her hands over her stomach and across her breasts. In record time, I was hard. So what if I’m a little late…
She stepped under the water spray, and the bubbles slid off her body. My mouth went dry. She looked over her shoulder and winked, turning the shower off. No, she was done!
“You should’ve got up earlier if you wanted to join me.”
“What?” I frowned. That was not fair; I was asleep and didn’t know shower sex was up for grabs. “Get back in.”
She laughed and shook her head, wrapping a towel around herself and, unfortunately, ending my perving.
“Can’t, I’ve got to get to school. If you’re up on time tomorrow though–”
“I’m there,” I said, making a mental note to set my alarm earlier.