The One Addicted (12 page)

“Look at me, Mummy - I’m like Tarzan!”
 

I watch as my son swings from his death rope, one hay bale to another with squeals of delight. He’s having a whale of a time; I on the other hand have never been more on edge!

“Don’t worry he’s safe enough - those mattresses underneath will cushion any fall!”
 

WTF?

I can’t turn around. Every hair on the nape of my neck is alerted, my skin skimmed with goosebumps from the shivers running down my spine.
What was he doing at Jungle Jim’s Ice-cream parlour?

    
“Don’t worry I’m not stalking you - although I quite fancy that as a career change. You’re a lovely study.” I jerk as he brushes back a loose tendril from my face. “I wanted to see you.”

    
My eyes fly back up to his, warmed by his honesty. I hadn’t seen him since yesterday morning. It felt like an age. God, he looks good enough to eat.
    
“I missed you too.”
    
“How much?” His arms encircle my waist loosely, and tug, encouraging me to lean back into his warmth.

“Now don’t get cocky Silver.” I tilt my head to meet his gaze, now smiling down at me with mirth.

“I love to watch your mouth when you say the word cock.”
    
I playfully tap his hands at my waist. “Not with children around you naughty boy. Anyway how’d you know we were here?” I wait a second before answering my own question. “Jackie.”
    
“Jillie - yes.”
 

This rewards him with another whack. He always gets peoples names wrong but I know he’s purposely teasing me now and I like it - like the familiarity that is creeping back in. The way he’s holding me close to him, yet we are still maintaining banter, it’s the perfect balance of friends and lovers. I love it. I love him.
    
“Sub!”

A squealing little blonde man runs full pelt at Sebastian, interrupting our bubble and Seb breaks the link instantly to pick Finn up and place him on his shoulders.

“Now then, Finnster - what say we go and get some pancakes in the diner?”

“Yayyyyyy! Can we Mum - can we?”

I giggle at his exuberant manner. “Of course we can. We were going to anyway. Are you joining us Seb?”

“Only if we can sit in one of those American Diner booths that looks like a car!” His mouth is a stubborn line of determination.
I don’t think he’s kidding.

“Oh really? You big kid! Well come on and let’s see what the queue is like. It’s always heaving in here.”

We head into the entrance, the smell of crispy bacon, burgers and hot chocolate hitting us immediately. The waitress on the door, fitted with a headset and iPad registers our booking and says she’ll call when a table is free. It should be 10 minutes or so. That’s not too bad. I’ve been before and it’s been over an hour.

“Lets grab a drink at the bar and we’ll check out the menu.” Seb picks Finn up and carefully places him on a high backed leather stool then grins back at me. “I love this place - how’d you find it?”

“It’s one of my jobs.” I reply proud of the fact.

“Really? It’s fabulous Lu. I love the 1950’s style and all the gadgets. When did you design it?”

“A couple of years back. It was a new concept then, the whole farm opening a restaurant / cafe and playbarn but its taken off and now they’ve opened two further cafes in neighbouring Counties.”

“We’ll have to come here more often. Finn obviously adores it!”

That would be so nice. Are we starting to make plans now as a family?

“He does and we will. The food is to die for. You must have a chilli burger.”

“My mouth is watering at the thought.”

Seb nods to the waitress behind the counter at the bar and makes short work of ordering two coke floats and a diet coke for me. Within minutes Finn and Seb are happily poking at their sludgy ice-cream with straws and belly laughing as they make a disgusting dribbly mess down the side of the tall knickerbockerglory glasses.

“Dude you win. You are definitely the best mixer-upper!”

“I know. I am aren’t I! Mummy, Sub says I’m the best mixer-upper!”

“Of course he did - you are fantastic but lets try and get some of it in your mouth- hey?”

I smile at the two of them. They get on so well and adore one another. Finn is always so calm when Seb is around it makes me sad at the same time that he’s been missing out on that father-figure. Niall is starting to step-up more, seeing him on weekends and even taking him for tea on the odd weeknight so I’m hopeful that it will continue. As long as my lovely little boy is happy and knows he’s loved.

We look up as the earlier waitress shouts out “Silver family? Table for Silver?”

I could get used to this.

It’s a race between Seb and Finn as to who sits where and in the end Seb submits and allows Finn to sit at the side with the driving wheel attached to his right. Perfect to entertain him whilst we await the food. We place our orders promptly and settle back into the booth to enjoy the ambience. The duke box plays The Beach Boys in the background, old Coca-Cola memorabilia crowds the walls and shelves and illustrations of the perfect 2.4 1950’s family hang in huge poster frames. The mint green, walls black and white floor, combined with dark red leather and mustard touches might seem clashing but combined it felt like we were in a
Grease
movie and I have to say I’d really knocked it out of the park with this one - the client had been pleased but so was I - it had a great vibe.

I feel Seb’s hand slowly cover mine, gently rubbing back and forth with his thumb. “Earth to Lu?”

“Sorry I was just admiring my handiwork.”

“And so you should. It’s cool isn’t it Finny?”

“It’s so cool Mum. Brmmm Brmmm.” His little hands grip the steering wheel in sheer purposefulness, as he looks to me and gives me a cheesy grin. I decide to strike while he is transfixed.

“Finn I need to talk to you about something.” I notice Seb’s brows rise.

“Mummy’s been offered the chance to get some more great jobs - maybe like this one or even cooler?”

“Hmmmm.”

He’s not really listening but I try to continue and give a knowing look of thanks to Seb as he whispers something in Finn’s ear, which has him dropping the wheel like a hot potato and placing both elbows on the table, inquisitive face balanced eagerly.

“I’m all-ears, Mummy.”

My laugh is open and freeing and I take a minute to calm myself - little monkey. My Dad says that a lot, so I know where he gets
it
from.
    
I wonder what Seb said to him to make him focus? I need to find out as it had worked a treat.

“As I was saying, I need to go meet some people that might let me decorate their homes and work places.” He nods in all the right places. “But it will mean me going away for a week.”

“Can I come?”

My heart falls and I catch eyes with Sebastian, who strokes my hand encouragingly. “No, darling, not this time, but I’ve arranged for you to stay with Ninni and Gramps and you’ll see Niall too.”

“OK.”

What? Surely he’s going to be more upset than that?

“Really? Are you sure because if you are not happy, Mummy won’t go.” I can’t look at Seb.

“I’ll be fine. I’ll have Ninni and Gramps but I’m worried about you Mummy? Who will look after you?”

I feel Seb’s foot under the table, his leg, now knocking gently against mine, sending currents of pleasure up and over my skin. “Mummy will be fine Finn as I’ll be going and I’ll take great care of her.”

“Ok.”
 

“That’s settled then.” His knowing look is overly confident and far too sexy.

“I’ll bring you something special home, poppet. I promise.”

His eyes fly up in excitement. “A puppy?”

My look of horror has Seb rescuing me once again. “I’m not sure it’ll be a puppy this time mate but we’ll think of something extra special just for you and we’ll FaceTime you and ring you and be home before you know it.”

“Sub?”

“Yes, mate.”

“I love it when you’re here.”

I look at the two gorgeous men in my life and have to smile to stop myself from crying. I’m struck by how fortunate I am and how easily things are slipping into place.
 

“Me too. I love being with you and your mum too.” We share a look so intimate it sends shivers down my spine and feeling like I could embarrass myself by welling-up, I break the silence.

“Anyway, we’re not going for a week or so yet and I have some exciting news for you, Finnster in the meantime.”

“Cool - what’s up?”

My grin widens at what a little dude he is. “Well, you know how Mum’s been working on a hotel with Seb recently?” At his nod I continue. “Well, we’ve finished some of the jobs we were doing there and this weekend the owner is having a bit of a party to show off some of Mummy’s work she’s done on the bedrooms and guess what?”

“I don’t know, Mummy - will there be balloons?”

“No I don’t think so, sweetie, it’s something much more exciting than that,
we
get to stay at the hotel and
you
are coming with us.”

“Really?”

“I promise.”

“We go Friday night and on Saturday they’ve got some fun outdoor activities planned - sound good?”

“Awesome – we get to stay in a hotel!” He excitedly slurps from his now nearly empty Coke-float, fidgeting in his seat. “Are you coming too, Sub?”
    
“I am, dude and if you’re really good, I’ll take you fishing by the lake.”
    
“With maggots and everything?”
“Yep – with maggots and everything!”
“Cool!”
Finn cannot contain his excitement and I watch fondly as Sebastian ruffles his hair and they do their complicated bro handshake. They are chattering away, Seb providing full details about what adventures they’ll be having when the food arrives in perfect time and I focus my time cutting up Finn’s food, ever aware of Seb’s watchful and heated gaze upon me. Finn heartily tucks into his pancake tower of maple syrup and crispy bacon, whilst Seb makes fast work devouring his chilli burger and fries. I stare down at my Chicken Caesar Salad and suddenly feel a wave of nausea hit me. The thought of eating anything at that moment is insurmountable. Instead I pick and push the ingredients around the plate, in the hope that neither of my two dates notices. It’ll pass; I’m just tired and haven’t really caught up with eating since Seb and I sorted through our shit.

So, I am going to Dubai with a delicious man. Time to text Abby and go into packing-mode. I’ve only got a week left to ensure that work is perfectly organised so that I can actually enjoy my time away. Now that Finn is settled and appears all right, with me going away and we have our Ashton time together to look forward to, I can move into project Dubai with exhilaration.

*****

After leaving Jungle Jim’s, Finn is keen to travel home with me. The whole journey home, I balance my time between watching the sexy brunette in the two-seater sports following us, and listening to her son arguing why Ironman would beat Thor, in a fight.

I have to agree - Ironman all the way with me. The ‘
Suit’
trumps the
‘Hammer’
any day.

“You are a bit like Thor though aren’t you, Sub?”

“Was it the long flowing blond hair and cape that gave it away mate?”

His giggles are contagious. “No silly, you have short hair. You have a big hammer though. I’ve seen it in your tools.”

God this lad is bright and it makes me proud. “That’s right Finny.” I wink at him in the mirror, and reach back to squeeze his foot. “That would make you Ironman, Dude.”

I watch him push out his chest in pride, before flicking my eyes back to the road to prepare for the oncoming bend. “Cool! I can fly!”

“Me too!”

“Well I have a costume.”

“So does Thor.”

I can see the cogs turning in his little sponge of a brain. “Well… well… I’m red.”

What can I do with that?
I love the way kids brains work; so random.

“You win. Ironman is the bomb!” I reach back and we fist bump to seal the deal. Then I revert my attention back to his luscious mother, who now appears to be talking to herself, ether that or she’s on the phone. Yeah, she’s on the phone. She even looks lovely when she’s chatting.