Chapter Three
Bella
I slowly walk back towards my pokey little bedsit. It might be a shit hole, but it’s my shit hole, and I suppose I should be grateful to Marco for giving me an advance, even after my awful ability to get to work on time. At least I’ll get another month with a roof over my head.
As I round the corner, I hear an excited squeal and look up in time to see my boys.
My heart immediately beats faster, and I pick up my pace.
For the first time in what feels like forever, I feel genuine happiness.
It’s been so long since I’ve even had a glimpse of them, that I’m too excited to notice Imogen.
When my eyes finally land on her, my heart sinks.
The whore that stole my world is holding the hand of my baby boy.
“Mummy,” Noah squeals, letting go of Imogen’s hand to run towards me.
“Noah,” she bellows, chasing after him.
He jumps into my arms, and I hold him against me tightly.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply, committing his scent to memory.
I squeeze him hard, wanting to make sure he feels all my love pouring into this one cuddle.
When I open my eyes, I see Mason following behind, his head lowered, avoiding my eyes.
It crushes me that my eldest boy, the one who made me a mum, doesn’t even want to acknowledge me.
I kiss Noah tenderly on the head.
“You better go, mate. I love you,” I whisper before sliding him down my body. He cries as I place him back on the pavement, and my eyes begin to fill with tears.
Imogen grabs his hand roughly, and the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention, the anger bubbles under the surface.
“There’s no need for that,” I snap.
I fight the urge to pick him up again and cover him in kisses, never letting him go. Unfortunately, I can’t, since their dad painted me out to be some raving lunatic. Apparently, I’m too mentally unstable to look after my own children.
Imogen looks me up and down with complete disgust. God, I wish I could wipe that smug look off her face.
“You gave up the right to care for these boys long ago,” she spits, and her lips curl with hatred. “Come on, boys, we have a special date with Daddy,” she emphasises the last words, pushing more of her venom in my direction.
Noah cries as she drags him away looking over his shoulder, and my walls crumble, the tears begin to flow. Mason doesn’t even look at me, and it makes me wonder what bullshit they’re feeding him for him to hate me so much.
I walk into my bedsit throwing my bag onto the bed. I’m angry. I’m angry at myself for letting one woman destroy my world, for letting her take what wasn’t hers. She doesn’t deserve my boys. She doesn’t deserve my life. Fuck.
And I’m angry at him for choosing her over me. For giving her my life so easily. For not giving me a chance to fight for it.
I open the fridge pulling out a bottle of wine, I go to grab a glass but what’s the fucking point? I lift the bottle to my mouth and take a long drink, slamming the cupboard door shut and the crockery rattles inside.
There’s a knock at my door. Not fucking now. I’ve just had to deal with one woman I hate, I don’t need another anal bitch to sprinkle shit on my fucking day.
I grab the door, opening it a little more harshly than intended, shoving the money at her and slam it again without so much as a word.
Then I slide down the door to a heap on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
I pull my top to my nose to inhale the scent of my little boy that lingers from our brief interaction.
The next few days pass in a blur. I can’t stop thinking about my boys and how seeing them a few days ago was probably more than a coincidence.
Imogen is spiteful enough to have purposely brought them that way in the hope she’d bump into me.
She never misses an opportunity to rub my nose in it, to kick me whilst I’m down.
I arrive for work early again. I’ve been trying to make more of an effort, after all, Marco didn’t have to keep me on, and he certainly didn’t have to give me an advance on my wages. Plus, it’s the only thing getting me out of bed every day.
The doors are locked, so I knock and wait for Marco to let me in. He smiles as he approaches, letting me know my effort hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“Morning, beautiful,” he greets, in his usual chirpy voice. Marco is definitely a morning person. Me, however, I’m not an any-time-of-day person at the moment.
“Good morning, I suppose,” I grumble, making my way into the backroom.
“It wouldn’t hurt for you to smile once in a while.”
If only he knew I had nothing left worth smiling for, and right now, I’m going through the motions.
“What’s there to smile about? It’s just the same shit, different day of the week,” I grumble, and he rolls his eyes.
“Well, aren’t you a ray of fucking sunshine today.”
“Here to brighten your day, Marco.” I laugh as I tie my apron at the waist.
The door opens, and Jodie makes her way in.
“Careful, Jodie, someone’s gotten out the wrong side of bed today,” Marco jokes. I shake my head, grinning as I reach for a bottle of water from the staff fridge.
“Nah, our Bella is misunderstood,” she teases, removing her coat. “She just needs a good shag.”
I spit out my water in surprise.
Marco and Jodie have been working together for a number of years, whereas I’m a new addition to the team and not used to their bluntness.
I scoff. “Not a chance. Me and men are over for good.”
Marco arches a brow. “We could find you a good woman.”
“And who said anything about a relationship? Just fuck ‘em and chuck ‘em,” Jodie adds.
“You two pains are hard work at this time of the morning. I’m going to get some actual work done.”
“Fuck me, who is this woman and what have they done with Bella?” Marco asks sarcastically, winking in my direction.
It’s been a busy day, and I’ve appreciated the reprieve from the thoughts running through my head.
Working a shift with Marco and Jodie has actually been refreshing and most definitely needed.
They can be overbearing at times, but their positive energy is infectious.
I’ve never been one for friendships. When I got with Liam, I was young.
We’d been childhood sweethearts, and I assumed that would last the rest of my life.
I left behind my friendships, and every waking moment was spent with him, or being a mum to my boys.
So, when I discovered he was seeing another woman after eighteen years of being together, my whole world caved in.
I had no one because I had invested everything into our relationship.
I didn’t even know who to be without him.
When I landed this job, it felt as though I was learning how to make friends all over again. I was never any good at it back then either, often finding it hard work. My social battery runs down pretty quick these days.
“Jodie, I’m heading out back for a break,” I call, and she nods in acknowledgement whilst serving a customer.
Five minutes later, she pops her head around the door.
“There’s someone asking for you.”
I glance up in surprise. “Me?”
My first thought is it’s something to do with Liam. I wouldn’t put it past Imogen to tell him I’d followed her the other day or showed up to where she was on purpose. I groan, the last thing I need is a kick-off at my workplace.
I stand, wiping my sweaty palms down my apron and follow her inside, surprised to see Clay standing there. Relief hits me, thankful it’s not Liam. I release a shuddering breath and force a smile as I approach.
“I thought you were going to call me?” he asks, his tone light and teasing.
“Sorry, but there’s one minor problem . . . I don’t have a phone.” I feel my face flush with embarrassment, wondering if he realises I dropped it the night he saved me.
“Pah, excuses.”
“Erm . . .” I pick at some imaginary lint on my apron, trying to give myself enough time to think of another reason to put him off. He really doesn’t realise that I’m not worth his time.
He places his hand over mine to stop me fidgeting. “I’m joking. Please don’t take what I say to heart.”
I smile and look at his hand over mine, noting how large it is. He pulls away quickly.
“God I’m sorry,” he apologises, like he’s only just realised he was touching me. “Listen, I want to be there for you, but there’s zero pressure.”
“Thank you,” I say before continuing. “You really don’t have to, I’ll be okay.” I’m not sure who I’m trying to convince more, him or myself.
“I didn’t say you wouldn’t be okay, but sometimes it’s easier to be okay when you have someone to talk to.
” I can see sincerity in his eyes, but it doesn’t feel condescending, it feels like he really means it, almost as if he’s talking from experience.
I nod not trusting myself to talk as I feel the lump forming in my throat.
“Anyway, think about it.” He grabs another napkin and the pen from my apron, and jots his number down again, pushing it across the counter towards me. “In case you lost it.”
And just like that, he turns and leaves.
“Damn girl, if you don’t climb that, send his number my way,” Jodie jests as she pulls me from my racing thoughts.
“I told you I’m done with men,” I laugh, sliding the number towards her. “Knock yourself out.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” She grins as she folds the napkin and places it in her pocket.
My feet are crying out to be released from these heels. The shop has been busy all day, and my poor feet are paying the ultimate price.
I arrive home to see a small box left outside my door. I take it inside and drop it on the counter before opening the envelope.
A little something to make life easier. Be sure to make the call.
I smile to myself and open the box. Inside is the latest iPhone. I’m in complete shock. Why would someone go to these lengths when I’m clearly not worth it. I’ll cause him nothing but headaches and drama.