The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 5

It feels like forever since I've seen him look this good or smell better for that matter and in a moment of distraction, nostalgia kicks in. My chin almost hits my knees as my eyes travel from his handsome face down to his legs. It's only then I notice he's doing the same to me.

"Jesus, Gracie, you're soaked through! You should have called me. You know I'd have come straight away." Monty, who is also sporting a new haircut, runs up the hall throwing his arms around me momentarily oblivious to my damp clothes. I clutch him hard to my chest. I've missed him so much.

"Mummy! Mummy!" My eyes catch Max's expression as he watches Monty delight in my arrival. "Mummy wet," he giggles while wiping his damp hands on his jeans, humouring us all.

"No nursery for you today, little man?"

"Daddy say 'no way!'" Again, I look to Max who rolls his eyes and mouths 'tell you later'. Taking the pushchair, he wheels Holly into the hallway before turning to face me, his arms folded across his chest.

"What were you thinking walking all that way? I left Mayfair an hour ago and could have picked you up." He feigns a scowl and I instantly relax. I simply don't have the energy for an argument.

"I didn't have my phone and the weather was so promising when I left. I needed some fresh air and I enjoy walking through the parks." I pause to remove my jacket. "By the time it started raining I was halfway and then I couldn't get a cab to stop. I was soaked by that point so it didn't matter. I'm fine, it's just a bit of water."

"You'll catch your death. Upstairs now. I'll start the shower." I begin to pout but he's having none of my defiance today.

"Gracie, listen to me. I don't want you getting sick. Have you forgotten it's your birthday in a few days? Your friends have gone to a lot of trouble planning this weekend and you won't want to miss out."

WHAT? I make to argue but realise I'm just too cold. It'll have to wait, and anyway I know he's right. I don't have time to be ill with having to look after Holly, never mind with birthday plans.

"Okay," I say, resolved. He removes Holly's seat from the pushchair and I follow all three of them upstairs into his room.

"I think you need to change your clothes," he smirks, placing our daughter on the bed beside Monty. I make my way to the mirror to inspect today's new look.

"Oh, bloody hell! I'd no idea I looked that bad!" I'd chosen black jeans with my lightest winter coat as the day had seemed so settled. Clearly the jacket was totally inappropriate as I witnessed my nipples pressing through my cotton layers and the jeans clinging to my legs accentuating every curve. I meet his eyes in the mirror.

"No wonder you were staring at me. You're such a perv." We both laugh heartily and for a moment we bathe in the familiarity of what had been our relationship but the feeling of happiness quickly wanes as the nightmare of the last few days springs back suddenly to my mind.

"I'll take that shower."

                                                            ****************

"Phone and passport," Max states, waving to the items on the bed as I exit the ensuite. "You've had some messages come through since I charged it. Nothing urgent, though. Sorry, I checked them."

"It's fine. I hope Caitlin has been in touch about me staying over. I think their flight was due in this morning."

"Ah. About that." Making his way to the dresser he bends over my shoulder meeting my puzzled gaze in the mirror.

"Rudi's just off the phone to say they arrived back safely to a very crowded and messy apartment. Apparently Dillon is back from Morocco and decided to let himself in with two mates."