The Other Girlfriend by Alex Stone

Author:Alex Stone [Stone, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2022-07-27T16:00:00+00:00

40

‘I saw you coming,’ Tom said, greeting me at the door as chatter from the TV spilled from the living room.

‘Oh, er, thanks.’ I smiled at him, while inside my emotions whirled around like a spinning top.

Had he been waiting for me? Watching for my arrival? My pulse quickened. Had he missed me that much?

He always knew how to play you.

Rebecca’s accusation sprang into my head, causing my smile to waver.

Was she right? Was that what Tom was doing? Had he before?

‘Did you have a good day?’ he asked.

I could hear the genuine interest in his voice. He cared. About me.

Rebecca was wrong. Tom had never played me. He never would. He wasn’t perfect. He made mistakes. But so did everyone.

So did I.

‘It’s better now,’ I told him, as my smile lifted back into place.

I knew I should be cautious. Tom and I were a dangerous combination. I also knew that I shouldn’t get my hopes up. He was just visiting. At some point he would leave.

And yet, there was something heart-warming about coming home to someone waiting for me.

Not just someone.

Tom.

Kate was right. This was what I wanted. He was what I wanted.

There had never been anyone who had quite measured up to Tom. Even though we’d never been a proper couple, he was the standard by which I compared other guys to.

Not that there had been many. Dating was too much like hard work. It involved leaving the house. Going out. Meeting new people. Making connections. Sharing details about myself. My vulnerabilities.

My secrets.

There was too much I couldn’t explain. Too much to hide.

Even from Tom.

We stood in the doorway staring at each other. I couldn’t get in unless he stepped back, but he didn’t move.

He looked as if he was about to say something. But he stopped.

‘So, I’ll just, er…’ I slipped my bag off my shoulder and edged forwards slightly. I couldn’t get into my own home.

‘Oh, right. Sorry,’ Tom said, stepping back, allowing me to pass.

‘How was your day?’ I asked as I slipped my shoes off, but I paused as a familiar scent filled my nostrils. I sniffed. ‘Is that…?’

‘Mum’s casserole.’

‘You cooked?’ My eyes widened as I stared at him.

Tom laughed. ‘Don’t sound so surprised. It does happen. Occasionally.’

‘Sorry, I’m just not used to coming home from work to find a home-cooked meal waiting for me.’

Tom shrugged. ‘I just wanted to do something to say thank you for letting me stay. I really appreciate it, you know?’

I smiled. ‘You’re welcome.’ I felt lighter somehow. The doubts that warned me to be cautious ebbed away a little more. It had been the right decision to let him stay. He was good to me.

My life was so different with him back in it. It was better. I was better.

‘Come on through to the living room,’ Tom said, pulling me back from my thoughts. ‘I’ll pour you a glass of wine before we eat.’

‘Oh, I don’t have any wine—’

Tom laughed. ‘In addition to cooking, I also go shopping too, you know?’

‘Right, of course.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.