CAL
The hairs stiffen on the back of my neck as I open the door with Caleb in my arms. “What the fuck are you doing here?” I freeze, giving him an icy stare while breathing through my nostrils.
Mark smirks, pats the side of my arm. “Nice to see you too, Cal. I’m here to take Steph out. Is she ready?” He pokes his head around me, trying to get a glimpse of her.
I grind my teeth with a tense jaw, taking in what’s happening. “Over my dead body.”
Mark straightens the cuff of his shirt. “I can probably arrange that.” He steps over the threshold, but I block him from entering further.
“I thought I got rid of you once.”
He chuckles again, and with each laugh, I want to punch this fucker in the mouth. “If you took care of your woman, I wouldn’t be back.”
If I didn’t have Caleb in my arms. I’d wipe that smirk off his face. “If you lay one finger on her, I’ll fucking kill you.”
“Are you jealous? Because if you wanna take her out tonight instead, I’ll gladly step aside. I’ll even babysit for you.”
Steph appears behind me, and I look into her green eyes, filling with sadness at my silence.
Mark stuffs his hands in his pocket. “I didn’t think so. Let’s go, Steph.”
Mark saunters back down the driveway, unlocking his BMW with a flick of his key.
“What the fuck are you doing going out with him?” I grip her arm.
She glances at my fist tight around her. I loosen a little, but don’t let go.
“We’re friends. He offered to take me out.” She yanks her arm from my grasp. “I don’t see anyone else offering. Am I not allowed to have a bit of fun?”
I huff. “Fun. With him? Seriously?”
“Who else is there, Cal? You haven’t taken me on a date in years. Even when we were screwing, I don’t remember you taking me on a date. Unless you class that trip to the cinema and Maccy’s a date which, just so we’re clear, it wasn’t.” A red hue creeps over her face, and her knuckles turn white as she grips her purse.
I lift my arm over her and lean on the wall, caging her in. “If you’d left that dickhead of a husband sooner, I’d have had the chance to take you out.”
Caleb whimpers. His bottom lip wobbles.
“Have you finished? You’re scaring our son.” She spits the words.
“Shh, shh, shh. It’s all right, mate.” I bounce him in my arms while glaring at her.
“Can I go now?” She stares with a red face, ready to blow fire from her nostrils at any minute.
I step back, allowing her to pass and watch her ass sway from side to side as she stomps down the drive in her heels.
* * *
STEPH
Sliding into the passenger seat,Mark turns the key, and his car comes to life. Cal’s at the front door, scowling as we drive off.
“Is he still staring?” Mark asks.
“Yep.”
“Oh, he’s pissed.” Mark chuckles.
“Do you think it’s you or jealousy?”