CHAPTER SIX

Grace

Asthe girls finish up doing their cooling down exercises, I see Ella’s Dad walk outside. “Okay then girls, if you want to get your socks and shoes on, I’ll be just a minute.” I walk from the room and out of the main door. He’s standing with his back to me with something serious on his mind it seems. I reach up and tap him softly on the shoulder. He slowly turns. “Sorry. Erm… the girls have finished and they’re just getting their shoes on.” I smile at him. “Thought it was best I let you know.”

He rubs his hands over his face and blows out a breath. “Thanks.” he sighs.

“Are you okay? I don’t want to pry…”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, they’re done you say?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” he nods, “I’ll go in then. Thanks Grace.” he says as he turns back, before he walks back through the door.

“You’re welcome, Owen.” he looks back at me strangely, like I shouldn’t have said his name. He nods and carries on back in. I’d love to know his story. The man always looks so conflicted like the world is weighing on his shoulders. His eyes are so intense too, but when he looks at his daughter everything slips away and I feel the love he has for her. Nothing else matters, but her.

I go back in and see to the girls, making sure they have everything. I wave them all off and as always Ella is last to leave. Owen is the other side of the room on the phone. “Are you not going home Ella?”

She nods. “I’m going to nana’s.”

“Wow that’s exciting.”

“Daddy can we go now, pease?” he holds one finger up and starts towards us. “Yeah okay. See you soon.” He puts his phone back in his pocket and crouches to Ella’s level. “Sorry baby girl, I’m all yours now.” Swoon. Oh, my heart.

“See you Monday, Ella.” She wraps her arms around my legs. “Whoa.”

“She likes you.” Owen says. I give him a wide smile.

“Bye Gwace. See you Monday.”

She holds her Dad’s hand and walks from the room, swinging it between them. It’s so sweet, she’s like the epitome of a Daddy’s girl.

 

I walk back in the flat and drop my bag, there’s music blasting from the bedroom. I grab a bottle of water and sit on a bar stool while I rehydrate from my training session. Meaghan walks from the bedroom, “We’re going out tonight.”

“What, really? I’m knackered. I might give it a miss.”

“No way! You’re coming.”

“Ross is coming and bringing his friends.” She says wickedly with a raise of her eyebrows.

“I should’ve known it would have something to do with him. Does it not bother you that he’s seeing someone? In fact, he’s living with someone.”

“Oh, don’t be a bore. It’s a weird relationship they have. He’s not happy with her.”

“Then maybe he should leave her?”

“Ugh, don’t - we argued about this last week. He says he can’t leave.”

“You argued, yet he’s a fuck toy. I don’t get you sometimes.” I tell her shaking my head, “I’m sure there’s others out there…”

“But I like him... a lot, and he gets me.”

“You mean you get what you want from him.”

“No, not really.”

“You know Meaghan, I’m all for you sowing your wild oats and all that - but why can’t you do it with someone that isn’t involved.

“Because I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s sweet, the sex is amazing and he’s nice to me…”

“Also, he tells what you want to hear to keep you around. I get it.” I add holding up a hand.

“No, it’s not that at all. Please just come with me.” Hearing her pleading softens my frosty attitude.

“Fine, I’ll come but if he starts being a dick I’m going to tell him. I don’t like cheaters.” I sigh heavily.

She smiles and claps. “I love you! Thank you and whatever.” She hugs me tight.

“I’m going for a nap, then I need to pop out to the shops.” I pick my bottle up and walk out of the room, I flop on my bed with exhaustion. I’m knackered. I don’t intend on getting up tomorrow at all.

 

“Are you ready?” Meaghan shouts outside the bedroom door.

“Yes, I’m coming now. Have you ordered the taxi?”

“No, I’ll go and do it now.”

I slip my feet into my blue stilettos. I’ve got my black ripped jeans on and a blue off the shoulder top which sits just above my waistline. My hair is down my back in waves and my makeup is subtle, I don’t usually go over the top anyway and it’s not like I’m going out to pull anyway. Grabbing my clutch from the couch, I walk into the living room. Meaghan is dressed in a white dress, which makes her red hair stand out. “You look stunning.”

“Why thank you, so do you.”

“It’s a pity you’re not meeting someone worthy of all that effort you’ve put in.”

“You promised Grace.”

“I promised I’d go with you, not to keep my opinions to myself. He doesn’t deserve you.”

“Okay...” she sighs, “but can you please try and behave.”

“For now, for you - of course, get some vodka’s in me and I can’t promise anything.” I wink as we hear a car horn sound and a text message coming from Meaghan’s bag. She pulls out her phone.

“Taxi’s here, let’s go.”

 

I’m on my third vodka already, this was such a bad idea. I’m at the bar getting us another as I see Ross and his friend walk in. Ross is good looking I’ll admit, but he really is a twat. He thinks he’s god’s gift to women! After paying the barman, I turn from the bar and walk back to Meaghan. I hand her, her drink, “I see dickface has turned up.” She doesn’t answer me just fixes her gaze on Ross. “Ugh please.” Ross grabs her from behind and throws a wink in my direction before kissing her neck. “Did your girlfriend not feed you before you came out?” Everyone knows he has a live-in girlfriend so it’s no secret.

“Grace. Looking as lovely as ever.” I place the straw between my lips, smirking as I suck up more vodka and lime. I put up my middle finger against glass and hold it so he can see.

“Classy.” Ross tells me with a roll of his eyes.

Prick! “Oh please. Says you.” I give him an evil stare then turn away from him.

“Can you two not get on for five minutes?” Meaghan sighs.

“Nope. Sorry.” I turn to his friend. “Are you really his friend?” I say to the stranger who Ross came in with.

“Unfortunately. Hi, I’m Tom.” He says as he reaches out to me, I put my clutch under my arm and shake his hand.

“Grace.” I smile. He’s handsome with his blonde hair and boy next door looks, he’s clean shaven with blue eyes. “So, Meaghan, you didn’t tell me it was a foursome. You said, ‘Ross and his friends.’ Not friend.”

“Ahh, yeah it should be but he may not join us.” Tom adds.

“Oh okay. You’re let off this time.” I shout to my friend. She doesn’t hear me as she’s sucking face with Ross the rat. “Ugh, get a room.”

“Jealousy will get you nowhere Grace.” Ross says as he drags his lips from her to answer me.

“Screw you.” I turn from Ross and face Tom. “So, Tom, how long have you known Ross?”

“Quite a while to be honest. Around ten years.” I drink some more of my vodka. “He actually works for me.”

“Your friends and he works for you. Wow you must like him.” I smirk. I can’t help being a bitch where Ross is concerned because he’s playing with my best friend’s heart and like I told her earlier, I don’t like cheaters. My dad cheated on my Mum, multiple times, with one skank after another. “So, what is it you do then Tom?”

“I’ve got my own business. I run a motorbike shop.”

“Ah really. Do you ride too?” My eyes go wide, I love bikes - there’s just something about them.

“I do.” He smiles. It’s easy, nice. Relaxed. I see him sneak a look over at Meaghan and Ross and narrows his eyes. Hmm, interesting...

“So, what do you do, Grace?” He looks back at me with a smile again.

“I’m a dance teacher. I have my own dance class. I teach kids. I love it. There’s nothing like seeing the joy on their faces when they learn something new.”

Tom and I chat away and laugh together for a while until I realise I’ve been holding onto an empty glass. “Shit, I’m empty. Meaghan, it’s your turn. Get to the bar.”

I’ll get these.” He lifts the glass to his nose and sniffs, something with lime, vodka, gin?”

“Vodka, please. Don’t give me Gin, I’ll be on the floor.” He nods as he smiles at me and walks away to the bar. Gazing around the pub, I size everyone up. I love people watching, I pull up a stool and take the weight off my heels, my legs are aching and my feet are starting to hurt. My gaze finds Meaghan and Ross again but they’ve barely come up for air. “Hey leech, do you think I could speak to my friend?” He moves his hand that’s been stuck to her arse for the last ten minutes and gives me the middle finger behind her. “Wanker!” I don’t really swear much just in case I ever drop it out around the kids. God forbid, but if I say it under my breath that doesn’t count, right?

Those two are making me feel nauseous, I look away and go back to my people watching while I wait for my drink. Some more people walk in, I look at each one to see if I know them, usually it’s parents of the kids I teach, now that’s funny especially when they get pissed and make a fool of themselves.

Still stuck on the entrance, I don’t see Tom walk back towards me holding my drink. Worst still, I don’t see the gorgeous, dark haired man that’s standing next to him with a deer in headlights look on his face.

“Grace. There you go. This is my buddy…”

I cut him off. “Owen?”